Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is radon gas primarily produced from?
What is radon gas primarily produced from?
- Decay of potassium-40
- Decay of uranium (correct)
- Decay of carbon-14
- Collision of protons with molecules
Which food is specifically mentioned as having a higher amount of a radioactive element?
Which food is specifically mentioned as having a higher amount of a radioactive element?
- Carrots
- Bananas (correct)
- Spinach
- Apples
Which method is used to determine the corrected count rate when measuring radiation?
Which method is used to determine the corrected count rate when measuring radiation?
- Subtracting background count from the source count (correct)
- Using an average of several readings
- Measuring the source counts and adding background
- Subtracting the time taken to measure
What happens to radiation readings when the source is moved far enough away?
What happens to radiation readings when the source is moved far enough away?
What type of radiation does the sun primarily emit that interacts with the atmosphere?
What type of radiation does the sun primarily emit that interacts with the atmosphere?
What major event significantly contributes to radiation exposure in the environment?
What major event significantly contributes to radiation exposure in the environment?
What is background radiation primarily composed of?
What is background radiation primarily composed of?
How is fall-out produced after a nuclear explosion?
How is fall-out produced after a nuclear explosion?
What does photographic film do in response to radiation?
What does photographic film do in response to radiation?
Which of the following materials might be found in a film badge used to monitor radiation exposure?
Which of the following materials might be found in a film badge used to monitor radiation exposure?
What does a Geiger-Müller tube measure?
What does a Geiger-Müller tube measure?
If a Geiger-Müller tube records 16,000 decays in 1 hour, what is the count rate in decays per second?
If a Geiger-Müller tube records 16,000 decays in 1 hour, what is the count rate in decays per second?
Which of the following statements about background radiation is true?
Which of the following statements about background radiation is true?
How frequently should film badges worn by radiographers be checked?
How frequently should film badges worn by radiographers be checked?
What should not be referred to when naming a radiation detection device?
What should not be referred to when naming a radiation detection device?
Which gas is a notable contributor to airborne background radiation?
Which gas is a notable contributor to airborne background radiation?
Flashcards
How does photographic film detect radiation?
How does photographic film detect radiation?
Photographic films are used to detect radiation by becoming darker when exposed to it. The more radiation the film absorbs, the darker it becomes.
What's a film badge?
What's a film badge?
Film badges are worn by people who work with radiation to monitor their exposure. The badge contains different materials that must be penetrated by radiation before reaching the film.
What is a Geiger counter?
What is a Geiger counter?
The Geiger-Müller tube (or Geiger counter) is commonly used to detect radiation. It emits clicks when radiation is detected, and the frequency of clicks indicates the radiation level.
What does the frequency of clicks on a Geiger counter mean?
What does the frequency of clicks on a Geiger counter mean?
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Is radiation a natural phenomenon?
Is radiation a natural phenomenon?
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What is background radiation?
What is background radiation?
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What is a source of background radiation?
What is a source of background radiation?
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What else contributes to background radiation?
What else contributes to background radiation?
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Radon Gas
Radon Gas
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Background Radiation
Background Radiation
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Corrected Count Rate
Corrected Count Rate
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Background Count Rate
Background Count Rate
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Carbon-14 Dating
Carbon-14 Dating
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Fallout
Fallout
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Nuclear Waste
Nuclear Waste
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Solar Radiation
Solar Radiation
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Study Notes
Radiation Detection and Measurement
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Photographic film badges: Used to monitor radiation exposure; darker film indicates higher exposure; various materials in badge shield film from different types of radiation.
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Geiger-Müller (GM) tube: Common radiation detector; measures radiation by detecting ionizations; count rate (number of decays per unit time) increases with proximity to radiation source; higher count rate signifies more radiation absorption.
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Count rate calculation: Example: 16,000 decays in 1 hour = 4.5 decays per second (16,000 decays / 3600 seconds).
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Background radiation: Constant radiation from natural sources; includes airborne radon gas from rocks, soil, or building materials. Uranium decay results in radon gas.
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Sources of background radiation: Radon gas (a natural product from decay of Uranium and other radioactive elements), solar protons, and radioactive elements in food and water.
Background Radiation
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Background radiation is natural radiation present in the environment.
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Types of background radiation:
- Airborne radon gas from rocks and building materials (eg. stone & brick).
- Radioactive elements in food and water, present in minute amounts.
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Significance of Background Radiation:
- Levels are generally low and not a health concern.
- Can vary significantly based on location.
- Important to account for in radiation measurements.
Radiation Sources (excluding Background)
- Nuclear waste is not a significant contributor to background radiation, but can be dangerous for those handling it.
- Fallout: Radioactivity from nuclear explosions; amount currently low, but increases with nuclear testing.
- Nuclear accidents (e.g., Chernobyl): Can significantly increase environmental radiation.
Measuring Corrected Count Rate
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Background count rate (without a radioactive source) is recorded to subtract from reading of a source, giving the corrected count rate.
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To determine background radiation, a measurement is taken with no source present, this reading is subtracted from any measurement made with a present radiation source.
- Example: 24 counts per minute background rate subtracted from 285 counts per minute with a source (261 cpm corrected).
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To get an accurate reading of the count rate from the radiation source, count rate readings need to be taken over time and the background count rate needs to be measured first.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts in radiation detection and measurement, including the use of photographic film badges and Geiger-Müller tubes. It also explores the principles of count rate calculation and the sources of background radiation. Understand how these tools help monitor and assess radiation exposure in various environments.
