Treatment

Question 1

How are medical radioisotopes produced?

Answer 1

By placing materials into a nuclear reactor

Question 2

Describe uses of nuclear radiation in medicine

Answer 2

• diagnosis
• treatment of cancer using gamma rays
• sterilisation of equipment

Question 3

What types of radiation can pass through skin?

Answer 3

Only beta and gamma radiation

Question 4

What effect does nuclear radiation have on human body?

Answer 4

It can damage cells

Question 5

Describe the role of a radiographer

Answer 5

Takes X-rays and uses radiation

Question 6

Describe the safety precautions that a radiographer must take

Answer 6

E.g. Standing behind a lead screen when X-raying a patient so that he/she does not receive a dangerous accumulated dose of radiation

Question 7

Explain how gamma rays are given out

Answer 7

From the nucleus of certain radioactive materials

Question 8

Explain how X-rays are made

Answer 8

By firing high speed electrons at metal targets

Question 9

Which is easier to control:

x-rays or gamma rays

Answer 9

X-rays are easier to control than gamma rays

Question 10

Explain how radioactive sources are used to treat cancer

Answer 10

1. Gamma rays are focussed on tumour
2. Wide beam is used
3. Rotated round the patient with tumour at centre
4. Limiting damage to non-cancerous tissue

Question 11

Explain how radioactive sources are used as a tracer

Answer 11

• beta or gamma emitter with a shirt half life
• drunk/eaten/injected/ingested into the body
• allowed to spread through the body
• followed on the outside by a radiation detector

Question 12

Do materials absorb some ionising material

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

What does the image produced by the absorption of X-rays depend on

Answer 13

The thickness and density of the absorbing materials

Question 14

Explain why gamma (and sometimes beta) emitters can be used as tracers in the body

Answer 14

Because they are capable of passing out of the body to be detected

Question 15

Understand why medical tracers should not remain active in the body for long periods

Answer 15

So that the patient does not remain radioactive for too long si need a short half-life

Question 16

Describe how materials can become radioactive as a result of absorbing extra neutrons

Answer 16

By putting the material into a nuclear reactor which makes its nucleus unstable so it emits radiation

Question 17

Describe some similarities and differences between X-rays and gamma rays

Answer 17

• both are ionising electromagnetic waves
• have similar wavelengths
• are produced in different ways