Open main menu

Changes

Gamma-ray

3,392 bytes added, 18:24, 21 February 2019
Created page with "==Key Stage 4== ===Meaning=== '''Gamma-rays''' are a type of ionising radiation and the highest frequency and shortest wavelength of Electroma..."
==Key Stage 4==
===Meaning===
'''Gamma-rays''' are a type of [[Ionising Radiation|ionising radiation]] and the highest [[frequency]] and shortest [[wavelength]] of [[Electromagnetic Wave|electromagnetic wave]].

===About Gamma-rays===
: [[Gamma-ray]]s are [[Transverse Wave|transverse waves]].
: [[Gamma-ray]]s can travel through a [[vacuum]] as well as through [[gas]]es in the [[Earth's Atmosphere|Earth's atmosphere]].
: The [[speed]] of [[gamma-ray]]s through a [[vacuum]] is 300,000,000[[m/s]].
As a [[wave]] [[gamma-ray]]s can be:
*[[Transmit|Transmitted]] - [[Gamma-ray]]s can pass through a [[medium]].
*[[Absorb (physics)|Absorbed]] - The [[energy]] [[Energy Transfer|transferred]] by [[gamma-ray]]s can be taken in by certain [[material]]s.
*[[Refraction|Refracted]] - [[Gamma-ray]]s can change direction when they cross the [[interface]] between two [[medium|media]].
However, unlike most [[wave]]s [[gamma-ray]]s cannot be:
*[[Reflection|Reflected]] - There are no known [[material]]s on [[Earth]] that can [[reflect]] [[gamma-ray]]s.
====Unique Properties====
: [[Gamma-ray]]s are the highest [[energy]] [[electromagnetic Wave|electromagnetic waves]].
: [[Gamma-ray]]s are [[emit]]ted from the [[Atomic Nucleus|atomic nucleus]] of [[Unstable Isotope|unstable]] [[Radioactive|radioactive]] [[isotope]]s.
: [[Gamma-ray]]s cause [[electron]]s in [[material]]s to gain enough [[energy]] to leave [[atom]]s creating [[ion]]s which can destroy [[Chemical Bond|chemical bonds]].
: [[Gamma-ray]]s are the most [[penetrating]], but least [[ionising]] form of [[Ionising Radiation]].
: [[Gamma-ray]]s can penetrate most [[material]]s except for thick [[lead]] and thick sheets of other [[element]]s more [[dense]] than [[lead]] on the [[Periodic Table|periodic table]].
: [[Gamma-ray]]s cannot pass through heavy [[metal]]s ([[metal]]s with a high [[Atomic Mass|atomic mass]]).
====Applications====
: [[Gamma-ray]]s can be used to sterilise food and medical equipment because it causes [[electron]]s in [[material]]s to gain enough [[energy]] to leave [[atom]]s creating [[ion]]s which can destroy [[Chemical Bond|chemical bonds]] in [[micro-organism]]s thereby destroying the [[micro-organism]].
: [[Gamma-ray]]s can be used to [[irradiate]] [[cancer]]ous tumors because they [[ionise]] [[atom]]s, destroying [[Chemical Bond|chemical bond]]s and can kill the [[Cell (Biology)|cells]]. [[Cancer]] [[Cell (Biology)|cells]] are weaker than healthy [[Cell (Biology)|cells]] so more of the [[cancer]] [[Cell (Biology)|cells]] will be killed than healthy ones.
: [[Gamma-ray]]s cab be used to trace the flow of [[fluid]]s through [[organ]]s because [[Gamma-ray]]s are [[emit]]ted from the [[Atomic Nucleus|atomic nucleus]] of [[Unstable Isotope|unstable]] [[Radioactive|radioactive]] [[isotope]]s which can be injected into a patient and they can penetrate most [[material]]s so they leave the body without being [[reflect]]ed, [[refract]]ed or [[Absorb (Physics)|absorbed]].

====Dangers====
: [[Gamma-ray]]s can cause cancer because [[gamma-ray]]s can [[penetrate]] soft [[tissue]] and can ionise and damage [[DNA]] [[molecule]]s in the body [[Cell (Biology)|cells]] leading to a [[mutation]].
: High intensity [[gamma-ray]]s can cause [[Radiation Sickness|radiation sickness]] because they can ionise and damage all parts of a [[Cell (Biology)|biology]] killing that [[Cell (Biology)|cell]].