Which of the following emits ionizing radiation?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following emits ionizing radiation?

Ionizing radiation comes from unstable atomic nuclei that release energy as they decay. Radioactive materials contain such unstable nuclei, so they emit radiation like alpha, beta, or gamma rays. The other items—lead, water, and sand—do not generate radiation on their own. Lead is a shielding material that can block certain rays, while water and sand are bulk materials that can absorb or attenuate radiation but aren’t sources of it. Because of that, radioactive materials are the only option that emit ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation comes from unstable atomic nuclei that release energy as they decay. Radioactive materials contain such unstable nuclei, so they emit radiation like alpha, beta, or gamma rays. The other items—lead, water, and sand—do not generate radiation on their own. Lead is a shielding material that can block certain rays, while water and sand are bulk materials that can absorb or attenuate radiation but aren’t sources of it. Because of that, radioactive materials are the only option that emit ionizing radiation.

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