Is radioactivity harmful to machines and electronic devices?

Answer 1

hello, i will tag this question as "interesting".

any way, the very basic characteristic of radiation is it being "ionizing", that is capable of dislodging electrons from molecules that are bonded using electrons (like organic molecules or living tissues), but machines and electronic devices do not use electronic bonding, electronic devices may get interference by radiation, but will not be harm full to them, Radiation Hardened equipment will not suffer this interference.
just keep in mind that:
1- Gamma, X, Alpha, and Beta radiations Cant effect machines or materials or equipment if they are not electron-bonded (like i said, organic aterials), hence, even high radiation will most probably not affect them
2- Neutron radiation is harmful, due to neutrons interaction with the Nucleus of the material not electrons, and this what happens at the nuclear reactors, they use Neutron flux to modify materials (creating industrial radioactive isotopes)
3- radiation detectors are sophisticated and sensitive electronic devices, but they work fine even under very high radiation levels and dont get damaged
4- radiation from x-ray machines hit the electronic circuits of the x-ray machine from inside, but they are not affected (we have an x-ray machine that is operated almost 5 hours daily for the past 20 years with no damage whatsoever (operating at 300000 volts)

Answer 2

It depends - many electronic devices will be damaged by exposure to significant quantities of radiation - as a example, a video camera will last about six months in a 20-50mr neutron field or similar gamma field unless it has been hardened (by shielding and using a 'periscope' to prevent direct impingement of the rad field on the CCD receptor...) Large components such as motors and steel components can take much more radiation without significant damage - we've operated nuclear reactors for many years - reactor coolant pumps and motors wear out, but not because of exposure to radiation.

Answer 3

Not if it is the teeny amount from a smoke detector.

If it is high intensity like a weld inspecting x-ray machine that might be a problem. Radioactivity can interfere with the data being stored in RAM.

As far as the amount of radioactivity that could do serious damage to a laptop it would do worse damage to you sitting there so that is an unlikely situation for your laptop to be in.

Answer 4

Yes, it can be. Strong radioactivity can damage microcircuits and some sensitive discrete devices (for example, transducers, phototransistors) enough to render them inoperable.

Most electronic equipment designed for combat situations must be designed to a standard called "Rad-Hard," or "radiation hardened," meaning it contains sensitive components and microcircuit chips that incorporate appropriate shielding and spacing of traces.

Try an internet search on "radiation hardened."

Answer 5

Gamma radiation will fry the whole computer. Some computers are shielded from this at the expense of speed. Most of them aren't because the chance of gamma radiation is very rare. Plus if there were exposure to gamma radiation the only thing you should be worried about is yourself.

Answer 6

static is more damaging then anyt powerplant next to a laptop.

Answer 7

no.


static is more damaging then anyt powerplant next to a laptop.