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6 (a) (i) One source of background radiation is radon gas - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 (a) (i) One source of background radiation is radon gas. State another source of background radiation. (ii) Which of these two statements about background radiat... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 (a) (i) One source of background radiation is radon gas - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Explain these differences in background radiation.
Answer
Background radiation from radon gas varies across the UK due to geological variations, population density, and construction materials. Areas with higher natural uranium deposits will have elevated radon levels, while urban regions may have lower levels due to environmental controls.
Step 4
Describe how their ideas have changed since radioactivity was first discovered.
Answer
Initially, scientists believed that all radiation was uniformly hazardous. Over time, research has shown that not all radioactive sources pose equal risks, with stratified understandings of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. There is now greater awareness of the benefits of certain radiation applications, such as in medicine for diagnostics and treatment, alongside a more nuanced approach to assessing risks based on exposure levels.