CAIE IGCSE Physics Sources of Background Radiation
Practise naming significant background-radiation sources and distinguish radon, rocks, buildings, food, drink and cosmic rays from irrelevant phenomena.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Physics 0625
Exam points
- name radon gas in air and radioactive materials in rocks, soil or buildings as terrestrial sources
- identify cosmic rays from space and naturally radioactive substances in food or drink
- suggest a valid source for a detector's background count before interpreting source measurements
5.2.1.2—Sources that make a significant question 1
[Maximum number: 1]
A radiation detector is set up in a laboratory where there are no radioactive samples.
On six separate occasions, the detector is switched on for 1.0 minute and the background count is recorded. The counts are:
232725242025
Suggest a possible source for this background radiation.
any one of:
rocks, buildings, soil, Earth, space, cosmic rays, Sun, radon, nuclear waste, weapons testing
B1
All question bank results loaded