2.8: Unit #2 Glossary of Terms

Radiation Safety (Ballard) · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Example and Directions
    Words (or words that have the same definition)The definition is case sensitive(Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages](Optional) Caption for Image(Optional) External or Internal Link(Optional) Source for Definition
    (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...")(Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity")IllustrationThe infamous double helix https://bio.libretexts.org/CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen
    Glossary Entries
    Word(s)DefinitionImageCaptionLinkSource
    X-ray– a type of ionizing radiation formed in a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) when high velocity electrons flow from the cathode to the anode.    
    SIThe International System of units of measurement. Includes most of the base units formerly called metric.    
    Roentgen (R) –is a unit of measurement to the exposure of ionizing radiation, specifically Gamma radiation and X-rays, named after the German physicist.    
    RadioactivityThe characteristic of various materials to emit ionizing radiation.    
    RadiationEnergy in transit. Either as particles or electromagnetic waves.    
    Radiant energy, QeEnergy transmitted through a medium by electromagnetic waves. Also known as radiation.    
    Protona subatomic particle present in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in magnitude to that of an electron, but of opposite sign.    
    PhotonsDiscrete particles of light or electromagnetic radiation hypothesized to explain the corpuscular theory of radiant energy.    
    Particulate (or particle) Radiationis the radiation of energy by means of fast-moving subatomic particles. Alpha particles, Beta particles, neutrons, and positrons are examples of particulate radiation.    
    Neutrona subatomic particle with about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge. Neutrons are present in all atoms except the Hydrogen atom.    
    Isotopesatoms with same atomic number and chemical properties as element atoms; the nucleus has same number of protons but a different number of neutrons and thus, a different atomic mass.    
    Ionizing Radiationa type of radiation that is able to disrupt atoms and molecules on which they pass through, giving rise to ions and free radicals.    
    IonizationThe removal of electrons from an atom. The essential characteristic of high-energy radiations when interacting with matter.    
    Ionan atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons. A positively or negatively charged atom or molecule.    
    Electrona stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atoms.    
    Electromagnetic spectrumA continuum of electric and magnetic radiation encompassing all wavelengths.    
    Becquerel, BqSi unit for measuring radioactivity.    
    Curie(Ci) is the unit of measurement of the amount of radioactivity of a substance, named after Marie and Pierre Curie. 1 Ci = 3.7×1010 disintegrations per second (rate of decay)    
    AtomThe fundamental basic building block of matter made up of three subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The basic unit of a chemical element of the periodic chart.    
    ALARA: “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” Personnel working in the field are required to keep their radiation exposures ALARA.    

    This page titled 2.8: Unit #2 Glossary of Terms was last modified on Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:14:22 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by J. S. Ballard via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.