Starter quiz
- Which of the following are properties of alpha radiation?
- weakly ionising
- strongly ionising ✓
- least penetrating ✓
- most penetrating
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- Which of the following are properties of gamma radiation?
- weakly ionising ✓
- strongly ionising
- least penetrating
- most penetrating ✓
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- Which of the following statements about beta radiation are correct?
- It is less ionising than alpha and gamma radiation.
- It is less ionising than alpha and more ionising than gamma radiation. ✓
- It is more ionising than alpha and gamma radiation.
- It is less penetrating than alpha and gamma radiation.
- It is more penetrating than alpha and less penetrating than gamma radiation. ✓
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- Which type(s) of radiation can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper or skin?
- alpha only ✓
- beta only
- gamma only
- alpha and beta
- alpha, beta and gamma
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- Which type(s) of radiation can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium or plastic?
- alpha only
- beta only
- gamma only
- alpha and beta ✓
- alpha, beta and gamma
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- Match the following types of radiation to their typical range in air.
- alpha⇔a few centimetres ✓
- beta⇔several metres ✓
- gamma⇔hundreds of metres ✓
Exit quiz
- What is irradiation?
- the transfer of radioactive particles to an object or place
- the effect of exposing an object to radiation ✓
- a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation
- a method for killing cancer cells using radiation
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- What is contamination?
- the transfer of radioactive particles to an object or place ✓
- the effect of exposing an object to radiation
- a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation
- a method for killing cancer cells using radiation
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- Which of the following causes an object itself to become radioactive?
- irradiation only
- contamination only ✓
- both irradiation and contamination
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- Match the following types of radiation to the correct uses.
- alpha⇔smoke alarms ✓
- beta⇔controlling the thickness of paper ✓
- gamma⇔irradiating food; radiotherapy ✓
- Why are alpha sources unsuitable for medical imaging with radioactive substances injected into the body?
- Alpha particles can’t penetrate body tissues. ✓
- Alpha sources are too weak for imaging.
- Alpha particles are highly ionising and can cause significant damage to cells. ✓
- Alpha sources are not detectable by imaging equipment.
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- What is radiation dose, and in what unit is it measured?
- the rate of radiation emitted, measured in becquerels (Bq)
- the total energy of radiation, measured in joules (J)
- the intensity of radiation emitted, measured in watts (W)
- the amount of radiation received, measured in sieverts (Sv) ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Radioactive contamination is the presence of unwanted radioactive atoms.
- A material being exposed to iodising radiation is being irradiated and does not become radioactive.
- Radioactive isotopes with short half-lives decay quickly, emitting most radiation over a short period of time.
Common misconception
A material exposed to radiation will become radioactive.
Take time to clearly distinguish between radioactive contamination and irradiation.
Keywords
Irradiation - the effect of exposing an object to radiation
Radioactive contamination - the transfer of radioactive particles to an object or place
Radiation dose - a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation
Sievert (sv) - the unit of radiation dose
Radiotherapy - a method for killing cancer cells using radiation
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