A simplified approach for presenting the differences between ionising and non-ionising electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

Electromagnetic radiation can be classified into two major types depending on its ability to detach electrons from atoms: ionising and non-ionising. The aforementioned categorization is significant due to the effects of ionising radiation on human tissue (e.g. carcinogenesis). However, many students around the globe cannot distinguish these two types of electromagnetic radiation and as a result significant misconceptions arise regarding this topic (for example radiation emitted by mobile phones is considered by many students as ionising). Hence, in this paper a teaching approach specifically designed and implemented for the secondary education level is presented, based on the absorbed energy distribution by atoms/molecules in each radiation type. More specifically, the number of atoms/molecules that absorb equal doses of energy per unit mass can be used in order to explain the difference in the effects caused by the two abovementioned radiation types. Also, two analogies from classical mechanics are presented to provide a full insight into the energy distribution concept from a teaching perspective.

Radiation Effects in Integrated Circuits, and Radiation Hardening Techniques

“…Ionizing radiation can ionize atoms. This form of ionization can irreversibly destroy a device if it accumulates too many particles [5]. Figure 1 compares two ionization processes.…”

Examining the production of some bands of the electromagnetic spectrum using KCl

“…Older studies examined student conceptions mainly in the area of nuclear -ionizing radiation [7][8][9]. In more recent studies, issues in several radiation bands [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] are examined. Students as well as the public have a number of lay-ideas on these issues which are different from scientific ideas [7].…”