What is meant by background radiation? What are different sources of background radiation?

Background radiation refers to the low-level ionizing radiation that is constantly present in the environment. This radiation is a natural part of our surroundings and is made up of various types of radiation from different sources. It’s always present, even in places that are far away from nuclear reactors or other human-made sources of radiation.

Different sources of background radiation:

  1. Cosmic Radiation:

    • This radiation originates from outer space and is composed of high-energy particles, such as protons and atomic nuclei, which are constantly bombarding the Earth’s atmosphere. The intensity of cosmic radiation increases with altitude and latitude (i.e., higher elevations and closer to the poles receive more radiation).

  2. Terrestrial Radiation:

    • This comes from naturally occurring radioactive materials (e.g., uranium, thorium, radon) found in rocks, soil, and water. Some of these materials emit gamma rays, alpha particles, or beta particles as they decay over time. Radon gas, in particular, is a significant source of terrestrial radiation in many homes.

  3. Internal Radiation:

    • The human body contains trace amounts of radioactive isotopes like potassium-40 and carbon-14, which decay naturally over time, emitting radiation. This is known as internal radiation.

  4. Man-Made Sources:

    • Though less significant compared to natural sources, human-made sources of radiation contribute to background radiation as well. These include medical procedures (like X-rays and certain cancer treatments), nuclear power plants (if they leak), and certain industrial activities.

  5. Airborne Radiation:

    • Certain gases in the atmosphere, like radon, can accumulate and lead to exposure, especially in buildings or areas with poor ventilation.

Altogether, the level of background radiation varies depending on location, altitude, and local geology, but on average, it contributes to an annual dose of around 2-3 millisieverts (mSv) per person worldwide.

Related Questions:

  1. When a uranium nucleus absorbs a slow neutron, it subsequently emits two α-particles. What is the resulting element?
  2. Define atomic number, atomic mass number, and nucleon number. How is an atom represented symbolically? Find the number of protons, neutrons, atomic number, atomic mass number, and nucleon number from X. Which element is this?
  3. Define isotope. What are the different isotopes of hydrogen?
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  5. What is common in isotopes of an element and what is different in them?
  6. It happens that a nuclear radiation emits from an atom of an element, and it moves one step ahead in the periodic table. Explain.
  7. Why do nuclei of atoms with atomic numbers greater than 82 emit radiation?
  8. β-particle is emitted from the neutron of the nucleus. Write the nuclear equation for this reaction.
  9. Why is the range of β-particles greater than α-particles in air with the same energy?
  10. Why is the ionization power of α-particles greater than β-particles in solids with the same energy?
  11. What fraction of a radioactive element will be left after 4 half-lives have elapsed?
  12. Why is energy released when lighter nuclei fuse with heavier nuclei?
  13. How long will a radioactive element take to decay completely?
  14. Physics 10 MCQ
  15. Simple harmonic motion and waves
  16. Simple harmonic motion and waves-NFE
  17. Give an example of vibratory motion which is not simple harmonic motion. Give a reason for your selection.
  18. At the extreme position, velocity is zero but acceleration is maximum in simple harmonic motion. How can you theoretically explain it?
  19. What will happen to the acceleration of a mass-spring system if its mass is doubled?
  20. A simple pendulum has a time period “T”. What will happen to its time period if its thread length is shortened to half?