Medical Usages of radiation

Question 1

State one medical use?

Answer 1

Radioactive tracer

Question 2

What can radioactive tracer be used for?

Answer 2

To trace flow of substance through an organ.
SUCH AS BLOCKED KIDNEY

Question 3

What is the process for the radioactive tracers?

Answer 3

The patient drinks water containing radioactive isotopes (a tiny amount)

A detector placed against each kidney

The radioactive substance flows in and out of normal kidney, detector goes up and down

For blocked kidney the substance goes and doesn’t flow out. Detector goes up and stays.

Question 4

Iodine is used for radioactive tracers, why:

Answer 4

1) half life is 8 so lasts long enough for test and decays completely within few weeks.

2) Emits gamma radiation so it can be detected outside the body.

3) Decays into stable product.

Question 5

Name another Medical usage of physics?

Answer 5

gamma cameras

Question 6

Describe the process of imaging

Answer 6

Patient injected with radioactive iostope emitting gamma rays.

The rays pas through the organs detetced by detector to build up an image

The detector only picks up the rays coming straight front of it nuclei.

Question 7

Radiotherapy describe it

Answer 7

Cobalt 50 rays directed to the tumours to destroy them.