Radiation Protection Activity

We can’t sense radiation in the world—that is, we can’t see it, touch it, hear it, smell it, or taste it—but we know that it is around us, all of the time, mostly from natural sources. To detect radiation, we use specialized equipment. Learn more about how we detect and monitor radiation, and how we alert people to radiation sources, using the Radiation Warning and Protection Equipment activity. This activity is intended for middle and high school students.

• Objectives
• Next Generation Science Standards
• Materials and Resources
• Time
• Directions
• Common Core State Standards
• Printable Worksheets and Classroom Aids

Objectives

Students will:

• Interpret the meaning of several radiation warning signs.
• Investigate how radiation protection technology and equipment are used to protect workers, the public and our environment.

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Next Generation Science Standards

The concepts in this activity can be used to support the following science standards:

• PS4. Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation

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Materials and Resources

Each italicized document title can be found at the bottom of this page, and is available for printing and distribution.

• Radiation Protection: Teacher Background Information
• Vocabulary Materials
• Computer and/or projector to display information/images and capture student comments
• Radiation Detection Equipment images
• Radiation Symbols Worksheet (one per student, pair or group) and teacher answer key
• Student computers with Internet access and printers (if conducting research in class)

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Time

45-60 minutes, not including optional activities or extensions.

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Vocabulary

• Dosimeter
• Geiger counter
• Ionizing radiation
• Radiation
• Radiation exposure
• Radiation protection
• Radon

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Directions

1. Start with a vocabulary activity if students are not familiar with radiation and the terms used in this activity, or provide students with the terms and definitions.
    
2. Explain that radiation is energy that travels in the form of waves or high speed particles. Ask students how people might be able to detect whether radiation is present since it is not detectable with our senses.
    
3. Display the Radiation Detection Equipment images. Explain that these show a few devices that people can use to detect and monitor radiation levels. Ask students to hypothesize the purpose or uses of each piece of equipment.
   • Ground and gamma scanners (top, left) monitor the clean up at contaminated sites such as radioactive waste sites or emergency response sites.
   • Radon test kits (center, left) measure radon levels in the home. At-home test kits include canisters, detectors, or devices that you can purchase in stores, by mail, phone or online. You leave them in your home for a recommended period and then send them to a laboratory for analysis. Professionals can also come to your home and measure the radon levels.
   • Dosimeters (bottom, left) are worn by people who work near radioactive sources or handle radioactive materials. People wear dosimeters to measure exposure to radiation so they stay within the legal exposure limits of their job. People who might wear these include astronauts, scientists, radiation protection workers, medical workers, x-ray technicians and nuclear power plant workers.
   • Air monitoring equipment (top, right) detects and monitors outdoor radiation levels. EPA’s RadNet system monitors the nation’s air, drinking water, precipitation, and pasteurized milk to determine levels of radiation in the environment.
   • Geiger counters (bottom, right) are hand-held devices that detect the presence of radiation. They are often used in the health physics, nuclear and geology fields.
      
4. Ask students: How is the public warned about the presence of radiation? Warning signs and radiation protection measures can alert and protect workers and the general public. Radiation warning signs may be found in workplaces, on packaging or transport vehicles, and on the sides of buildings. They often alert us to radiation sources and may direct us on how to limit or avoid exposure to radiation. We also depend on technology and protective equipment to help detect, monitor and limit our exposure to radiation.
    
5. Provide students with a copy of the Radiation Symbols Worksheet. Direct them to answer the questions regarding the three symbols to the best of their knowledge – some students may be seeing these images for the first time.
    
6. Review students’ responses using the Radiation Symbols Teacher Answer Key. You may also share the Radiation Warning Symbols information in the Radiation Protection: Teacher Background Information and have students confirm their responses or complete the worksheet. Students may want to share where they have seen these warning signs.
    
7.  Ask students:
   • Based on the warning symbols or what you know about ionizing radiation, what are the three basic concepts of radiation protection? Time, distance and shielding.
   • How do these signs relate to the concepts of radiation protection?
     • The international symbols of radiation prompt people to remain a safe distance from a radiation source and workers to follow the appropriate radiation protection standards (time, distance and shielding).
     • Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) symbols provide carriers with the necessary information they need to store radioactive materials safe distances away from people, animals and other materials and handle the materials in a safe manner. In the event of an accident, this symbol helps first responders quickly identify the materials so they can respond appropriately.
     • A fallout shelter indicates a location that offers shielding during a radiation emergency.
        
8. Conclude by having students reflect and share one or more things they learned about radiation detection and protection.
    
9. Optional activities or extensions:
   Have students:
   • Research a radiation protection device and investigate its purpose, where and how it is used and any impacts it has on personal health and environmental protection.
   • Investigate the units of measurements calculated by the device (e.g., picocuries per liter (pCi/L) for measuring radon levels or counts per second (CPS) or counts per minute (CPM) for Geiger counter readings) and collect and graph data samples.
   • Summarize and share their findings in a verbal or online presentation (potentially including a demonstration, model or video of the device) similar to science shows and sites that describe how things work or how they are made.

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Printable Worksheets and Classroom Aids 

• Radiation Detection Equipment (PDF)(1 pg, 323 K)
• Radiation Symbols Worksheet (PDF)(1 pg, 200 K)
• Radiation Symbols: Teacher Answer Key (PDF)(1 pg, 159 K)