Ionising radiation does its damage quietly, cell by cell, with no warning you can feel. The defences are simple and powerful: stay back, keep it brief, and put something dense in the way.
Ionising radiation damages living cells, so exposure must be kept as low as possible. The dose is reduced by keeping your distance, limiting the time of exposure, and shielding with dense materials such as lead. Sources are stored in lead-lined containers and handled with tongs.
Ionising radiation is dangerous because it can damage or kill living cells and cause mutations. Exposure is reduced by increasing distance, reducing time, and using shielding.
Sources are stored in lead-lined containers and handled with tongs, never bare hands.
Adjust distance, time and shielding and see how each lowers the radiation dose.
Four quick checks. Each correct answer earns XP and lights this skill on your star map.
Ionising radiation is dangerous because it can...
A radioactive source in a laboratory should be handled with...
Which set of actions reduces a person’s radiation dose?
Radioactive sources are stored in...
Distance, time and shielding cut the dose; careful storage and handling keep it that way.
The three ways to cut your radiation dose are distance, time and shielding: stay further away, spend less time near the source, and put dense material such as lead between you and it.
Unlocks once the four checks above are done. Worth more XP, written in the style of Paper 2.
Which material is best for shielding against gamma radiation?
A worker wants to reduce the dose received while moving a source. The most effective single action is to...
Why are radioactive sources handled with long tongs rather than fingers?
Radiation safety completes the radioactivity strand and Unit 5. Keep the chain going.