Radium on Flight Instruments?
- Thread starter Wm226
- Start date
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Used to be used on wrist watches, too.
[/ QUOTE ]
The "glow in the dark" dials for watches, clocks, and instruments used to all be Radium or Tritium, these days theyare made out of nonradioactive materials.
These materials are Alpha emmiters. Alpha radiation is blocked by your skin, or even a piece of paper. The only danger is if this stuff gets inside your body.
The mantles for Coleman lanterns are still made out of Thorium.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/031205.html
You can even make a nuclear reactor out of enough of it. This guy did, he even wrote a book about it.
http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/radscout.html
Used to be used on wrist watches, too.
[/ QUOTE ]
The "glow in the dark" dials for watches, clocks, and instruments used to all be Radium or Tritium, these days theyare made out of nonradioactive materials.
These materials are Alpha emmiters. Alpha radiation is blocked by your skin, or even a piece of paper. The only danger is if this stuff gets inside your body.
The mantles for Coleman lanterns are still made out of Thorium.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/031205.html
You can even make a nuclear reactor out of enough of it. This guy did, he even wrote a book about it.
http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/radscout.html
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
Yeah, swalowing an Alpha emiter is a sure way to screw up your insides. But, radiation is like everything else that is bad for you, a little bit of it once or twice isn't going to hurt you. It's only when you get a massive dose all at once, or a small dose over a long peroid of time that you get into trouble.
For example, if a child needs to have a X-ray usually the parent will stay in the room to hold the child in position while the tech or nurse steps behind the barrier. A couple of extra X-rays isn't going to hurt a healty adult, but if the X-ray tech dose this two times a day over his lifetime it really adds up to a dangerous amount.
Alpha Raditaion is absorbed by your outer layer of skin cells which are alredy dead or dying. Since these cells are already gone it dosen't matter. However, if it gets inside your body then the radiation really tears up the living cells. Coal miners have to be monitored for their amount of exposure to Radon gas for this reason.
X-rays and Gama-rays blast through a much thicker barrier, but don't do as much damage (realitivly speaking).
Interstingly back in the 50s and 60s there was a brand of potery called "Fiestaware" (I think). You may see some at garage sales. They are all a burnt orange color. This comes from the Uranium that was used in the pottery glaze. My parents had a hand me down tea pitcher made out of this stuff, and it was pretty hot!
Eating out of these dishes will eventually give you cancer, since whenever you eat, you scrape off microsopic amounts of the plate with your food. It's perfectly safe to put up on a shelf and look at, just don't serve Thanksgiving dinner on it.
For example, if a child needs to have a X-ray usually the parent will stay in the room to hold the child in position while the tech or nurse steps behind the barrier. A couple of extra X-rays isn't going to hurt a healty adult, but if the X-ray tech dose this two times a day over his lifetime it really adds up to a dangerous amount.
Alpha Raditaion is absorbed by your outer layer of skin cells which are alredy dead or dying. Since these cells are already gone it dosen't matter. However, if it gets inside your body then the radiation really tears up the living cells. Coal miners have to be monitored for their amount of exposure to Radon gas for this reason.
X-rays and Gama-rays blast through a much thicker barrier, but don't do as much damage (realitivly speaking).
Interstingly back in the 50s and 60s there was a brand of potery called "Fiestaware" (I think). You may see some at garage sales. They are all a burnt orange color. This comes from the Uranium that was used in the pottery glaze. My parents had a hand me down tea pitcher made out of this stuff, and it was pretty hot!
Eating out of these dishes will eventually give you cancer, since whenever you eat, you scrape off microsopic amounts of the plate with your food. It's perfectly safe to put up on a shelf and look at, just don't serve Thanksgiving dinner on it.
shooter13
New Member
Yeah Good ole Jimmy said it wrong too. That's why I don't fault W too much. It is just a hot rock to me.
There are some really good stories out of the early days of working with radioactive materials. People who killed themselves by putting test sources in their pocket and things like that.
I myself know someone who ate caribou meat that was contaminated with debris from Chernobyl.
There are some really good stories out of the early days of working with radioactive materials. People who killed themselves by putting test sources in their pocket and things like that.
I myself know someone who ate caribou meat that was contaminated with debris from Chernobyl.
OMG!!!!!
I can't believe this - I teach Physics in UK high schools - all this info on radiation is part of the compulsory Science course for under 16's!!!!!
Here's the full summary:-
There are three types of radioactivity:
Alpha particles - contain a Helium nucleus and are charged particles, they are strongly ionising, however due to their size equalling that on an atom their penetration is low and they will be stopped by a few sheets of paper.
Beta particles - fast moving electrons, again stronly ionising charged particles, can be stopped by about 2-3cm of Aluminium.
Gamma Rays - part of the EM spectrum - unstoppable, but can be reduced by a whopping thick piece of lead.
Inside the body: Alpha can't get out therefore very dangerous
Beta - can get out, but what it does opn the way, you just don't want to know!!!
Gamma - In and out - no major issue in small quantities.
Outside the body: Alpha can't get in past our skin.
Beta can get in, but hasn't enough energy to get out again!!!!!
Gamma - as before.
Radiation is large quantities is dangerous, causing cancers, by creating mutations in our DNA.
Just to put your mind at rest, there is radiation all around us, all the time, it is called "Background Radiation".
And yes every school I've taught at has an Alpha, Beta and Gamma sample for class demonstrations.
Here's the full summary:-
There are three types of radioactivity:
Alpha particles - contain a Helium nucleus and are charged particles, they are strongly ionising, however due to their size equalling that on an atom their penetration is low and they will be stopped by a few sheets of paper.
Beta particles - fast moving electrons, again stronly ionising charged particles, can be stopped by about 2-3cm of Aluminium.
Gamma Rays - part of the EM spectrum - unstoppable, but can be reduced by a whopping thick piece of lead.
Inside the body: Alpha can't get out therefore very dangerous
Beta - can get out, but what it does opn the way, you just don't want to know!!!
Gamma - In and out - no major issue in small quantities.
Outside the body: Alpha can't get in past our skin.
Beta can get in, but hasn't enough energy to get out again!!!!!
Gamma - as before.
Radiation is large quantities is dangerous, causing cancers, by creating mutations in our DNA.
Just to put your mind at rest, there is radiation all around us, all the time, it is called "Background Radiation".
And yes every school I've taught at has an Alpha, Beta and Gamma sample for class demonstrations.
shooter13
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
Just to put your mind at rest, there is radiation all around us, all the time, it is called "Background Radiation".
[/ QUOTE ]
As an aside, commercial airline pilots are typically exposed to higher amounts of radiation than sailors onboard US and British Nuclear Submarines.
Cool huh?
Just to put your mind at rest, there is radiation all around us, all the time, it is called "Background Radiation".
[/ QUOTE ]
As an aside, commercial airline pilots are typically exposed to higher amounts of radiation than sailors onboard US and British Nuclear Submarines.
Cool huh?
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
OMG!!!!!
I can't believe this - I teach Physics in UK high schools - all this info on radiation is part of the compulsory Science course for under 16's!!!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Welcome to the wonderful world of Public Education in the United States of America.
Ranked in the mid 30s among industerialzed nations. The UK is consiently ranked in the top 10.
Of course my spelling dosen't really shine as an example to be followed.
OMG!!!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Welcome to the wonderful world of Public Education in the United States of America.
Ranked in the mid 30s among industerialzed nations. The UK is consiently ranked in the top 10.
Of course my spelling dosen't really shine as an example to be followed.