radiation
Sign in to saveupright=1.5|thumb|right|An illustration of the relative abilities of three different types of ionizing radiation to penetrate solid matter. Typical alpha particles (α) are stopped by a sheet of paper, while beta particles (β) are stopped by 3mm aluminum foil. Gamma radiation (γ) is dampened when it penetrates lead. Note caveats in the text about this simplified diagram. border|right|frameless|597x597px thumb|upright|The international symbol for ionizing radiation (radioactivity) that is unsafe for Radiation shield|unshielded humans. Radiation, in general, exists throughout nature, such as in l
AI overview
Radiation is energy that travels through space or matter, and it comes in different types with varying abilities to penetrate materials—for example, alpha particles can be stopped by paper while gamma rays require lead shielding. It matters because some forms of radiation are unsafe for humans without proper protection, which is why we use warning symbols and shielding to manage exposure to radioactive sources.
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Article
28 sectionsContents
- Ionizing radiation
- Ultraviolet radiation
- X-rays
- Gamma radiation
- Alpha radiation
- Beta radiation
- Neutron radiation
- Cosmic radiation
- Non-ionizing radiation
- Ultraviolet light
- Visible light
- Infrared
- Microwave
- Radio waves
- Very low frequency
- Extremely low frequency
- Thermal radiation (heat)
- Black-body radiation
- Discovery
- Applications
- Medicine
- Communication
- Science
- Possible damage to health and environment from certain types of radiation
- Environmental radioactivity
- See also
- Notes and references
- External links
upright=1.5|thumb|right|An illustration of the relative abilities of three different types of ionizing radiation to penetrate solid matter. Typical alpha particles (α) are stopped by a sheet of paper, while beta particles (β) are stopped by 3mm aluminum foil. Gamma radiation (γ) is dampened when it penetrates lead. Note caveats in the text about this simplified diagram. border|right|frameless|597x597px thumb|upright|The international symbol for ionizing radiation (radioactivity) that is unsafe for Radiation shield|unshielded humans. Radiation, in general, exists throughout nature, such as in light and sound.
In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium. This includes: electromagnetic radiation consisting of photons, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma radiation (γ) particle radiation consisting of particles of non-zero rest energy, such as alpha radiation (α), beta radiation (β), proton radiation and neutron radiation acoustic radiation, such as ultrasound, sound, and seismic waves, all dependent on a physical transmission medium gravitational radiation, in the form of gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime