Physics 8463 - 4.4 Atomic structure

4.4.3 Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background
radiation

Helpful pages

4.4.3.1 Background radiation

Background radiation is around us all of the time.

It comes from:

natural sources such as rocks, radon gas and cosmic rays from space

man-made sources such as the fallout from nuclear weapons testing and nuclear accidents.

The level of background radiation and radiation dose may be affected by occupation and/or location.

Radiation dose is measured in sieverts (Sv)

1000 millisieverts (mSv) = 1 sievert (Sv)

You will not need to recall the unit of radiation dose - but it is useful general knowledge!

 

4.4.3.2 Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes

Radioactive isotopes have a very wide range of half-life values.

You should be able to explain why the hazards associated with radioactive material differ according to the half-life involved.

 
4.4.3.3 Uses of nuclear radiation

Nuclear radiations are used in medicine for the:
exploration of internal organs
control or destruction of unwanted tissue.

You should be able to:
describe and evaluate the uses of nuclear radiations for exploration of internal organs, and for control or destruction of
unwanted tissue
evaluate the perceived risks of using nuclear radiations in relation to given data and consequences.

PET Scanner

 

Gamma Camera

 

Tracers