1. Jan 19, 2005

### thegame

Hello, anyone know a website to find the background rate of Cesium?

2. Jan 19, 2005

### MathStudent

No clue.. have you tried a google search?

3. Jan 20, 2005

### imabug

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.

NNDC 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.

4. Jan 20, 2005

### thegame

Cesium 137 decay rate... I am pretty sure its a constant, since its half life is 30 years.

5. Jan 20, 2005

### imabug

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: Jan 20, 2005