Understanding Radiation
Natural and Man-made Sources of Radiation
We are constantly exposed to radiation, whether cosmic
radiation from outer space or radiation from
radioactive elements in the earth’s rocks and soil.
These sources contribute to the natural background
radiation that has always been around us. But there are
also man-made sources of radiation, such as medical
and dental x-rays, household smoke detectors, and
materials released from nuclear and coal-fired
power plants.
All matter in the universe is made of atoms, and
radiation comes from the activity of these tiny
particles. Atoms are made up of even smaller
particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The
arrangement of these particles distinguishes one atom
from another.
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