Glossary
A
Absorbed Dose - the measurement of the amount of energy absorbed by a kilogram of tissue. Measured in gray (Gy)
Alpha Radiation - The ejection of a He++ particle from the nucleus of an atom
Atomic Number - Number of protons in an atom
B
Background Radiation - Radiation that is always present during life. Examples: Sun, Space, Soil, House materials, Medical procedures, Power Plants
Beta- Radiation - The ejection of an electron from the nucleus due to the change of a neutron to a protron.
Beta+ Radiation - The change of a proton to a neutron. Very uncommon.
C
Cosmic Radiation - radiation from space. Example: radiation from the big bang
D
Daughter Nucleus - The nucleus that remains after radioactive decay has occured. It is generally more stable than the original nucleus
Decay Chain - The sequence of radioactive phases that a radioisotope passes through, as it becomes stable. It can contain many different equations of each type of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma)
Decay Curve - The graph of the half-life
Decay Equation - An equation used to represent the changes that a nucleus undergoes during radioactive decay
Dose Equivalent - A measurement used to describe the biological effect of radiation on the body. This takes into account the type of radiation that occurs. Measured in sieverts (Sv)
E
Electron - Small negatively charged particle found in the outer parts of the atom. (Around the nucleus)
Element - Consists only of the same atom
Excited Nucleus - Extra energy exists in the nucleus
F
Free radicals - Charged pieces of a molecule, after a molecule has been split by the removal of an electron from a bond.
G
Gamma Ray - The release of a photon or energy. No particles are emitted.
H
Half-life - The time taken for the half of a group of radioactive / unstable atoms to decay
I
Isotope - Different forms of the same atom. They have the same atomic number but different mass numbers due to differing amounts of neutrons.
Ion - A charged form of an atom. This is due to the gain or loss of electrons.
Ionising Power - A description of how easily the radiation can cause ions to form.
M
Mass Number - The number of nucleons in an atom
N
Neutrons - Neutrally charged particle found in the nucleus.
Nucleus - The center of an atom. It consists of protons and neutrons, and contains most of the atom's mass.
Nucleons - The particles in a nucleus, protons and neutrons.
P
Proton - Positively charged particle found in the nucleus.
R
Radioisotope - An unstable isotope which which undergoes radioactive decay
T
Terrestrial Radiation - radiation from earth. Examples: bricks, nuclear testing, TV, digital devices
Absorbed Dose - the measurement of the amount of energy absorbed by a kilogram of tissue. Measured in gray (Gy)
Alpha Radiation - The ejection of a He++ particle from the nucleus of an atom
Atomic Number - Number of protons in an atom
B
Background Radiation - Radiation that is always present during life. Examples: Sun, Space, Soil, House materials, Medical procedures, Power Plants
Beta- Radiation - The ejection of an electron from the nucleus due to the change of a neutron to a protron.
Beta+ Radiation - The change of a proton to a neutron. Very uncommon.
C
Cosmic Radiation - radiation from space. Example: radiation from the big bang
D
Daughter Nucleus - The nucleus that remains after radioactive decay has occured. It is generally more stable than the original nucleus
Decay Chain - The sequence of radioactive phases that a radioisotope passes through, as it becomes stable. It can contain many different equations of each type of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma)
Decay Curve - The graph of the half-life
Decay Equation - An equation used to represent the changes that a nucleus undergoes during radioactive decay
Dose Equivalent - A measurement used to describe the biological effect of radiation on the body. This takes into account the type of radiation that occurs. Measured in sieverts (Sv)
E
Electron - Small negatively charged particle found in the outer parts of the atom. (Around the nucleus)
Element - Consists only of the same atom
Excited Nucleus - Extra energy exists in the nucleus
F
Free radicals - Charged pieces of a molecule, after a molecule has been split by the removal of an electron from a bond.
G
Gamma Ray - The release of a photon or energy. No particles are emitted.
H
Half-life - The time taken for the half of a group of radioactive / unstable atoms to decay
I
Isotope - Different forms of the same atom. They have the same atomic number but different mass numbers due to differing amounts of neutrons.
Ion - A charged form of an atom. This is due to the gain or loss of electrons.
Ionising Power - A description of how easily the radiation can cause ions to form.
M
Mass Number - The number of nucleons in an atom
N
Neutrons - Neutrally charged particle found in the nucleus.
Nucleus - The center of an atom. It consists of protons and neutrons, and contains most of the atom's mass.
Nucleons - The particles in a nucleus, protons and neutrons.
P
Proton - Positively charged particle found in the nucleus.
R
Radioisotope - An unstable isotope which which undergoes radioactive decay
T
Terrestrial Radiation - radiation from earth. Examples: bricks, nuclear testing, TV, digital devices