Radioactivity - Kids' Lesson

Radioactivity might sound like that big, bad word; it actually works to help us understand more about the world we are living in. In this blog, we're diving in to see just what radioactivity is, how it works, and why anybody needs to come to terms with such information, especially kids. We will also be talking about radioactive pollution, radioactive elements, and what "radioactive" really means so that you can be a bit of a scientist yourself.

What is Radioactivity?

But before going into the details, let's answer a simple question: What is radioactivity?

Imagine a small particle inside an atom, the building block of everything that exists. Sometimes, such particles lose stability and start to decay. When these decay, they throw out energy, which could be in the form of some invisible rays or little particles. This is known as radioactivity.

Simply put, radioactivity is the radiation process by which unstable atoms release energy so that they become stable. For the radioactivity process in creating stability, the emission may come in more than one form, such as alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. These forms of energy actually create radiated elements in an interesting, sometimes useful, and hazardous way through interactions if not handled with the proper care.

Who made the initial discovery of radioactivity?

Henri Becquerel made the discovery of uranium's radioactivity in 1896. He began with a false theory but gradually came to understand what he was seeing and kept the French Academy of Sciences informed of his progress.

Radioactive Elements: What Are They?

Now that we know what radioactivity is, let's take time to know the elements that are involved. You have probably heard such elements including gold, silver, and iron. These are all some examples of elements. Guess what? Some elements are radioactive, just like that.

Radioactive elements are unique mainly because they are naturally inclined to emit radioactivity. In simpler words, they crave to be at the highest point of the half-life action. Common radioactive materials you might have heard of easily include uranium, radium, or thorium. These can all be found in the natural world, but in the wrong way of approach can be dangerous too.

The Radioactive Meaning: What Does it Really Mean?

So what do we mean actually when we call something "radioactive"? Well, the radioactive meaning is simple: it's any substance or element which is giving off radiation.

Put another way, if a material is radioactive, it is actively giving off energy in the form of rays, or particles. This might occur naturally, such as with radioactive elements, as was previously noted. More likely, however, this results from human uses, such as including certain materials in concocting medicines or producing electricity in generating nuclear power.

How is Radioactivity Used?

Now that we know what radioactive meaning is and have been speaking of radioactive elements, let's see how radioactivity is applied in our day-to-day activities. You will be surprised to know that radioactivity does not concern science labs or power plants, and in fact, it is used in so many ways to help people.

Medicine: The usefulness of this radioactivity in the field of medicine is mainly for the purpose of diagnosing and the treatment of diseases by physicians. For instance, there are some types of scans that are radioactive to be able to look inside the body so that they can help the doctors see the problems of the people, such as broken bones or the growths of tumors.

Energy: Some power plants use radioactive elements to generate electricity. Such power facilities are referred to as nuclear power plants. They produce very high energy. Besides this, they also generate what is called radioactive pollution, which might be harmful depending on one's management practices.

Food Preservation: Small amounts of radiation are used in preserving food by killing bacteria and other germs. These help keep foods fresh for longer periods.

Radioactive Pollution: What and Why Is It Important?

One of the things one would need to learn about radioactivity is radioactive pollution. Radioactive pollution is simply defined as pollutants which are radioactive materials, usually resulting from human activities.

Radioactive pollution may take place in a number of ways. For instance, in the production of electricity, there are certain wastes from nuclear power plants that are radioactive and remain that way. If their disposal is not done in an apt manner, it becomes the cause of seepage into the environment, leading to radioactive soil, water, and air. This, in turn, then becomes extremely dangerous, as it results in illness both to human beings and animals and may remain for very long periods.

There are also accidents, such as that which took place in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986. From a nuclear explosion in that energy station, many radioactive materials flowed into the environment, thus causing very high levels of radioactive pollution. The surrounding area was made unsuitable for human habitation.

Remember that even though radioactivity has numerous useful applications, it has to be conducted very carefully to guard against radioactive pollution. This fact is well appreciated by scientists and engineers who work tirelessly to find ways of managing radioactive waste and also making sure our environment is safe.

How to Stay Safe Around Radioactive Materials

Now that you have learned about radioactive elements and the hazards of radioactive pollution, one needs to be informed on how to keep safe should they find themselves in a situation where something is radioactive.

Don’t Touch:  If you see a sign that says something is radioactive or find something that looks strange, don't touch it! Tell an adult right away. Radioactive materials can be dangerous—particularly when you do not know how to handle them.

Follow these directions: Sometimes when you are in places like hospitals, you may see signs that warn you about radioactivity. Always obey whatever your doctor or an older person tells you. They know how to keep you safe. Get Informed: One of the best ways to be safe with radioactivity is to keep on learning about it, just like you are doing right now. The more you know, the safer you can be in a situation where radioactive materials are around.

Stay Away from Polluted Areas: In case there was some accident or spill that had effected the area with radioactivity, one should keep away from that place. The radiation, although invisible to the human eye, may be very dangerous.

Interesting Facts About Radioactivity

Now that we have covered some of the very essentials of radioactivity, we can go on to some neat and interesting facts about radioactivity that you may like to know:

Some famous discoveries of the scientist, Marie Curie includes that of radium and polonium. She has received two Novel Prizes for her contribution to science, in the field of radioactivity.

One of the radioactive elements in bananas is intrace amounts and is called potassium-40. But, it should be noted that it is not possible to get radiation injuries by eating bananas as such.

As with Calciapp,bing through the outer space of the universe, other types of cosmic rays always reach the earth. However, most of them are filtered by the protective atmospheric cover ad the magnetic shield of the earth.

Glow-in-the-dark watches originally used a radioactive material in its making: radium. Today, this metal has since been replaced with safe, nontoxic material.

Radioactive dating has provided a factor that scientists have employed in determining the age of an artifact be it of that matte can be measured by estimating the quantity of radiation remaining in it.

How Radioactivity Affects Our Environment

Although radioactivity has many useful applications, it can also wreak disastrous effects toward our environment if it is not handled properly. Radioactive pollution is one of the severe concerns with regard to the protection of our planet from the harmful effects of radiation.

In totality, the radioactive pollution has the power to destroy the soils, water, and air, thus making the resources unusable to humans, animals, and plants. For example, if the radioactive waste leaks into a river, the fish and other aquatic life would be affected, while people who drink the contaminated water become sick.

Radioactive substances can affect the land. The soil in areas which have had nuclear accidents can be contaminated; it can no longer be used to grow anything. This means the loss of farmland, which in turn can affect the supply of food.

The other alarming fact regarding radioactive pollution is that it is not short-lived. There are materials camouflaged under radiation that remain harmful for thousands of years. This implies that an area, once this substance permeates it, could retain its danger: it could stay hostile for human habitation for a very long time.

The Future of Radioactivity

Although radioactivity is a hazardous subject to carry a discussion on, at the same time, it offers far-reaching hopes for the future. All the while, scientists are busy coming up with new ways in which they can safely use radioactivity and at the same time minimize the risk of radioactive pollution.

For example, they are currently developing new ways of effectively storing radioactive waste, so it will not leak in the environment. They also seek safer and more efficient ways of using radioactive materials within medicine and energy applications.

In the future, it is likely that radioactivity will even be used in the resolution of some of humanity's most important issues, such as searching for new energies and treating serious illnesses. In the meantime, we need to become more informed about it, so we are using it in a safe way and with minimum risks.

What You Can Do to Help

A small child may think that there is not much to do about radioactive pollution or radioactivity's perils, but this is really not true! A few little things can be done by you in order to save the earth and to keep yourself and others safe:

Learn and Share: The more you learn, the better you get to understand how to be safe from radioactivity. Share your learnings with your friends and family, so they too can be enlightened.

Nature-Friendly: One way to save nature and fight pollution, even radioactive pollution, is by looking after the world around you. Small acts like recycling, conserving water, and minimizing waste can make a big change.

Encourage Safe Practices: In the later stages of your life, you may encourage the use of practices along with technologies that limit the risks associated with radioactivity. This can be done by voting, supporting organizations that work toward environmental safety, or probably in the area of science in a career that may bring about solutions.

Stay Curious: Science is always evolving; there is always something else to learn. Stay curious and maintain the ability to inquire into new subject matter, just as you are doing right now with radioactivity. What do you know; one day, you're maybe the one making a new discovery.

Recap: What We’ve Learned About Radioactivity

Let's review our main takeaways about radioactivity:

• Radioactivity is the decay of atoms by the discharge of rays or particles of energy in the process.

• Radioactive elements like uranium and radium decay by emitting rays.

• The description radioactive describes any substance or element that is emitting radiation.

• Radioactive pollution is the contamination of the environment with radioactive material, which can very hazardous to the environment and biological systems.

• Radioactivity in medicine, nuclear power, and use in aerospace is even applied to the preservation of food.

• It is very important that safety be ensured involving radio-active substances and be cautioned on potential hazards.

Presently, you have so far been introduced to what is radioactivity, and with which the first steps into gaining an education for one of the most significant scientific ideas. However, as every gain has its pains, it is very important that every safety measure be considered while dealing with radioactivity for our protection and safety of the environment. 

Conclusion

Radioactivity may seem complex, but in reality, it is one of the most interesting and important parts of science. There is still much to be learned and still a lot left to be explored, starting from the discovery of radioactive elements up to the challenges presented by radioactive pollution.

So, learn what it means to be radioactive and how to protect yourself; appreciate the power of radioactivity while at the same time understanding the importance of protection to our environment. 

FAQs : 

What causes radioactivity for kids?

What causes atoms to be radioactive? Atoms found in nature are either stable or unstable. An atom is stable if the forces among the particles that makeup the nucleus are balanced. An atom is unstable (radioactive) if these forces are unbalanced; if the nucleus has an excess of internal energy.

What is the purpose of radioactivity?

Scientists and engineers use radioactivity as a source of heat for satellites, for medical imaging, for targeted cancer treatments, for radiometric dating, and for research into the laws of nature and the origin of matter.

What is natural radioactivity for kids?

Natural radioactivity comes from radioactive elements. Examples are uranium and thorium. These occur naturally in rocks, soil, and water. Radioactive elements continually emit a small amount of radiation.

Share this important discovery with your friends;  Who knows? He/she might become the next scientist!

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