Radioactivity - background rate

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on finding reliable sources for the background radiation rate of Cesium, particularly Cesium-137. Participants clarify that the term "background rate of Cesium" is vague and suggest specifying whether the inquiry pertains to exposure rates or decay rates. They recommend the National Nuclear Data Center for information on radioisotopes and mention that the USGS may have maps of background radiation levels across the U.S. Additionally, the decay rate of Cesium-137 is noted to be constant, with a half-life of 30 years, and the decay constant formula is provided for further clarification. Understanding these specifics is crucial for accurate information on Cesium's radioactivity.
thegame
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Hello, anyone know a website to find the background rate of Cesium?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
No clue.. have you tried a google search?
 
thegame said:
Hello, anyone know a website to find the background rate of Cesium?
are you looking for the exposure rate of background radiation due to Cesium? Decay rate? which isotope? what location? or are you looking for the exposure rate due to cesium?

background rate of cesium doesn't really mean anything so it's kind of hard to answer your question.

http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/index.jsp has a lot of information on radioisotopes. I think the USGS might have some maps of background radiation levels around the US somewhere in their website.
 
Cesium 137 decay rate... I am pretty sure its a constant, since its half life is 30 years.
 
thegame said:
Cesium 137 decay rate... I am pretty sure its a constant, since its half life is 30 years.
decay rate of any radioisotope is typically specified in terms of it's half life and is constant for every radioisotope. perhaps it's the decay constant you're actually looking for?

A(t) = A(0) exp(-\lambda t)
where \lambda is the decay constant (\lambda = ln(2)/T_{1/2}) and A(0) = initial activity
 
Last edited:
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Background radiation sources question
Replies
4
Views
2K
I Half life and radioactivity clarification
Replies
20
Views
3K
Ratio of the rate of decay of R to that of S after 2 hours
Replies
3
Views
1K
Calculate the dose rate in a drum of U3O8
Replies
3
Views
1K
How much gasoline is in the underground storage tank?
Replies
5
Views
3K
Flow rate experiment not producing same results as the Hagen-Poiseuille law?
Replies
17
Views
2K
Is nuclear fusion without radioactive waste possible?
Replies
1
Views
190
What is the relationship between pressure and flow rate?
Replies
8
Views
4K
Probability of counts from the counting rate of a radioactive sample?
Replies
3
Views
6K
Angular Momentum Problem: Rotation Rate
Replies
5
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top