Summary

The most dangerous component of nuclear science has always seemed to be radiation, the bio-destructive byproduct of fission. The act of fissioning a uranium or plutonium nucleus releases energy, and about 10 percent of this energy is in the form of intense, penetrating radiation. The entire measure of energy from fission can take thousands of years to fully materialize, and therein lies the problem. Long after the fission has occurred to produce power in a nuclear reactor, the power plant has worn out and been torn down, and the ground on which the power plant sat has been seeded in grass and returned to nature, a weak echo of the power production can still occur in the remaining fission byproducts. It is this lingering hint of danger that must be studied and understood for a complete survey of nuclear power and the technology that makes it possible.

Radiation explains the nature of radiation in its many forms. It explores what is and isn't dangerous about radiation, explaining its effects in matter in both living and non-living things. This comprehensive new resource also examines the many industrial uses of radiation, from smoke detectors to dental X-rays; the many techniques used to detect and measure this invisible phenomenon; practical measures of radiation protection; and ways of treating radiation exposure. Complete with full-color photographs and illustrations, Radiation is a timely guide written in accessible language that will appeal to high school and college students alike.

Specifications

Full-color photographs and line illustrations. Index. Glossary. Chronology. Further print and Web resources.

About the Author(s)

James A. Mahaffey, Ph.D., has more than 25 years' experience as a senior research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, where he was engaged in a wide variety of projects, ranging from theoretical mathematics to nuclear science. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, he completed undergraduate and master's studies and earned a doctorate there in nuclear engineering. He was director of a long-term project to design and build the Emergency Response Data System at Georgia Power's Plant Hatch nuclear power station. He has also worked on projects for the Defense Nuclear Agency, the National Ground Intelligence Center, and the Air Force Air Logistics Center.