What exactly is fallout?
Q: What exactly is fallout?
A: Fallout refers to the residual radiation hazard that is left over after a nuclear explosion.
Q: Why is it called "fallout"?
A: The name "fallout" comes from the fact that radioactive material from the explosion "falls out" of the atmosphere and settles on the ground below.
Q: What causes the creation of fission products?
A: All nuclear explosions result in the creation of fission products, which are the broken, radioactive atoms that result from the fission reaction.
Q: What other materials can become radioactive during a nuclear explosion?
A: Neutrons from the explosion can also cause nearby materials to become radioactive.
Q: Was radioactive fallout only caused by nuclear weapons?
A: No, there was also radioactive fallout after the Chernobyl disaster, which was caused by a malfunctioning nuclear power station.
Q: What area was affected by the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster?
A: The radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster caused serious contamination over an area including Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Scandinavia, and parts of Europe.
Q: What happened to people living within 30 kilometres of the Chernobyl power plant?
A: All people living within a 30-kilometre radius of the Chernobyl power plant were forced to move because of the radioactive fallout. Many villages and towns in the area were abandoned.
