Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation is a form of energy that affects materials like air, water, and living tissue by removing electrons from their atoms and molecules. Ionizing radiation, also referred to as “nuclear radiation,” is made up of electromagnetic waves or subatomic particles that have enough energy to break the electron bonds in atoms or molecules, ionizing them. The electromagnetic waves are located in the high-energy region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the particles travel at 99% the speed of light on average. Examples of typical ionizing subatomic particles are neutrons, beta particles, and alpha particles. They are almost energetic enough to ionize the target and are typically produced by radioactive decay. Additionally, muons, mesons, and positrons are produced when cosmic rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, carbon-14 radioisotopes, whose decay produces ionizing radiation, could be produced on Earth by cosmic rays. The two main natural processes that...