Radioactive Irradiation and Contamination (GCSE Physics)
Radioactive Irradiation and Contamination
Contamination
- Radiation can be unwanted. Previously, we mentioned that we can use radiation in a variety of ways. However, there are times when we do not want radiation to reach some objects.
- Contamination is unwanted radiation. Unwanted radiation is called radioactive contamination. When radioactive particles come into contact with different objects, they might contaminate those objects, making them radioactive as well. This can potentially be hazardous.
- The type of radiation affects hazard levels. We know that there are various forms of radiation and each of types carries its own hazards. Alpha radiation tends to contaminate a small area, so an alpha source can be dangerous if it gets inside the body.
Irradiation
- Objects can become irradiated. When we expose an object to nuclear radiation, it can become irradiated. This simply means that if there is a radioactive source, any objects exposed to it will be called ‘irradiated’.
- Irradiation does not always lead to radioactivity. Even if an object becomes ‘irradiated’, it does not become radioactive. Irradiation simply refers to the exposure to a radioactive source, not that objects are become radioactive due to it.
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