Radiation Protection
These are the three main radiation protection principles:
T_ _ _, D _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
What are Time, Distance, and Shielding
During nuclear fission, this subatomic particle collides with a uranium atom and splits it, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation:
A. Proton
B. Neutron
C. Electron
What is a neutron?
The following foods have high natural radioactivity:
A. Bananas
B. Carrots
C. Brazil Nuts
D. White Potatoes
E. All of the above
Answer E - all of the above.
Based on 2023 data, about 65% of this country’s total domestic energy is produced by nuclear power plants:
A. France
B. Germany
C. USA
What is France?
The closest nuclear power plant to Hoover Middle School is:
A. 75 miles – or about 1.5 hours away
B. 300 miles – or about 5 hours away
C. 1,000 miles – or about 16 hours away
Answer A - 75 miles (about 1.5 hours away)
There are three things should you do to protection yourself during radiation emergency. They include:
A. Go outside, use umbrella, drink water
B. Go inside, turn on air conditioning, drink as little water as possible
C. Go inside, stay inside, get the latest information from radio, TV, internet, etc.
D. Take a shower, eat a full meal, try to get as much sleep as possible
C. Go inside, stay inside, get the latest information from radio, TV, internet, etc.
In this type of nuclear reaction, atoms are combined to form a larger atom, which releases energy:
A. Fusion
B. Fission
C. Radioactive decay
What is fusion?
Average US public’s exposure to ionizing radiation is about 620 mrem per year. Of this total, the share that comes from natural sources of radiation vs. man-made sources is:
A. About 10% natural and 90% man-made
B. About 50/50
C. About 75% natural and 25% man-made
Answer B - about 50/50.
Based on 2023 data, in USA, the share of total domestic energy generated by nuclear power plants is:
A. 49%
B. 19%
C. 4%
Answer B - 19%.
Several devices that use radioactive materials can be found throughout Hoover Middle School. Name at least one example of such device.
What are smoke detectors and self-luminous exit signs?
In the 1950s, this US President developed the “Atoms for Peace” program shifted the focus of nuclear technology from producing weapons to power generation, scientific research, and the production of medical and industrial isotopes. It was:
A. Herbert Hoover
B. Gerald Ford
C. Dwight Eisenhower
Who was Dwight Eisenhower?
In this type of nuclear reaction, atoms are split apart, which releases energy:
A. Fusion
B. Fission
C. Radioactive decay
What is fission?
Average US natural background dose is approximately 300 mrem per year. The radiation dose from one chest x-ray is:
A. About the same, 250-300 mrem
B. About 10 mrem
C. About 1 mrem or less
Answer B - about 10 mrem.
Based on 2023 data, in Maryland, the share of total energy generated by nuclear power plants is:
A. 41%
B. 21%
C. 1%
Answer A - about 41%.
There are many reasons why we cannot install a nuclear reactor in the school parking lot to produce power for Hoover Middle School. Name at least three of these reasons.
Too close to populated areas; cannot be safely licensed, constructed, and operated; would adversely affect the environment, etc.
Different types of radiation require different levels of protection. Alpha radiation does not travel far and can be stopped fairly easily. This material can stop alpha radiation:
A. Cement
B. Wood
C. Paper
D. All of the above
Answer D - All of the above.
If a 100-gram sample of a radioactive isotope decays to 25 grams in 6 hours, this is the half-life of the isotope:
A. 1 hour
B. 3 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 12 hours
Answer B - 3 hours
Average US natural background dose is approximately 300 mrem per year. The radiation dose from one transatlantic flight is:
A. About the same, 250-300 mrem
B. About 25 mrem
C. About 2.5 mrem
Answer C - about 2.5 mrem.
Based on 2023 data, in Virginia, the share of total energy generated by nuclear power plants is:
A. 72%
B. 51%
C. 32%
Answer C - about 32%.
Does Hoover Middle School use electricity generated by nuclear power?
Trick question! But likely yes :-)
Different types of radiation require different levels of protection. Gamma radiation is highly penetrating. This material can stop gamma radiation:
A. Wood
B. Lead
C. Glass
D. All of the above
What is lead?
Out of the 94 commercial nuclear power reactors that currently operate in the US, the ratio of those that use nuclear fusion vs nuclear fission is:
A. All use nuclear fission
B. About half use fission and half use fusion
C. About 80% use fission and 20% use fusion
Answer A - all use nuclear fission.
Average US natural background dose is approximately 300 mrem per year. The radiation dose that a person would receive from wearing a watch with a luminous dial for 1 year is:
A. About the same, 250-300 mrem
B. About 10 mrem
C. About 1 mrem
Answer C - about 1 mrem.
The first nuclear reactor was built during World War II, as part of the so-called “Manhattan Project.” It was located in this US city:
A. New York
B. Chicago
C. Los Angeles
D. Washington DC
What is Chicago?
Hoover Middle School has approximately 925 students. Compared to the school, the number of people that work at a typical nuclear power plant is:
A. About the same, 900 to 1,000 people
B. Fewer, about 500 to 700 people
C. More, about 2,000 to 2,500 people
Answer B - about 500 to 700 people.