Background Radiation Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is background radiation?

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

Name three natural sources of background radiation from the Earth.

Radon gas from rocks, rocks/soil and building materials, and food and drink (living things).

What is the source of background radiation that comes from space?

Cosmic rays, mainly from the Sun and other stars.

Name two artificial (man-made) sources of background radiation.

Medical uses such as X-rays and nuclear medicine, and fallout from nuclear weapons testing or nuclear power.

True or false? Most background radiation comes from man-made sources.

False. Most background radiation comes from natural sources such as radon gas, rocks and cosmic rays.