Page 116 - The Miracle in the Atom

THE MIRACLE IN THE ATOM

2 minutes after the explosion…
Radiation
Loses
electron The mushroom shaped cloud has
now reached an altitude of 12,000
metres. This is the lower limit of the
stratospheric layer of the atmosphere.
The winds blowing at this altitude ca-
use the mushroom shaped cloud to
Positive ion
disperse and the components of the
cloud (mostly radioactive remains) to
scatter into the atmosphere. As these
radioactive remains consist of very
tiny particles, they may rise to higher
Gains
electron layers in the atmosphere. Before fal-
Negative ion
ling on the earth, these remains may
Radiation may result in very serious be made to travel several times aro-
damage, by forming positive ions when und the earth by the winds blowing
it hits and removes the electrons on the
outer surface of the atom. Electrons in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
form negative ions by bonding to Thus, radioactive remains may be
other neutral atoms.
dispersed all over the world.

Radiation Emitted By the Atom

Radiation consists of gamma rays, neutrons, electrons and similar sub-
atomic particles moving at very high speeds such as 200,000 km per second.
These particles may easily penetrate the human body and harm the cells for-
ming the body. This damage may cause a fatal cancer or, if it takes place in
reproductive cells, it may give rise to genetic disorders that will influence ge-
nerations to come. Therefore, the results of a radioactive particle hitting a
human being are very serious.
Radiation released in atomic explosions affects living beings either di-
rectly or through the products of radioactive decay that emerge during the
explosion.
As one of these particles or rays travels at high speed in matter, it colli-

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