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It comes from the sky above us, the earth beneath us and even from our own bodies. The air we breathe and the food we eat contain some naturally occurring radioactive materials. In fact, on average a person in the United States receives a radiation dose of about 300 millirem per year from natural sources compared to a dose of about 50 millirem per year from "artificially produced" sources such as medical x-rays.
Radioactive materials in rocks and soil
Natural radioactive material in rocks and soil account for about 28 millirem or 8% of the radiation dose a person typically receives in a year from all sources (including medical exposures). The earth's crust contains small amounts of uranium, thorium, and radium as well as radioactive isotopes of several elements including potassium. The radiation dose comes from the gamma rays which are emitted from the rocks, soil and some building materials (such as bricks and concrete).
Radon in indoor air
Small amounts of radon, a radioactive gas which comes from the radioactive decay of uranium, seep into the atmosphere from the soil. On average, inhalation of the radon in homes and other buildings accounts for 200 millirem per year. This is about 55% of the total radiation dose an individual receives in a year from all sources, including medical x-rays, cosmic rays, building materials, the earth's crust, and ingested radioactive materials.
Radioactive materials in the body
About 11% (40 millirem) of our radiation dose comes from naturally occurring radioactive materials in the body. Most of the dose comes from a radioactive isotope of potassium. Radioactive potassium-40, as well as other radioactive materials (such as carbon-14) which occur naturally in air, water, and soil are incorporated into the food we eat and then into our body tissues.
Cosmic rays
Cosmic radiation comes from outer space. The radiation dose from cosmic radiation increases with altitude, roughly doubling every 6,000 feet. Therefore, a resident of Florida (at sea level) on average receives about 26 millirem, one-half the dose from cosmic radiation as that received by a resident of Denver, Colorado, and about one-fifth of that by a resident of Leadville, Colorado (about two miles above sea level). A passenger in a jetliner traveling at 37,000 feet would receive about 60 times as much dose from cosmic radiation as would a person standing at sea level for the same length of time.
The millirem is the term used to describe the amount of radiation absorbed in the body, adjusting for radiation type.
Natural radioactive decay is the process in which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation, such as alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. This decay occurs to achieve a more stable configuration in the nucleus.
element is naturally occurring, but all isotopes are radioactive.
rates used for radioactivity and radioactivity dating.
Nuclear processes are not affected by chemisty.
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What is the origin of actinium?
Actinium is a natural chemical element, radioactive; actinium is a decay product of uranium.
What term indicates the process in which unstable nuclide release radiation?
If it is related to Nuclear studies, then the answer would be fusion.
Radioactive decay do not involve electrons?
That statement is not entirely accurate. Radioactive decay can involve the emission of alpha particles, beta particles (electrons or positrons), and gamma rays. Electrons can be involved in certain types of radioactive decay processes.
What is the best definition of radioactive decay?
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous breakdown of a nucleus into smaller parts.
How can coin- tossing simulate radioactive decay?
Coin-tossing can simulate radioactive decay by assigning a probability of heads or tails to represent decay or stability of a radioactive nucleus. Consistent with the decay probability of a radioactive substance, you can randomly flip the coin to determine decay events over time. Over multiple throws, you can track the number of heads to emulate the decay rate of a radioactive substance.
How can radioactive substances to be formed?
Through natural or facilitated decay processes.
What happens to the nucleus?
Nuclear reactions, radioactive decay, natural fission
How does radioactive decay relate to precalculus?
it is a natural example of the exponential function
What is the source of heat in the Earth interior?
The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.
When radioactive isotopes break down into other elements the process is called?
radioactive decay
Does the element aluminum undergo radioactive decay?
All elements have some isotopes that undergo radioactive decay, the question is how fast.Aluminum comes in three major isotopes, each with their own half-life:Al-26: 730000 years - 0% in natural aluminumAl-27: Stable - 100% in natural aluminumAl-28: 2.3 minutes - 0% in natural aluminumSo as natural aluminum is 100% Al-27 it does not undergo radioactive decay
What is the origin of actinium?
Actinium is a natural chemical element, radioactive; actinium is a decay product of uranium.
How is the radioactive decay of Krypton different from the radioactive decay of Americium?
The radioactive decay of americium 241 is by alpha disintegration; the disintegration of radioactive krypton isotopes is by beta particles emission.
What term indicates the process in which unstable nuclide release radiation?
If it is related to Nuclear studies, then the answer would be fusion.
What is the difference between a simulation and actual radioactive decay?
A simulation is a computer-generated model that mimics real-world processes, such as radioactive decay, using mathematical algorithms. Actual radioactive decay is a natural process where unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation. While simulations provide insight into how radioactive decay works, real decay occurs spontaneously and cannot be controlled or manipulated like in a simulation.
What is radon's origin?
Radon is a natural chemical element; it can be found in the radioactive decay series of uranium and thorium.
What is lost during radioactive decay?
Decay energy is the energy that has been freed during radioactive decay. When radioactive decay is ongoing it drops off some energy by means of discharging radiation.
