Ionizing vs. Non-Ionizing Radiation
Learning Objective
I can differentiate between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and their effects.
Key Concepts
Electromagnetic radiation is pure energy consisting of interacting electrical and magnetic waves oscillating through space, while nuclear radiation originates in the atomic nucleus.
Radiation becomes risky when it rips atoms' electrons away upon impact, a process that can damage DNA, also known as ionizing radiation.
An acute exposure to one sievert of radiation will probably cause nausea within hours, and four sieverts could be fatal.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What is the fundamental difference between electromagnetic radiation and nuclear radiation, as described in the video?
2. Which type of radiation is capable of removing electrons from atoms, and what is this process called?
3. Give three examples of electromagnetic radiation from the video, and order them from lowest to highest energy.
...and 9 more questions
Educational Video
Is radiation dangerous? - Matt Anticole
TED-Ed