Uses of Radioactivity

Radioactivity tracers are commonly used in the medical field and also in the study of plants and animals.

Radiation is used and produced in nuclear reactors, which controls fission reactions to produce energy and new substances from the fission products.

Radiation is also used to sterilize medical instruments and food.

Radiation is used by test personnel who monitor materials and processes by non-destructive methods such as x-rays.

Assessment (Post your answer using the Stoplearn.com box below for evaluation and discussion)

Radiation is detected by the following except

1. diffusion cloud chamber
2. scintillation counter
3. Geiger-Muller counter
4. pulse current

……….. they came up with the term “radioactivity” to describe the spontaneous emissions that they studied.

1. Becquerel
2. Pierre and Marie Currie
3. Geiger Muller
4. Marsden

Radioactive decay is expressed in terms of

1. rate of radioactive absorption
2. rate of radioactive stability
3. position of element in the periodic table
4. half life

The following characteristics belong to one of the basic nuclear particles (i) – Low penetrating (ii) – Powerful ionizing power on gases (iii) – Particulate

1. Alpha particles
2. Beta particles
3. Gamma rays
4. X-ray

Radioisotopes have wide application in

1. medicine
2. industries
3. agriculture
4. all of the above