Radon (Rn, atomic #86 ) is a radioactive noble gas. Helium (He, atomic number 10 ) is a non-radioactive noble gas. Both are continually emitted from the surface of Earth. Which has a greater tendency to settle into the basements of homes and why?
What will be an ideal response?
Radon will have a greater tendency to settle into the basements of homes because it is heavier. Basements, therefore, should be well ventilated. Helium is much lighter and tends to rise.
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Solar energy is becoming more popular recently due to
A. the decline of nuclear power after Fukushima. B. the decreased abundance of natural gas in the United States. C. new technology and the lower cost due to subsidies and tax breaks. D. conflict in the Middle East over oil supplies. E. the rising temperature of the atmosphere.
Which variable (population growth rate, rate of increase in water use, or
precipitation) do you think has the least infl uence on water balance? Explain. What will be an ideal response?
Which one of the following best represents the productive use of a natural resource?
A) A man in Colorado burns wood from his property as a source of heat for his home. B) A family on vacation catches trout, which they will enjoy for dinner that evening. C) A woman gathers mushrooms from a forest to sell in the local produce market. D) Deep in the Congo, a man kills a bush pig to feed his family for the next week.
Which of the following is NOT true about groundwater flow?
A. Water moves from areas where the water table is highest to areas where it is lowest. B. In some igneous groundwater reservoirs, flow is determined by the orientation of fractures. C. Excess pumping from wells can cause subsidence and reduction of porosity. D. A decrease in the gradient (slope of the water table) increases the velocity.