PC Pals Forum
General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on March 20, 2011, 14:58
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really nice plot from XKCD:
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
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:stars:
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Can I have subtitles please, Sam? :)
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I thought it was quite clear.
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That's 'cos you're a scientist. ;)
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It couldn't be more clear Sam! It puts it all into perspective!
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That's 'cos you're a scientist. ;)
yeah but its dots that represent a certain dose and they get bigger depending on the dosage..
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It does make a kind of sense, looking at it again. But do we know what the levels of radiation are being emitted by Fukushima?
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I don't think they are that worrying unless you are one of the workers at the plant.
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Might be a daft question, but is radiation 'contagious' from person to person?
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Only of you have a very high dose. ;D
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And glow in the dark.
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Might be a daft question, but is radiation 'contagious' from person to person?
I guess if you had a source of radioactive material that could penetrate the skin, i.e. gamma radiation, then yes. But generally no. We all have low levels of radiation produced from potassium in our bones (I think that's the right element). The level a person would produce would be very very low, compared to just bricks in a house.
I'm wondering if I'm less bothered about radiation because from day one at school we were exposed to subjects like this. I bet many didn't really take it in, but we did demonstrations of different radioactive particles and well the most ionising types are stopped by a piece of paper.. never mind the skin.
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Yes, there are radioactive particles bombarding you all the time from various articles you have about your person or within your house. Your wristwatch, smoke alarm and work tops to name but a few. :)
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I thought luminous dials were no longer radioactive, Clive?
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I thought luminous dials were no longer radioactive, Clive?
they're not supposed to be but i reckon a few of the cheap chinese fakes could be a bit dodgy.
As an aside at the turn of the 19th century you could get "sodastream" machines that made you a fizzy radium drink , yum. :stars:
Excellent chart by the way Sam, consider it stolen. :thumbs:
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We had a Geiger counter in the lab at which I used to work and it used to go into a frenzy if I placed my watch next to it. But I think the radioactive substance was promethium 147 and not radium as was used previously. They may well have changed to something less radioactive in recent years. Wimps!! :laugh:
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Apparently the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra's instruments are now radioactive after their tour of Japan!
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Well I'm blowed!
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Or brassed off. ;)
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:)x
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Apparently the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra's instruments are now radioactive after their tour of Japan!
what, did they stand on top of the nuclear reactor?
Oh this article... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1368052/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-Tea-sandwiches-English-evacuation.html?ito=feeds-newsxml :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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It was also reported in a BBC Radio 5 news bulletin.
I bet they wouldn't have been popular if they had been playing Handel's Water Music. Incidentally, I hear the water in Tokyo is now regarded as unfit for babies to drink due to radioactive contamination. Tokyo is about 240 km (150 miles) from Fukushima!
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It does now seem as though they may have been playing it down a bit. :(
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I don't know everything I've heard about the radioactive release sounds reasonable.
But, even though the level is more than twice the 100 becquerels per litre experts say is safe for infants to consume, older children and adults are being told they have no reason to fear water from their taps
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStoriesV2/20110323/japan-fukushima-radiation-contamination-concerns-110323/
The radon concentration in an average UK house gives 20 becquerels per cubic metre.
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The radon concentration in an average UK house gives 20 becquerels per cubic metre.
And the amount at which you are recommended to take steps to reduce the level is 400 becquerels per cubic metre i think (unless it's been reduced recently).
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I should imagine much would depend on your body mass. Smaller people (such as children) would be affected worse than adults.
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though the cross section of radiation encountered would be smaller.
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I should imagine much would depend on your body mass. Smaller people (such as children) would be affected worse than adults.
Children are more susceptible as some organs are not fully matured and are more prone to chromosome damage. Younger adults are more susceptible than older ones as they have longer to live for the radiation effects to occur.