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Lesson: Nuclear Radiation in Medicine

In this lesson, we will learn how to determine the suitability of a radioisotope for use in different medical applications.

Question Video: Understanding Radioactive Tracers

06:13

Worksheet: Nuclear Radiation in Medicine • 8 Questions

Q1:

Which of the following correctly explains why gamma radiation is used for radiation beam therapy rather than alpha or beta particles?

AGamma radiation can penetrate further into the body than alpha or beta radiation and can thus reach the organs that contain cancerous tissue.
BGamma-ray sources are cheaper than alpha and beta sources.
CGamma radiation is more ionizing than alpha or beta radiation and is therefore more effective in destroying cancerous cells.
DGamma-ray sources have longer half-lives than alpha and beta sources and therefore do not have to be replaced as often.
EGamma radiation is more easily contained than alpha and beta radiations.

Q2:

Polonium-210 is a radioactive isotope of polonium with a half-life of 138 days. It decays via alpha decay to lead. Which of the following are reasons why polonium-210 cannot be used as a radioactive tracer?

Polonium-210 is too expensive to be used as a radioactive tracer.
Polonium-210 decays too slowly and thus would remain in a person’s system for too long.
Polonium-210 is a very rare isotope, and thus refining it for use in medicine is too difficult.
Polonium-210 decays too quickly and thus would not remain in a person’s system long enough to be useful.
Polonium-210 decays to lead, which is highly toxic.
Polonium-210 decays via alpha decay. Radioactive tracers have to emit gamma rays. The alpha particles released by polonium would be absorbed by the body’s cells.

Ab, e, f
Bc, d, e
Ca, d, f
Dc, d, f
Eb, c, e

Q3:

Which of the following is the correct unit for ionizing radiation dose?

ASievert (Sv)
BJoule (J)
CBecquerel (Bq)
DWatt (W)
EHertz (Hz)

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