Re: EMR and radiation (was re: [CH] computer jalapenos )

Charles Demas (demas@tiac.net)
Thu, 12 Feb 1998 15:26:42 -0500 (EST) 

On Thu, 12 Feb 1998, Brent Thompson wrote:

> > There's a difference between EMR and particle radiation.  When we say
> > something is "radioactive", we mean it emits particle radiation.
> 
> Wrong!  Gamma radiation is EMR, and things emitting gamma radiation are
> definitely considered "radioactive".  Your statement is true only for alpha
> and beta radiation, by far the least penetrating of the kinds of radiation.

Well, as someone that has worked in the field a little bit, I think you
both have some points, but I think the way to settle this is the
dictionary.  So I looked it up, and here's what I found online at
<http://www.m-w.com/netdict.htm>

   Main Entry: ra·dio·ac·tiv·i·ty
   Pronunciation: -ak-'ti-v&-tE
   Function: noun
   Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary
   Date: 1899
   : the property possessed by some elements (as uranium) or isotopes (as
   carbon 14) of spontaneously emitting energetic particles (as electrons
   or alpha particles) by the disintegration of their atomic nuclei; also
   : the rays emitted

While gamma rays may be emitted as well, I think that if something is 
radioactive, it undergoes a change to a different element on an atom 
by atom basis, and that usually (perhaps always) involves particle 
emission.

FWIW, I believe that some of the rare earth phosphors in your crt are 
radioactive, but then some of the Carbon 14 in your wooden desk is 
radioactive too.  

Hell, the sun and everything around us is radioactive, it's more a
question of how much.  

Personally, I think drying the chiles on top of the monitor is a good
idea.  I just dried some of those Jamaican Hots my friend bought me in my
toaster oven (set on keep warm), but maybe I'll try the next batch on my
monitor. 


Chuck Demas
Needham, Mass.



  Eat Healthy    |   _ _   | Nothing would be done at all,
  Stay Fit       |   @ @   | If a man waited to do it so well,
  Die Anyway     |    v    | That no one could find fault with it.
  demas@tiac.net |  \___/  | http://www.tiac.net/users/demas