6.3 Blue Words

Question 1

Radiometric dating

Answer 1

determining the ages of rocks and fossils based on the rate of decay or half-life of particular isotopes

Question 2

Radiocarbon dating

Answer 2

a method of determining the age of a fossil using the remaining amount of unchanged radioactive carbon. All living organisms have the same proportion of radioactive and nonradioactive carbon atoms, but this changes after they die.

Question 3

Nuclear reactors

Answer 3

power plant where the radioactive properties of uranium are used to generate electricity

Question 4

Fuel rods

Answer 4

one of the rods that form the fuel source of a nuclear reactor; contains the fissile nuclides needed to produce a nuclear chain reaction

Question 5

Fission

Answer 5

splitting of the nuclei of large atoms into two smaller atoms and several neutrons, releasing radiation and heat energy

Question 6

External radiotherapy

Answer 6

cancer treatment where radiation is directed from an external machine to the site of the cancer

Question 7

Internal radiotherapy

Answer 7

cancer treatment also known as brachytherapy. Radioisotopes are placed inside the body at, or near, the site of a cancer.

Question 8

Brachytherapy

Answer 8

cancer treatment also known as internal radiotherapy. Radioisotopes are placed inside the body at, or near, the site of a cancer.