ECE 1070 - Radiation in the Real World

This course, designed for non-specialist, will cover the physical aspects of radiation. The object is to give the student the tools to better assess the risks due to radiation, and to make better informed public policy decisions about this increasingly important subject. Major topics to be discussed are the properties of the various kinds of radiation, natural and man-made radiation sources, the measurement of radiation including radiation detection instruments, commercial industrial and medical uses of radiation, radiation shielding, and the problems posed by radioactive waste. The basic relationships describing radioactive decay, half life, source strength, shielding, and dose calculations will be covered.