Other uses of radioactive isotopes Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a radioactive tracer used for?

A
  • follow the path of a substance through a system
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2
Q

What is necessary for a tracer to have?

A
  • have a half-life which is stable enough for the necessary measurements to be made and short enough to decay quickly after use
  • emit beta or gamma radiation so it can be detected outside the flow path
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3
Q

How can the rate of wear of a piston ring ?

A
  • fitting a ring that is radioactive
  • as the ring slides along the piston compartment, radioactive atom transfer from the ring to the engine oil
  • by measuring the radioactivity of the oil, the mass of of radioactive metal transferred from the ring can be determined and the rate of wear can be calculated
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4
Q

How can a radioactive metal ring be made?

A
  • exposing it to neutron radiation in a nuclear reactors
  • each nucleus that absorbs a neutron becomes unstable and disintegrates by beta minus emission
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5
Q

What else can tracers be used for, besides medical application?

A
  • underground lleaks
  • modelling oil resivoirs
  • uptake of fertilisers
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6
Q

How is metal foil manufactured?

A
  • using rollers to squeeze plate metal on a continuous production line
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7
Q

How is a detectors used in foil production?

A
  • measures amount of radiation passing through the foil
  • if too thick, the reading drops
  • a singal from the detector is fed to a control system to make the roller move closer together to make the foil thinner
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8
Q

What type of source is used for thickness monitopring? WHy are other types not uysed?

A
  • beta minus
  • long half life
    • does not have to regularly be replaced
    • activity does not significantly changeq
  • alpha would be absorbed and gamma would pass throuigh without absorbition
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9
Q

How can radioactive isotopes be used for power?

A
  • thermally insulated sealed container
    • absorbs all radiation
  • a thermocouple attached to the container produced electricity as a result of the container becoming warm through radiation
  • needs long half life so it does not need to be replaced
    • not very long that may requre too much mass to generate the necessary power
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