eli5 why does riding in an airplane cause radiation exposure? Does the airplane itself not block it?

Question

eli5 why does riding in an airplane cause radiation exposure? Does the airplane itself not block it?

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Answer 1

The atmosphere blocks out cosmic rays. When you’re flying in a plane, you’re high up in the air where the atmosphere is only about 1/3 as thick as it is at sea level. Less atmosphere = less protection from cosmic rays and to a lesser extent, solar particle radiation. The plane itself doesn’t offer appreciable protection from this radiation.

Just to be clear though, the radiation exposure is *extremely* minimal. The average flyer shouldn’t even bother thinking about it. The only people who should consider it (but certainly not worry about it) are flight crew members who spend decades flying for their jobs.