Basic information and a few of our favorite references to help you and your students understand radiation science

Ask the Experts

  1. Browse thousands of questions and answers. People across the world have asked thousands of radiation-related questions. Search the questions to see how experts in the field have answered them.
  2. Ask your question. If you can't find your question already answered, submit it and an expert in the field will provide you with a science-based, factual answer you can feel confident in accepting.

RadiationAnswers.org

RadiationAnswers.org is a website that contains simple, factual, easy-to-understand information about radiation, radiation sources, radiation exposure, and radiation myths.

Health Physics Society Fact Sheets

Health Physics Society Fact Sheets are peer-reviewed scientific short papers (just a few pages) that explain radiation-related topics of current interest in easy-to-understand language. Each fact sheet includes references to support the information included.

Radiation Terms and Definitions

This page contains a lengthy list of radiation-related terms with brief, simple definitions.

Basic Reference Materials

  1. Understanding Radiation in Our World. This publication from the US National Safety Council provides a very good introduction to radiation science concepts, uses of radiation, and the societal issues inherent to the use of radioactive material.
  2. Radiation Protection. The US Environmental Protection Agency has developed a website that provides very good information about radiation and radioactivity. Information about health effects and radiation protection standards are also included on this site.
  3. The US Environmental Protection Agency maintains a site for teachers and students that contains a lot of good basic information on radiation and radiation safety.
  4. The International Atomic Energy Agency offers a series of FAQs and fact sheets about a number of radiation-related topics.
  5. The Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) provides innovative scientific and technical solutions for the US Department of Energy and other federal agencies to advance national priorities in science, health, and education. They have specialized teams of experts and a consortium of more than 100 universities.
  • Health Physics Resources. ORAU has compiled an extensive list of internet resources that can help support your health physics project.
  • The ORAU Professional Training Program has a Museum Library that covers many topics in health physics from accidents to civil defense historical manuals to consumer products, history, physics, and x rays.