4.4.3.1 Background Radiation

Question 1

What is around us all the time?

Answer 1

background radiation

Question 2

What does background radiation come from?

Answer 2

• natural sources such as rocks and cosmic rays from space
• man-made sources such as the fallout from nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents

Question 3

What may the level of background radiation and radiation dose be affected by?

Answer 3

occupation and/or location

Question 4

What is radiation dose measured in?

Answer 4

• sieverts (Sv)
• 1,000 millisieverst (mSv) = 1 sievert (Sv)

Question 5

Weak radiation that can be detected from natural/external sources:

Answer 5

• cosmic rays
• radiation from underground rocks
• nuclear fallout
• medical rays