Nuclear Materials and Hazards Flashcards
What is ionizing radiation?
High-energy radiation released from unstable atoms during isotope decay which has enough power to remove electrons from other atoms
What are the four types of ionizing radiation?
Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Neutron
What high energy rays penetrate deep into or through tissue causing WHOLE BODY EXPOSURE
Gamma rays
Which type of nuke device is a misused ionizing radiation source placed to cause harm?
Simple radiation device
What nuke device can “easily use” fuel rods from a nuclear reactor?
Simple radiation device and an RDD
What is an RDD?
Radiological Dispersion Device
Fuel rods typical contain what percentage of Uranium-235?
3-5%
Which type of nuke device spreads radiological contamination without a nuclear yield?
RDD (Radiological Dispersion Device aka dirty bomb)
What nuke device is considered to be home-made or stolen, uses explosives DESIGNED to cause nuclear yield, but may result in a partial or no yield release?
Improvised nuclear device (IND)
What are the two nuclear assembly designs of nuclear weapons?
Implosion (Plutonium), Gun-type (Uranium-235)
What highly-enriched isotope of over 90% is used in the gun-type nuclear weapon assembly?
Uranium-235 (Plutonium used in implosion style)
What are the three health hazards associated with a radiological incident?
Whole body exposure, Intake, and contamination
What are the three principals of basic radiation protection?
Time, Distance, Shielding
Where should you turn on the HRM device?
In a natural background radiation environment
What does the “U” showing in the gamma display indicate?
The current radiation level is less than the background level
