Asking lots of questions like this will hopefully cause the student to become interested in the finding out more about radiation. Background Information Radiation is a process of energy being emitted in the form of particles or waves.
Radiation is emitted from atoms that are changing.
It has a relatively large mass and a positive charge. Alpha particles are easily shielded by a piece of paper or human skin. Therefore, health effects of alpha exposure occur only when the particles are inhaled, ingested, or enter the body through a cut in the skin. The a particles emitted inside the body, for example in bone marrow, can be exceedingly dangerous. Six millimeters of aluminum are needed to stop most b particles.