1)
a) Irradiation is when an object is exposed to radiation that is emitted from a radioactive material/ source
b) No (objects that are exposed to irradiation do not become radioactive)
c) Any from:
2)
a) Contamination is when an object comes into contact with a radioactive source and radioactive atoms get onto or into the object. For example, if I was to touch a radioactive source without wearing gloves, my hands would become contaminated as I now have radioactive atoms on my hands
b) Yes (the radioactive atoms on the contaminated object will emit radiation)
c) Any from:
3) Inside the body, alpha radiation is the most dangerous. This is because the alpha particles have a very short range and therefore do a lot of damage in a localised area, which inside the body will damage your cells in tissue and organs.
Gamma is the least damaging inside the body because gamma radiation tends to pass through stuff rather than collide with it (gamma is the least ionising). This means that most of the gamma radiation will pass straight out of the body and not cause too much damage.
4) Beta and gamma radiation are the most dangerous types of radiation outside the body. This is because beta and gamma radiation are able to penetrate the body and reach organs/ tissue where they can cause damage
Alpha radiation is the least dangerous outside the body because it is stopped by skin and only has a range of a few centimetres in air.
a) Irradiation is when an object is exposed to radiation that is emitted from a radioactive material/ source
b) No (objects that are exposed to irradiation do not become radioactive)
c) Any from:
- keeping the radioactive substance/ source in a lead-lined box
- standing behind a barrier
- controlling the radioactive substance/ source in another room
- wearing a protective suit
2)
a) Contamination is when an object comes into contact with a radioactive source and radioactive atoms get onto or into the object. For example, if I was to touch a radioactive source without wearing gloves, my hands would become contaminated as I now have radioactive atoms on my hands
b) Yes (the radioactive atoms on the contaminated object will emit radiation)
c) Any from:
- wear gloves
- use tongs
- wear a radioactive protective suit
- use breathing equipment etc.
3) Inside the body, alpha radiation is the most dangerous. This is because the alpha particles have a very short range and therefore do a lot of damage in a localised area, which inside the body will damage your cells in tissue and organs.
Gamma is the least damaging inside the body because gamma radiation tends to pass through stuff rather than collide with it (gamma is the least ionising). This means that most of the gamma radiation will pass straight out of the body and not cause too much damage.
4) Beta and gamma radiation are the most dangerous types of radiation outside the body. This is because beta and gamma radiation are able to penetrate the body and reach organs/ tissue where they can cause damage
Alpha radiation is the least dangerous outside the body because it is stopped by skin and only has a range of a few centimetres in air.
Questions
1)
a) What is irradiation?
b) Do objects exposed to irradiation become radioactive?
c) Give a few ways that we can reduce irradiation.
2)
a) What is contamination?
b) Will contaminated substances emit radiation?
c) Give a few ways that we can reduce contamination.
3) Out of alpha and gamma, which is the most and least dangerous type of radiation inside the body. Explain your answer.
4) Which is the most and least dangerous type of radiation outside the body? Explain your answer. When explaining your answer, group gamma and beta radiation together, and have alpha radiation separate.
1)
a) What is irradiation?
b) Do objects exposed to irradiation become radioactive?
c) Give a few ways that we can reduce irradiation.
2)
a) What is contamination?
b) Will contaminated substances emit radiation?
c) Give a few ways that we can reduce contamination.
3) Out of alpha and gamma, which is the most and least dangerous type of radiation inside the body. Explain your answer.
4) Which is the most and least dangerous type of radiation outside the body? Explain your answer. When explaining your answer, group gamma and beta radiation together, and have alpha radiation separate.