Electromegnetic Radiation

DOE-HDBK-1109-97

Radiological Safety Training for Radiation-Producing (X-Ray) Devices

Instructor's Guide

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

7. Identify how energy relates to radiation dose.

8. Discuss the effects of voltage, current, and

filtration on X-rays.

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

Types of Electromagnetic Radiation.

X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation.

Objective 2

Other types of electromagnetic radiation are radio

waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light,

ultraviolet, and gamma rays. The types of radiation

are distinguished by the amount of energy carried

by the individual photons.

All electromagnetic radiation consists of photons,

which are individual packets of energy. For

example, a household light bulb emits about 1021

photons of light (non-ionizing radiation) per

second.

The energy carried by individual photons, which is

measured in electron volts (eV), is related to the

frequency of the radiation. Different types of

electromagnetic radiation and their typical photon

energies are listed in the following table.