Homework - Radiation

1. What is cancer?
2. What are the two possible effects of radiation on living cells?
3. Describe the treatment of localised tumours using Cobalt-60 and also using a linear accelerator. Why does the radiation source rotate about the patient?
4. What is a gold grain?
5. What is a radioactive tracer? Describe how these can be used to examine the kidneys.
6. What is a gamma camera? Mention the purpose of the collimator and the scintillation counter.
7. Describe how irradiation can be used to sterilise medical instruments and dressings and to preserve food.
8. The three types of radiation are called alpha (), beta () and gamma (). Which of these will be deflected in an electric or magnetic field? Which of them is simply the nucleus of a helium atom? Which is a fast moving electron? Which is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum?
9. Describe what is needed to stop(absorb) each type of radiation.
10. Draw a labelled diagram of an atom.
11. What is meant by ionisation?
12. List the types of radiation in order of increasing ionisation effect.
13. Describe the three main methods of detecting radiation.
14. What meant by the activity of a radioactive source?
15. What is the SI unit of activity?
16. What happens to the activity level of a substance over a period of time?
17. What is half-life?
18. Describe background radiation and name the most significant contributors to this.
19. What is Carbon Dating?
20. Give two short-term and two long-term effects of radiation.
21. What is meant by dose equivalent and what is the SI unit for this?

Optional Questions - Research

1. Find out about the work of Marie Curie.
2. What is the Valley of Nuclear Stability?
3. What is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
4. What is the Weak Nuclear Force?