InstroTek
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4. Radiation Theory
This chapter covers information on basic atomic physics. It is
important that the users have an understanding of this section
in order to have a handle on applications and safety related
issues.
Elements/Atoms
Elements
are combinations of the three sub-atomic particles:
Protons, Electrons and Neutrons. Each element has unique
chemical properties. Typical elements are Silicon, Oxygen,
Gold, Copper, and Iron. Currently 118 primary elements have
been identified, 90 natural, the rest man made. A few of the
elements have been created only in the laboratory, but they
decay very quickly.
Atom
is a Greek word for indivisible. The simplest element/atom
is hydrogen. It has one proton, no neutrons, and one electron.
A more complex element is oxygen that has 8 protons and 8
neutrons in the nucleus, and 8 electrons in orbit.
ELECTRON -1
NUCLEUS +1
1
HYDROGEN H
1
16
OXYGEN O
8
NUCLEUS +8
ELECTRONS -8
Fig 4.1 Examples of Atoms
