Gamma Rays, Production, Properties, Applications, Practice Problems, FAQs

Have you ever considered how cancer can be treated without undergoing surgery? The DNA of the malignant tumour is destroyed by gamma radiation. As a result, we can use gamma rays to treat cancer. As a result, gamma radiation has a wide range of medicinal applications. We'll discuss gamma rays in this article in detail.

Table of Contents

Gamma Rays
Production of Gamma Rays
Properties of Gamma Rays
Applications of Gamma Rays
Practice Problems
FAQs

Gamma Rays

Gamma rays, the most intense type of light, are exceptionally penetrating electromagnetic energy emitted during radioactive decay by the nucleus of specific radionuclides. In 1896, a French scientist named Henri Becquerel is credited with discovering gamma rays.

Following prior studies of radioactive nuclear discharges, British physicist Ernest Rutherford coined the term "gamma ray" in 1903. These rays have no electric charge and may travel long distances through materials until hitting with several centimetres of lead or a metre of concrete, which is required to bring them to a halt.

Gamma rays electromagnetic waves and denoted by Greek symbol . It has the frequency range from to . Below diagram shows the position of rays on the electromagnetic spectrum arranged in increasing order of wavelengths.

Production of Gamma Rays

Not every atom is stable, as we know. Unstable atoms continually expel energy and mass from their nucleus in an attempt to attain stability, which frequently results in the production of whole new elements. Radioactive decay is the term for this. During the breakdown of unstable nuclei, radiation is the discharge of subatomic particles such as Alpha (), Beta (), and Gamma () particles, as well as the energy associated with them. Gamma rays are formed as a result of the disintegration of certain subatomic particles and the breakdown of radioactive atomic nuclei. The universe's hottest and most energetic objects create these strong beams. On Earth, gamma rays are released by a variety of sources, including nuclear explosions, lightning, and radioactive decay. Nuclear processes include fusion, fission, alpha decay, and gamma decay. The mechanism through which the sun and stars obtain their energy is known as nuclear fusion.

Properties of Gamma Rays

Because gamma rays have no charge, they are considered neutral.
Gamma rays have a wavelength of less than 10 picometer and an energy of more than 100 keV. As a result, they can't be seen or touched.
Photographic film, fluorescence, polarisation, and diffraction are all used to detect it.
They have a strong penetrating ability.
Detecting gamma rays is difficult due to their strong penetrating strength. As a result, detecting gamma rays requires the use of a specialised detector known as a gamma ray telescope, which detects gamma rays via the Compton Scattering process.
The strongest form of radiation is a gamma ray. When compared to Alpha and Beta rays, its propagation is given below.
In comparison to alpha and beta particles, gamma rays have the least ionising power.

Applications of Gamma Rays

Despite their bio-hazardous nature, gamma rays may be controlled and used for a range of important applications:

It's used to treat cancer that doesn't require surgery. The DNA of the malignant tumour is destroyed by gamma radiation.
Gamma radiation can change the properties of certain semi-precious stones. It's widely used in the conversion of white topaz to blue topaz.
Because weak gamma rays can easily eliminate bacteria, we employ them to keep products fresh for a long time.
To provide useful information about the structure of an atomic nucleus.
In medicine, gamma rays are used for radiotherapy and sterilisation of medical equipment.
In the oil business, gamma rays are utilised to check and find weak spots in pipelines.
In the sphere of science, gamma rays are used in nuclear reactor building.

Practice Problems

Q 1. Which of the following is/are the sources of gamma rays?a

a. Radioactive Decay
b. The Sun
c. Collapsing Stars
d. All of the above

A. (d) Gamma rays are produced during radioactive decay, in nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun, collapsing of stars. So option (d) is correct.

Q 2. Which of the following thing/s gamma rays can penetrate?a

a. Skin
b. Bones
c. Aluminium
d. All of the above

A. (d) Gamma rays have very high penetrating power. So they pass through skin, bone and aluminium. So option (d) is correct.

Q 3. Frequencies of Radio Waves, Gamma Rays and Ultraviolet Rays are respectively then?

a.
b.
c.
d.

A. (a) Gamma rays have the highest frequency in electromagnetic radiation then UV rays and radio waves have lowest frequency. So option (a) is correct.

Q 4. are the speeds of gamma rays, x-rays and microwaves in vacuum then?

a.
b.
c.
d.

A. (c) Gamma rays, x-rays and microwaves are electromagnetic waves. So they have the same speed equal to the speed of light in vacuum. So option (c) is correct.

FAQs

Q 1. What is the highest frequency component of the electromagnetic spectrum?
A. Gamma rays have the shortest wavelength and the highest frequency.

Q 2. Is it possible to transmit radio/TV/mobile signals using gamma rays?
A. No, gamma rays have a short range of action. Furthermore, they are hazardous and have penetrating force on the stuff with which they contact, and they can hurt live body tissues.

Q 3. Can we deflect gamma rays using electromagnetic fields?
A. Gamma rays are neutral so we can not deflect them using electromagnetic fields.

Q 4. What is the effect of gamma ray emission from a nucleus on the number of protons and neutrons of the atom?
A. No, there is no change in proton number or neutron number after the emission of gamma rays as they do not have any charge or mass.