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Nuclear radiation can affect atoms in a couple of different ways. It commonly makes them hotter. But also, when the radiation includes neutrons, they can be captured by the atoms around. This can cause those atoms to do a number of things, including:
- Undergoing fission, often releasing more neutrons
- Absorbing the neutron
- undergoing decay other than fission (even if the atom is not radioactive)
- bouncing the neutron off, and getting hot in the process
If the atom absorbs the neutron, its mass number changes, making it a different isotope. This often makes it a radioactive isotope, so it would decay at some later time.
The fact that certain atoms will undergo fission when they are struck by a neutron is what causes nuclear chain reactions used in nuclear power plants.
Read more: How_does_nuclear_radiation_affect_atoms
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What types of atoms realease nuclear radiation?
Atoms with unstable nuclei, such as uranium, radium, and plutonium, can release nuclear radiation. This radiation can take the form of alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (electrons or positrons), or gamma rays (high-energy photons).
Where does gamma radiation come from?
Gamma radiation comes from the nuclei of atoms, usually as a result of nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. It is the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation and can be produced by processes such as nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or from certain types of radioactive decay.
What is the difference between waves used in microwave ovens and nuclear radiation?
Both microwave radiation and nuclear electromagnetic radiation are members of the same species, but they're as different as babies are from elephants, to wit, microwaves are much, much less powerful than nuclear electromagnetic radiation. Microwave radiation, for instance, makes atoms shift their position (and magnetic fields) very, very quickly. Now the definition of heat is "movement," so the faster anything moves, the "hotter" we say it is. Ergo, something placed in a microwave-radiation-field becomes noticeably "hotter." But comparing microwave and nuclear electromagnetic radiation is like comparing a face-slap to a 20-ton BOMB. Nuclear radiation comes from atomic nuclei, so "nuclear radiation" can strike, penetrate, damage, and even destroy atoms in their path. Big difference, capiche? Huge.We left out the part about nuclear particulate radiation. There is no comparison there. Additionally, nuclear electromagnetic radiation is ionizing radiation while microwave radiation is not.
What types of atoms release nuclear radiation?
Atoms that release nuclear radiation are typically unstable and contain too much energy or mass. Examples include isotopes of elements such as uranium, radium, polonium, and thorium. These atoms undergo radioactive decay to reach a more stable state, emitting alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays in the process.
How energy released in nuclear energy?
In nuclear energy, energy is released through a process called nuclear fission or fusion. In nuclear fission, heavy atoms like uranium split into smaller ones, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. In nuclear fusion, lighter atoms combine to form heavier ones, also releasing a significant amount of energy.
How radiation affected by surface temperature?
Nuclear radiation is not affected at all, but radiation by Electromagnetic Radiation is. This is a straight Physics topic, not Nuclear Energy.
How is nuclear radiation affected by temperature?
Not at all
Which part of atoms does nuclear radiation come from?
nucleus, of course. that's why its called nuclear.
What types of atoms realease nuclear radiation?
Atoms with unstable nuclei, such as uranium, radium, and plutonium, can release nuclear radiation. This radiation can take the form of alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (electrons or positrons), or gamma rays (high-energy photons).
Where does gamma radiation come from?
Gamma radiation comes from the nuclei of atoms, usually as a result of nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. It is the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation and can be produced by processes such as nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or from certain types of radioactive decay.
Where does the radiation come from and how is it made in a nuclear bomb?
Ultimately all nuclear radiation comes from the excess nuclear binding energy of unstable atoms. Nuclear binding energy is the energy of the strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force that holds the protons and neutrons of atomic nuclei together. When an unstable atom releases its excess energy to become a more stable atom, one or more types of nuclear radiation carries away that energy.All nuclear bombs contain some unstable atoms of radioactive elements (e.g. uranium, plutonium, tritium) in their construction to make it possible for them to work, but these radioactive elements are usually only slightly radioactive and the radiation (mostly alpha) is usually easy to shield.However when these bombs are detonated fission of uranium and/or plutonium atoms produces very large numbers of fission product atoms which are much more unstable than the original atoms and emit much harder to shield beta and gamma radiation as they decay to more stable atoms. Also both fission and fusion reactions inside the bomb generate neutron radiation in a brief pulse at the moment of detonation, this neutron radiation (unlike other types of nuclear radiation) can make other atoms radioactive that were not previously radioactive. Both gamma and neutron radiation are nearly impossible to shield.
What is the difference between waves used in microwave ovens and nuclear radiation?
Both microwave radiation and nuclear electromagnetic radiation are members of the same species, but they're as different as babies are from elephants, to wit, microwaves are much, much less powerful than nuclear electromagnetic radiation. Microwave radiation, for instance, makes atoms shift their position (and magnetic fields) very, very quickly. Now the definition of heat is "movement," so the faster anything moves, the "hotter" we say it is. Ergo, something placed in a microwave-radiation-field becomes noticeably "hotter." But comparing microwave and nuclear electromagnetic radiation is like comparing a face-slap to a 20-ton BOMB. Nuclear radiation comes from atomic nuclei, so "nuclear radiation" can strike, penetrate, damage, and even destroy atoms in their path. Big difference, capiche? Huge.We left out the part about nuclear particulate radiation. There is no comparison there. Additionally, nuclear electromagnetic radiation is ionizing radiation while microwave radiation is not.
What part of the human body is the first to be affected by nuclear rediation?
U spelled radiation wrong dumbo.
What is the collective name of high energy particles and rays given off by the nuclei of atoms?
The energy is called nuclear radiation, high energy particles and rays that are emitted by the nuclei of some atoms.
What is the majority of the suns radiation output from?
The majority of the Sun's radiation output comes from nuclear fusion reactions in its core, where hydrogen atoms are fused into helium. This process releases energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared radiation.
What are people doing about the nuclear meltdowns?
The nuclear power plants are filled with water to keep the atoms from splitting too fast inside the nuclear rod. Because of the earthquake in Japan, the nuclear power plants lost a lot of water in them, which is making the atoms split too fast. Radiation is now leaking from the plants, so crews are going in and dumping seawater into the nuclear plants to cool down the rods.
What types of atoms release nuclear radiation?
Atoms that release nuclear radiation are typically unstable and contain too much energy or mass. Examples include isotopes of elements such as uranium, radium, polonium, and thorium. These atoms undergo radioactive decay to reach a more stable state, emitting alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays in the process.
