How Becquerel's Photographic Film Illuminated the Discovery of Radioactivity
Explore how Becquerel's unexposed photographic film revealed the concept of radioactivity and changed atomic science.
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Becquerel noticed that his photographic film in a drawer developed images without being exposed to sunlight. He discovered that uranium salts emitted radiation that could penetrate opaque materials and affect the photographic plates. This serendipitous finding led to the discovery of radioactivity, fundamentally altering our understanding of atomic science.
FAQs & Answers
- What is Becquerel's discovery of radioactivity? Becquerel discovered that uranium salts emitted radiation that could expose photographic plates, leading to the concept of radioactivity.
- How does radiation affect photographic film? Radiation can penetrate opaque materials, causing chemical reactions in photographic films even without light exposure.
- What are uranium salts? Uranium salts are compounds containing uranium, which are key sources of radiation.
- Why is the discovery of radioactivity significant? The discovery of radioactivity transformed our understanding of atomic science and has had profound implications in fields like medicine and energy.