Where are gamma rays found in everyday life?

Where are gamma rays found in everyday life?

Gamma rays are ionizing electromagnetic radiation, obtained by the decay of an atomic nucleus. Gamma rays are more penetrating, in matter, and can damage living cells to a great extent. Gamma rays are used in medicine (radiotherapy), industry (sterilization and disinfection) and the nuclear industry.

How is gamma rays used in everyday life?

Gamma rays kill microbes, and are used to sterilise food so that it will keep fresh for longer. This is known as “irradiated” food. Gamma rays are also used to sterilise medical equipment.

What is an example of a gamma ray?

Gamma rays are the photons emitted from the atomic nuclear decay of radioactive isotopes—for example, 137Cs (cesium) or 60Co (cobalt). X-rays are photons electrically generated by bombarding a target such as tungsten with electrons (how a linear accelerator works).

What items produce gamma rays?

SOURCES OF GAMMA RAYS They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe, such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around black holes. On Earth, gamma waves are generated by nuclear explosions, lightning, and the less dramatic activity of radioactive decay.

Who found gamma rays?

Paul Villard
Gamma radiation is one of the three types of natural radioactivity discovered by Becquerel in 1896. Gamma rays were first observed in 1900 by the French chemist Paul Villard when he was investigating radiation from radium [1]. They are emitted by a nucleus in an excited state.

Does the sun have gamma rays?

Our Sun emits light at progressively shorter wavelengths, too: the ultraviolet, X-ray, and even gamma-ray parts of the spectrum. So, the only gamma rays from the Sun we receive here on Earth are from extreme solar events, such as the most powerful solar flares.

Where is gamma radiation most commonly found?

Gamma rays can be found practically anywhere in the universe. The best example is celestial bodies like the sun, pulsars, and white dwarfs. Each of these are massive sources energy burning off hydrogen in massive nuclear reactions. This produces massive amounts of radiation in the form of rays.

Are gamma rays naturally found?

X-rays and gamma rays can come from natural sources, such as radon gas, radioactive elements in the earth, and cosmic rays that hit the earth from outer space. But this type of radiation can also be man-made.

What are facts about gamma rays?

Facts about gamma radiation: 1. Production of Gamma Radiation. Gamma rays are produced from the excited nucleus of a radioactive element. An excited radioactive element decays to form its daughter element by a process called isometric transition.

How can gamma rays be harmful?

Gamma rays are dangerous because they have a high energy to break bonds. Even in low doses they can alter the DNA in the cell and result in changed metabolic functions of the cell. They can even cause cancer. Gamma rays can destroy cells and cause the immediate death of a person if given in high doses.