ELI5: What is radiation?

Imagine you're throwing a ball. Radiation is like throwing tiny, tiny balls of energy.

Sometimes these "energy balls" are actually waves, like ripples in a pond. Think of it like this:

• Some balls are big and heavy (like a bowling ball). These have lots of energy and can be dangerous if they hit you. This is like ionizing radiation. These can knock tiny parts off of atoms in your body, which isn't good. Examples include X-rays and radiation from nuclear power.

• Some balls are small and light (like a ping pong ball). These have less energy and are usually safe. This is like non-ionizing radiation. Examples include radio waves and light from your lamp.

Here's a simple breakdown:

• Energy travels: Radiation is all about energy moving.
• Waves or particles: This energy can move as waves (like radio waves) or tiny particles (like those from a nuclear reaction).
• Different types: There are many types of radiation with different amounts of energy.
• Some are dangerous: High-energy radiation (like X-rays) can be harmful.
• Some are safe: Low-energy radiation (like radio waves) is usually not harmful.