Topic 4 Background Raduation Amd Contamination

Question 1

What is background radiation

Answer 1

Low level radiation that is around us all the time

Question 2

What should you always do with the back ground radiation

Answer 2

Measure it and subtract it from your result

Question 3

What is radiation from space called

Answer 3

Cosmic rays and mostly come from the sun

Question 4

What protects us from most cosmic waves

Answer 4

Earth’s atmosphere

Question 5

What is radiation due to human activity

Answer 5

Fallout from nuclear explosions or nuclear waste
But this only makes up a tiny percentage of background radiation

Question 6

What does a radiation dose tell you

Answer 6

The risk of harm to body tissues due to exposure to radiation

Question 7

What is the radiation dose measured in

Answer 7

Sieverts

Question 8

What is back ground radiation often measured in

Answer 8

Millisieverts
1sv = 1000 msv

Question 9

What does back round radiation dose depend on

Answer 9

Where you live

Question 10

What is exposure to radiation called

Answer 10

Irradiation

Question 11

What does irradiating not do

Answer 11

Make something radioactive

Question 12

What are ways to reduce the effects of irradiation

Answer 12

Keep sources in lead lined boxes
Stand behind Barriers
In a different room
Use remote controlled arms

Question 13

What is contamination

Answer 13

Unwanted radioactive atoms get onto or into an object

Question 14

Why might contamination cause you harm

Answer 14

Contaminating atoms might decay releasing radiation and cause you harm

Question 15

Why is contamination especially dangerous

Answer 15

Radioactive particles could get inside your body

Question 16

What should be worn to protect yourself

Answer 16

Gloves and tongs should be used when handling sources to stop them getting stuck to skin or under nails
Some industrial workers wear protective suits to stop them breathing in the particles

Question 17

What does the seriousness of irradiation and contamination depend on

Answer 17

The source

Question 18

What are most dangerous outside the body

Answer 18

Beta and gamma sources
As they can penetrate into the body and get to delicate organs

Question 19

Why is alpha less dangerous outside the body

Answer 19

Can’t penetrate skin and is easily blocked by a small air gap

Question 20

What sources are most dangerous inside the body

Answer 20

Alpha sources because they do all their damage in a very localised area. So contamination is more of a concern than irradiation

Question 21

Why are beta sources less damaging inside the body

Answer 21

As radiation is absorbe over a wider area and some passes out of the body all together

Question 22

Why are gamma sources the least dangerous inside the body

Answer 22

As they mostly pass straight out and have the least ionising power

Question 23

How are ideas about radiation improving

Answer 23

Data is peer reviewed and can quickly become accepted leading to many improvements in our sue of radioactive sources