What exactly IS a gamma wave, and what is it capable of doing?

Question

Please, only answer if you know what you are talking about. this is for a project i have to do by thursday. Rapid responses would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

There is a whole spectrum of waves called the electromagnetic spectrum. You can draw it as a line.

On the left part of the line are radio waves: AM, short wave, CB, TV channels 2-6, FM, TV, police radios, cell phones, microwaves (microwave ovens), satellite TV and radio.

The lower to the left you go, the less energy the waves contain. They might be more powerful and more intense, these waves, if there is a powerful transmitter, but they have to lowest ENERGY of all the electromagnetic waves.

In the MIDDLE of the spectrum line is visible light. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet (exactly like a rainbow).

Visible light takes up a tiny portion of the line near the middle.

To the left of visible light is infared light. To the rght of visible light is higher energy light, called ultraviolet light waves. Higher still in energy is X-rays, and finally the highest enegy waves are Gamma waves (although cosmic rays are even higher in energy, but some scientists call them gamma waves)

Gamma waves come from inside atoms -- inside the center part of the atom called the nucleus. Some atoms that are unstable will release gamma waves (also called gamma radiation). When certain unstable atoms decay they release a gamma wave.

Gamma waves can penetrate through solid objects, but only so far. Example: they couldn't penetrate through several feet of lead, but they can go right into a human body.

If they are uncontrolled, they can cause damage to animal cells, but in a controlled form, they can be used to kill cancer cells inside a human body.

Gamma can also be used to kill bacteria in food, to prevent spoilage.

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Answer 2

To answer part-A of your question, you are probably referring to a "gamma ray" - which actually isn't a ray or a wave, but an extremely high-energy photon (partical of matter) that is emitted as a result of a nuclear reaction or spontaniously by radio active material. It is much smaller than an atom, but will go through you like a miniature bullet that destroyes every cell in it's path.

To answer part-B of your question, everyone takes in a few gamma particles every day, but we are large enough that a few thousand cells destroyed by the tiny "bullet" passing through us is nothing of consequence. But, if any living thing is exposed to enough of these little bullets (in a highly radioactive area) there are so many body cells destroyed that the plant, animal, or human quickly dies.

Answer 3

it is a type of electromagnetic wave, but unlike other waves, a gamma wave is pure energy, instead of a particle (like alpha and beta waves). it is caused in most cases when matter (atoms and their pieces) are changed to energy. a prime example of this is an atom bomb, which changes an amount of matter to energy. it is capable of piercing the skin and causing damage to cells. because other waves have larger wavelengths and are made of particles, the skin blocks them even though damage may happen (like sunburn), but gamma waves can pierce the skin wreaking havoc on cells and even DNA. the nuclear accident at chernobyl released gamma radiation causing genetic problems for many babies.