The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
High energy forms of electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths. Gamma rays are emitted by cosmic sources or by radioactive decay of atomic nuclei which occurs during nuclear reactions or the detonation of nuclear weapons. Gamma rays are the most penetrating of all forms of nuclear radiation. They travel about 100 times deeper into human tissue than beta particles and 10,000 times deeper than alpha particles. Gamma rays cause chemical changes in cells through which they pass. These changes can result in the cells' death or the loss of their ability to function properly. Organisms exposed to gamma rays may suffer illness, genetic damage, or death. Cosmic gamma rays do not usually pose a danger to life because they are absorbed as they travel through the atmosphere.