Basic Concepts of Radiation Physics

Gloriamaris L. Caraos
Biomedical Research Section
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Part I. The Atomic Structure
 Ernest Rutherford
• Discovered nuclear nature
of atoms
 Ernest Rutherford
• Bombarded
gold foil with
alpha
particles
 Ernest Rutherford
• 1 in 8000 of alpha
particles is scattered by
large angles after
striking the gold foil

• Small dense portion of

the matter deflects the
particles

• NUCLEUS
 The Atomic Structure
• Following the theories of Rutherford & other
scientists..

ANIMATION
 The Atomic Structure
• All atoms are composed electrons, protons, &
neutrons

nucleus

electrons
 The Atomic Structure
• Proton (p)
 carries the positive electric
charge

• Electron (e-)
 has a negative charge
 has 1/1840 mass of p

• Neutron (n)
 Electrically neutral
 The Atomic Structure
• Proton (p)
 Mass = 1.007276 u
 1.672623 x 10-27 kg
 u – atomic mass unit

• Electron (e-)
 Mass = 0.000548580 u
 9.10939 x 10-31 kg

• Neutron (n)
 Mass = 1.008665 u
 1.674939 x 10-27 kg
 The Atomic Structure

The electrons (-) orbit around the atom’s nucleus in much the
Way as the planets revolve around the sun
The Atomic Structure
 Atomic notation
Mass number

A
P
(nucleon number)

animation

Z
Number
of protons
(atomic number)

Name of element

A=Z+N
 Atomic notation
4 238 23
2 He 92 U 11 Na

2 neutrons 146 neutrons 12 neutrons

2 protons 92 protons 11 protons

He-4 U-238 Na-23

 Atomic notation
• How many neutrons are there in Co-60 which has
27 protons? What is the atomic number?

• How many neutrons are there in Ir-192 which has

77 protons? What is the mass number?
 Isotopes
• A single specie with specific values of Z & N is
called a nuclide
• Some nuclides have the same Z but different N 
isotope
• They have different masses because they have
different number of neutrons
 Isotopes
• Hydrogen (H): Z = 1
 H-1, H-2, H-3

• Oxygen (O): Z = 8
 O-16, O-17, O-18

• Cesium (Cs): Z = 55
 Cs- 135, Cs-136, Cs-137, Cs-138
 Nuclear Stability: Radioactivity

• Of about 2500 known nuclides, fewer than 300

are stable

• The rest are unstable structures that decay by

emitting particles and/or electromagnetic
radiation

• RADIOACTIVITY
 In summary..
• All atoms are composed electrons, protons, &
neutrons
– The electrons (-) orbit around the atom’s nucleus
– Protons & neutrons form the nucleus (central core)
• A single specie with specific values of Z & N is called
a nuclide
• Some nuclides have the same Z but different N 
isotope
Questions???
Part II. Ionizing Radiation
What is Radiation?
 What is Radiation?
Radiation is a form of energy
traveling through a medium or
space. It travels as waves or
subatomic particles through
air, water or solid materials.
 WAVES PARTICLES

What is Radiation?
Radiation is a form of energy traveling through a medium or space. It travels as
waves or subatomic particles through air, water or solid materials.
 WAVES PARTICLES

NON-IONISING IONISING
What is Radiation?
Radiation is a form of energy traveling through a medium or space. It travels as
waves or subatomic particles through air, water or solid materials.
 What is Ionizing Radiation?

Type of radiation
e-
that has sufficient
energy to knock-out
electrons in atoms
and molecules

+ atom
Types of Ionizing Radiation
 Alpha particles
 Beta particles
 Gamma rays
 X-rays
 Neutrons
 Alpha particle
4
2  

- size : relatively large

- composed of nuclei of Helium-4 atoms
- consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
 Beta - particle
 

- very small compared with a particles

- consists of energetic electrons
 X-rays & Gamma Rays

- Not particles but bursts of very high

energy as EM radiations
- mass : 0
 Types of Ionizing Radiation

Alpha

Beta

Gamma
 Types of Ionizing Radiation
Alpha

Beta

Gamma
Types of Ionizing Radiation

ionized
Not ionized
 Types of Ionizing Radiation
Alpha

Beta

Gamma
 Radiation Hazards
• Alpha particles
 have short ranges in air, water or tissues
 not considered external hazards since they
cannot penetrate the dead layer of the skin

• Beta particles
 low energy beta particles not considered
external hazards
 high energy beta particles are external
radiation hazards to skin and eyes
 not considered external radiation hazards
to other organs

• Gamma rays
 highly penetrating
 can penetrate all organs of the body
 are significant external radiation hazards
• Neutrons
 uncharged particles, highly penetrating
 external hazards
 can be captured by a nucleus resulting to
gamma ray emission
 Radiation Hazards
....neutrons, x-rays & gamma rays
are more hazardous for the

entire body..
....alpha & beta emitters are more
hazardous When they are
ingested or inhaled..
 Sources of Ionising Radiation
• Radioactive materials
– Radioactive materials continuously emit
radiation
– Cannot be turned OFF

• Radiation emitting devices or

equipment (e.g. X-ray machines)
– Machines can be turned ON and OFF
– When turned OFF, no radiation is
emitted
 Sources of Ionising Radiation
• Radioactive materials
– Radioactive materials continuously emit
radiation
– Cannot be turned OFF

• Radiation emitting devices or

equipment (e.g. X-ray machines)
– Machines can be turned ON and OFF
– When turned OFF, no radiation is
emitted
 Radioactive Materials
• Radioactive materials are unstable
atoms, i.e. they have too much
energy.

• To become stable, the excess energy

is emitted in the form of ionizing
radiation.

• Release of ENERGY

• decays to form a more stable nuclide

• Results in the formation of new

elements

• There are about more than 2,000

unstable or radioactive nuclides
 Radioactive Materials
• The rate at which the is
radiation emitted is called the
activity
• Becquerel (Bq) OR Curie (Ci)

1 Bq = 1 disintegration per second (dps)

1 Ci = 3.7 x 1010 Bq
 Radioactive Materials
• As radioactive materials become
more stable, the total number of
unstable atoms decreases with time.

• This process is called radioactive

decay.

• Radioactive materials do not remain

radioactive all the time.

• Half-life
• The TIME taken for one half the
nuclei in the sample to decay
 Radioactive Materials
• As radioactive materials become
more stable, the total number of
unstable atoms decreases with time. Cs-137 ~ 30 years
• This process is called radioactive I-131 ~ 8 days
decay. Sr-90 ~ 28 yrs
• Radioactive materials do not remain
Cs-134 ~ 2 yrs
radioactive all the time.

• Half-life
• The TIME taken for one half the
nuclei in the sample to decay
 In summary..
• Radiation is the process of emitting energy through a
medium or space in the form of waves or particles
• Two types of radiation are IONIZING & NON-IONIZING
RADIATION
• Most common types of ionizing radiation are alpha
particles, beta particles, X-rays, gamma-rays, & neutron
• X-rays & gamma rays are more hazardous for the entire
body while alpha & beta emitters are more hazardous
when they are ingested or inhaled
 Types of Ionizing Radiation
 Alpha particles
....x-rays & gamma rays are more
 Beta particles hazardous for the entire
 Gamma rays body..
 X-rays
....alpha & beta emitters are more
 Neutrons hazardous When they are
ingested or inhaled..
Questions?
That’s all..

Thank you!!!!