Background radiation

Which of these is the most suitable description of background radiation

• a measure of the level of ionizing radiation present in the environment at a particular location

• a measure of how much radiation you absorb

• a measure of radiation that comes from space only

• a measure of radiation that comes from the buildings

Which gas is the most common source of background radiation

• Radium

• Radio

• Radon

• Rubidium

A student measures the background count three times and gets these readings 20, 23 and 26 counts per second. Which of these is the correct average count?

• 3

• 22

• 23

• 51

Which of these best describes why radon is a dangerous radioactive gas

• it can be breathed in and out

• it can be breathed in and it can mutate DNA

• it mutates all cells

• It can be breathed in and it can go the the brain

which answer best states the two methods of detecting radiation

• Geiger counter and a camera

• Geiger counter and photographic film

• A GM tube and a camera

• GM tube and photographic film

After Radon, which of these is the biggest source of background radiation?

• Buildings and ground

• Nuclear power stations

• Water

• The sun

A sample of rock gives a count per second of 280. Why is this not a correct measure of the radioactivity of the rock

• it is too high for any rock

• It also includes the cosmic rays

• it also contains the background count

• they have removed the background count

Explain how to adjust the count to give the correct count of a radioactive sample

• add the background count to the sample count

• multiply the sample count by the background count

• divide the sample count by the background count

• subtract the background count from the sample count

A sample of a radioactive rock gives a count of 138. If the average background count is 27, calculate the count rate of the sample

• 165

• 3726

• 5

• 111

All radiation is harmful to life. Is this statement true or false?

• true

• false