物理学上的辐射指的是能量以波或是次原子粒子移动的型态，在真空或介质中发送。包含:

辐射之能量会从辐射源往外向所有方向直线放射。一般依其能量的高低及电离物质的能力分类为电离辐射和非电离辐射。电离辐射所携带的能量大于10电子伏特(eV)，可以将原子或分子电离、打断化学键，非电离辐射则否。主要电离辐射来源为放射性物质，放射出α、β或γ射线，分别带有氦核、电子、正电子、光子。其他电离辐射来源有医学影像造影使用的X射线、渺子、介子、正电子、中子，以及宇宙射线与地球大气作用所产生的其他粒子。

In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium. This includes:

Radiation is often categorized as either ionizing or non-ionizing depending on the energy of the radiated particles. Ionizing radiation carries more than 10 eV, which is enough to ionize atoms and molecules, and break chemical bonds. This is an important distinction due to the large difference in harmfulness to living organisms. A common source of ionizing radiation is radioactive materials that emit α, β, or γ radiation, consisting of helium nuclei, electrons or positrons, and photons, respectively. Other sources include X-rays from medical radiography examinations and muons, mesons, positrons, neutrons and other particles that constitute the secondary cosmic rays that are produced after primary cosmic rays interact with Earth's atmosphere.