Scintillation counter detects radiation using light flashes produced by particles. Consists of scintillator generating photons and photodetector converting light to signal. Radiation interacts with scintillator, producing flashes proportional to energy
Radiation is the flow of particles and waves at speeds above light speed. Matter is constantly bombarded with radiation from cosmic and terrestrial sources. Radiation can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior
Eight months after 1986 Chernobyl accident, workers found black lava-like mass. Mass resembled Elephant's Foot and weighed 2.2 tons. Highly radioactive, lethal exposure would take five minutes
Rad is a unit of absorbed radiation dose, equal to 0.01 Gy or 0.01 J/kg. Originally defined in 1953 as 100 ergs absorbed by 1 gram of matter. Replaced by gray (Gy) in SI units but still used in US
Hazard symbols alert individuals to dangerous materials and conditions. Designs are governed by laws and standards organizations. Symbols provide universal visual warnings across language barriers
Chernobyl disaster released radioactive contamination into atmosphere in 1986. Disaster caused US$235 billion in economic damages. Contamination spread over 28,000 square kilometers with 830,000 people affected