Uses of radioisotopes

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  • Created by: Lily04
  • Created on: 15-06-17 14:14
What are the main sources of background radiation?
Rocks, especially granite, and cosmic rays.
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Give 5 industrial examples of the use of tracers
Detect leaks or blockages in underground pipes, find the route of underground pipes, track dispersal of waste, monitor the uptake of fertilisers in plants, check for a blockage in a patients blood vessel
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What source is used in smoke detectors?
Alpha
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Describe how tracers are used to locate a leak or blockage in an underground gas pipe
A very small amount of suitable radioisotope is put into the pipe , a DETECTOR is passed along the ground above the path of the pipe to track the progress of the radioisotope, an increases in activity is detected in the region of the leak or blockage
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Background radiation can come from..... sources and ...... products
Man made sources and waste products
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Explain how a smoke detector with an alpha source works WITHOUT SMOKE
Many smoke detectors contain a radioisotope such as americium-241 that emits alpha particles. Without smoke the alpha particles hit air particles and ionise them. The positive ions and negative electrons move towards the negative and positive plates.
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Explain how. Smoke detector with an alpha source works WITH SMOKE
some alpha particles hit the smoke particles so there is less ionisation of air particles. The smoke detector senses the drop in current and sets off the alarm?
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How long is Americum-241 s half life?
430 years.
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Explain how radioactivity is used to date rocks.
Some rock types contain traces of uranium. All uranium isotopes are radioactive. They go through a series of decays, eventually a stable isotope of lead. By comparing the amounts of uranium and lead present in a rock sample, you can find approx. age
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What type of radiation is used in a tracer and why?
Gamma radiation because alpha and beta would not pass through the pipe and soil or skin so it couldn't be detected on ground or through skin.
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What is radiocarbon dating used to find?
Age of old materials
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How does radiocarbon dating find the age of old materials?
By looking at the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-14 In a sample from the dead organism and comparing the ratio in a living organism, the age of the dead organism can be estimated
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Give 5 industrial examples of the use of tracers

Back

Detect leaks or blockages in underground pipes, find the route of underground pipes, track dispersal of waste, monitor the uptake of fertilisers in plants, check for a blockage in a patients blood vessel

Card 3

Front

What source is used in smoke detectors?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Describe how tracers are used to locate a leak or blockage in an underground gas pipe

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Background radiation can come from..... sources and ...... products

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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