UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information

I am a year 7 student and I am doing a project on Gamma Radiation and I was wondering if you could please answer a few questions for me? My questions are:

When does gamma radiation occur and is gamma radiation dangerous?

What is the difference between alpha and beta particles?

Question Date: 0000-00-00
Answer 1:

Gamma rays are high-energy light, higher-energy even than x-rays. They are created by nuclear reactions such as fission, fusion, or radioactive decay. Like any kind of high-energy radiation (even ultraviolet), they can alter DNA, which can in turn lead to a variety of other problems (e.g. cancer). Being as high-energy as they are, gamma rays are more dangerous than any other frequency of light, although there are ways to stop them.

Alpha and beta particles are not light at all. Alpha particles are helium atoms (two protons, two neutrons), and beta particles are electrons.


Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use