h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does china become radioactive if exposed to the blast from an atomic bomb? There was a couple of pieces on Antiques Roadshow that came from Hiroshima, about 6 miles from ground zero. The people on the show didn't seem concerned so I wondered if pottery doesn't get radioactive.

After Tchernobyl had happened, there was a lot of talk about the plants having got a high rate of gamma rays, especially mushrooms (I seem to recall), but now you mention it, there was never talk about the houses and stuff, so I take it they're not affected.

No it doesn't.

There are two ways (that I am aware of) that things can actually gain radioactivity from such a blast.

1) Living things can absorb radioactive isotopes of elements such as iodine, strontium and cesium.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/nucene/fisfrag.html

But then pottery isn't a living thing so cannot do this as it requires a metabolic system.

2) Absorbing neutrons released in the bomb blast to form new elements that would then be radioactive.

This is how new elements are formed in supernovae and how uranium itself becomes fissile and explodes.

However. The pot would have to be so close to the blast that it would become vapourised in the process and there aren't really any elements in the pottery that are good enough at absorbing neutrons for this to happen much anyway.

So the answer is no.

Traveller in Times radiating noise
"Buildings and artifacts do not digest radioactive dust, only the surface will be temporary contaminated (just for some 20 years)

The radiation emitted during the blast does not cantaminate at all, after a few hours objects will be cooled down. "

Thanks.

I gather that the Chernobyl buildings were not safe for a long time, presumably because of what TiT said.

Traveller in Times trying the lead hat
"Still Orus formulated it more correct, mine was a little delayed simpost by about an hour (started writing as reply to the second posting)"

Yes, my thanks was to everyone