What are gamma rays?
Q: What are gamma rays?
A: Gamma rays are electromagnetic waves with the smallest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Q: Who discovered gamma rays?
A: Gamma rays were discovered by Paul Villard in 1900.
Q: What is the difference between gamma rays and x-rays?
A: Gamma rays are like x-rays, but the waves are smaller in wavelength. Both gamma rays and x-rays are photons with very high energies, and gamma rays have even more energy. Gamma rays can travel through thicker materials than x-rays can.
Q: How are gamma rays produced?
A: Gamma rays are produced by some types of radioactive atoms. Cobalt-60 and potassium-40 are two isotopes that emit gamma rays.
Q: What is ionizing radiation?
A: Gamma rays are a type of ionizing radiation.
Q: What is the difference between the gamma rays emitted by cobalt-60 and potassium-40?
A: Gamma rays from potassium-40 each have an energy of 1460 thousand electron volts (keV).
Q: How can you distinguish between gamma rays and x-rays?
A: Gamma rays and X-rays can also be distinguished by their origin: X-rays are emitted by electrons outside the nucleus, while gamma rays are emitted by the nucleus.
