R6 - Uses of nuclear radiation

Question 1

What makes beta and gamma suitable for medical tracers?

Answer 1

They penetrate the skin and other body tissues

Question 2

How do medical traces work?

Answer 2

• A source that emits beta or gamma radiation is injected into the patient.
• The radiation penetrates the body tissue which can then be detected externally by a computer which converts the readings on he screen

Question 3

Why does the radioactive source need to have a short half life?

Answer 3

So you can use less of the radioactive source but still get a reading on your detector

Question 4

Why would you never use an alpha particle for medical tracers?

Answer 4

• It would be useless - alpha particles are stopped by body tissues so your would never detect it externally
• Also strongly ionising so can be really harmful if it gets inside of you

Question 5

What else can gamma be used for?

Answer 5

Industrial traces - said