Topic Summaries

Contamination and irradiation

GCSE > Physics > OCR A > GCSE Physics Topic Summaries > Radiation > Contamination and irradiation
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Science skills: Measuring results

  • Contamination is when radioactive materials are present where they are unwanted.
    • This poses a hazard as these materials will irradiate their surroundings, potentially without anyone realising this is happening.
    • Contamination can be caused by mishandling of radioactive materials or damage to nuclear power stations.
  • Irradiation is the process of exposing an object to radiation.
    • This poses a hazard due to the potential damage the radiation can do to the body.
    • Irradiation can be useful in small, controlled doses.
    • Irradiation does not cause contamination.
    • Irradiation can be caused by unsafe handling of radioactive materials or exposure to contaminated materials.

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