Understanding Ionizing & Non-Ionizing Radiation - Panasonic Microwave Ovens with Inverters Technical Manual

Understanding Ionizing & Non-Ionizing Radiation
There is a distinction made between IONIZING radiation, which has enough
energy to physically break chemical bonds at the molecular level, and NON-
IONIZING radiation, which does not.
Radiation falls within a wide range of energies form the electromagnetic
spectrum. The spectrum has two major divisions: non-ionizing and ionizing
radiation.
Radiation that has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around or cause
them to vibrate, but not enough to change them chemically, is referred to as
"non-ionizing radiation." Examples of this kind of radiation are sound waves,
visible light, and microwaves.
Radiation that falls within the "ionizing radiation" range has enough energy to
actually break chemical bonds. This is the type of radiation that people usually
think of as "radiation." We take advantage of its properties to generate electric
power, to kill cancer cells, and in many manufacturing processes.
The energy of the radiation shown on the spectrum below increases from left to
right as the frequency rises.
Types of Radiation in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Figure 22
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