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Dangers of EM waves: UV, X-rays and gamma rays

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The key ideas and the summary sheet for this lesson are ready now.

Key ideas

  1. Changes in atoms and their nuclei can give out or absorb EM radiation over a wide range of frequencies.

  2. Ultraviolet can make skin age early and raise the risk of skin cancer.

  3. X-rays and gamma rays are ionising; they can cause gene mutations and cancer.

  4. Radiation dose (in sieverts) is a measure of the risk of harm; 1000 mSv = 1 Sv.