Types of Contamination
Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 4.2.23
Types of Contamination
Contamination is when radioactive substances occur from inside something. Different kinds of radiation have different effects.
Alpha
- Alpha is the most dangerous form of radiation inside the body.
- It cannot penetrate (pass through) the skin so, it stays in the body.
- This can cause cell mutations.
- Alpha radiation is also the most ionising of the 3 types of radiation.
Beta
- Beta is not very harmful as it can pass out of the body.
Gamma
- Gamma is the least harmful radiation.
- It is the most penetrative (passes through things most easily), and so it will easily pass out of the body.
Test yourself on Types of Contamination
Types of Contamination
Which type of contamination/radiation is most likely to cause cell mutations?