26.2 - Background Radiation

Question 1

What is background radiation?

Answer 1

The radiation present in our environment

Question 2

What is the ratio of natural to artificial for the makeup of background radiation?

Answer 2

85:15

Question 3

What is the main source of background radiation?

Answer 3

Radon gas from the ground, it makes up around 50%

Question 4

What are the three other major contributors to background radiation?

Answer 4

Radioactive elements in the Earth’s crust, such as uranium and its isotopes of decay
Cosmic rays from outer space producing showers of low energy muons, neutrons, electrons and gamma rays
Naturally occurring isotopes in food (e.g. K40 in bananas)

Question 5

What is the major artificial contributor to background radiation?

Answer 5

The medical sector (14%) from X-rays mainly