Radiation Therapy Physics

Concepts Review Blog

Sara Lorraine Gill, MSRS, CMD

Medical Dosimetrist and Educator

27. Why are some nuclei stable while others decay?

Sara Lorraine Gill

Published on: 15/10/2026

Learn what makes atomic nuclei stable or unstable. Explore the balance between protons, neutrons, the strong nuclear force, and electrical repulsion, plus the different types of radioactive decay, including alpha, beta, and gamma decay.

nuclear stability and radioactive decaywhy nuclei decaywhat makes a nucleus stablestable and unstable nucleiradioactive isotopes explainedprotons and neutrons in the nucleusstrong nuclear forceproton repulsiontypes of radioactive decayalpha decaybeta minus decaybeta plus decaygamma decayelectron captureinternal conversionradiation physicsnuclear physics for beginnersmedical physicsnuclear medicine imagingradioactive decay in medicine

26. Radiation from Atomic Nuclei

Sara Lorraine Gill

Published on: 04/10/2026

Discover how mass defect, binding energy, and Einstein’s equation, E = mc², explain the energy held inside atomic nuclei. Learn why changes in nuclear binding can release energy in fission, fusion, and radioactive processes.

mass defect and binding energyE = mc² explainednuclear binding energymass energy equivalencemass defect physicsenergy from atomic nucleistrong nuclear forcenuclear fission and fusionradiation from atomic nucleinuclear physics for beginnersradioactive decaynuclear stabilitymedical physicsnuclear medicine physicsand radiation physics course

25. How X-Rays are Made

Sara Lorraine Gill

Published on: 17/08/2026

Learn how high-speed electrons striking metal targets create X-rays through bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation, forming the foundation of radiation therapy.

tungsten targethigh speed electronsbremsstrahlungcharacteristic