Question detail

Which of the following statements about background radiation is true?

Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.

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At a glance

MCQ

Type

practice

Style

Topic

Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation

Question

A. It is only harmful at high levels.
B. It is completely avoidable.
C. It is constant everywhere on Earth.
D. It can vary based on environmental factors.

Answer

The correct answer is D: It can vary based on environmental factors..

Explanation

The correct answer is D: It can vary based on environmental factors.. This supports the learning objective "Explain why background count rate should be measured before using a radioactive source." in Background radiation because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Background radiation idea: It is only harmful at high levels.; It is completely avoidable.; It is constant everywhere on Earth..

Common mistake

Misunderstanding Background Count Rate

Students often confuse background count rate with the count rate from a radioactive source, thinking they are the same.

Emphasize that the background count rate is the natural radiation present in the environment and must be subtracted from the measured count rate to obtain the true count from the radioactive source.

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