7.9 explain the sources of background radiation

7.9 explain the sources of background radiation

Background radiation have many sources. Billions of years ago, when the earth formed, it contained many radioactive isotopes. Some of them are still decaying in the Earth’s crust.

Violent nuclear reaction in stars are producing very energetic cosmic rays which continuously bombard the Earth.

Some of the radioactive isotopes are inside our body which formed from nuclear reactions in stars at the very beginning of the Universe. Also we breathe small amount of carbon-14.

There is also sources of artificial radiation from nuclear stations and bombs, and use of radioactive materials in industry and medicine.