Atoms and ionsing radiation Flashcards
1
Q
How is radiation measured?
A
> using a Geiger-Muller tube
> measured in counts per minute
2
Q
What is background radiation?
A
> usually low amounts of radiation that is given out naturally
-comes from environment
3
Q
What are the causes of background radiation?
A
> radon gas in the air
> some types of rock
-building from that rock
> cosmic rays
> human causes -nuclear weapon tests -nuclear accidents -nuclear reactors -air travel Medicine
4
Q
What is the half life?
A
> the average time taken for the amount of nuclei in a radioactive isotope sample to halve.
5
Q
What is the problem with trying to measure radioactivity?
A
The activity never reaches 0
