Nuclear Radiation (How Stuff Works)

What makes something radioactive?

• An unstable nucleus

• Barrels of green toxic sludge

• Elements with an atomic number higher than 83

Which of the following events would expose you to the most radiation?

• Living next to a nuclear power plant for a year

• Getting a CT scan of your chest

• Eating a banana

How does radioactive material generate electricity?

• The heat generated during fission creates steam that powers electricity generating turbines.

• It just does.

• The decay of uranium creates enough force to turn turbines directly.

Which of the following typically poses the biggest health threat to humans?

• Alpha particles

• Beta particles

• Gamma particles

• They all pose threats. It depends on the situation in question.

Which of the following household items might contain radioactive materials?

• Smoke detectors

• Thermometers

• Hopefully, none of them.

How do you neutralize the radioactivity of a substance?

• Incinerate the material

• It can't be done

• Run a high-voltage current through the material

What percentage of the harmful gamma rays do the hazmat suits worn by nuclear technicians block?

• 30%

• 70%

• All of it.

Who was the first person to discover radioactivity?

• Marie Curie

• Albert Einstein

• Henri Becquerel

Where was the first nuclear reactor constructed?

• The Mojave Desert

• Under the bleachers of the University of Chicago's old football field

• The Department of Defense's New York facility

How long can some nuclear powered submarines go without refueling?

• 10 years

• 20 years

• The life of the ship