Radioactivity: principles, properties, and applications

Radioactivity

The transformation of atoms in a matter results in emission of radiations giving rise to release of energy that are of categorized under three heads. There are several uses of such radiations. The significance of this paper lies in the necessity of being aware of different types of the radiations as the very universe that we live on has been radioactive since its origin.

The matter is formed out of the atoms which are considered normally to be stable. However, some of them are automatically altered to form emission of radiation that release energy. Such an activity is known as radioactivity. The natural radioactivity was first discovered by A.H. Becquerel in 1896 with making the salts of uranium to approach the vicinity of an unexposed photographic plate meticulously safeguarded from light. The radiation out of the uranium salts also results in a charged electroscope to discharge. (Radioactivity: The Columbia Encyclopedia)

There exist three kinds of radiations in consonance with the three types of radioactivity. Alpha radioactivity results from emission of a helium nucleus considered specifically to be a stable structure comprising of two protons and two neutrons known as a particle. Beta radioactivity results from transformation in the nucleus resulting in transformation of neutron into proton known as beta- radioactivity symbolized by the emission of an electron e- or of a proton into a neutron, beta+ radioactivity symbolized by the emission of an anti-electron or positron e+. This is evident only in case of artificial radioactive nuclei generated by nuclear reactions. Contrary to this the gamma radioactivity is associated with transmutation of the nucleus. It is the consequence of emission by the nucleus, of an electromagnetic radiation such as visible light or X-rays, however, are considered more energetic. (What is radioactivity?)