Background Radiation Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is meant by background radiation?

The low-level ionising radiation that is around us all the time, from natural and man-made sources.

Give three sources of background radiation that originate on Earth.

Radon gas from rocks, rocks and soil (e.g. granite), food and drink, and building materials.

What is the origin of background radiation from space?

Cosmic rays — high-energy radiation from the Sun and other stars reaching the Earth's atmosphere.

True or false? Background radiation only exists near nuclear power stations.

False. Background radiation is everywhere, mostly from natural sources such as radon gas, rocks, food and cosmic rays.

Give one man-made source of background radiation.

Fallout from nuclear weapons tests or accidents, or nuclear waste.