What are the different types of radiation?

There are two basic types of radiation: moving particles and electromagnetic rays. The nucleus of radioactive atoms may give off alpha and beta particles and neutrons. Electromagnetic emissions include gamma rays and X-rays. Gamma rays come from a radioactive nucleus; X-rays are more commonly produced by a machine. The particles, gamma rays and X-rays are all said to be ionising radiation. Non-nuclear emissions from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (diagrams) (such as ultraviolet, visible and infrared light; microwave or radio frequency (RF) radiation, or lower frequency electromagnetic fields) are commonly described as non-ionising radiations.