NAME:…………………………………………………..

Review Questions – Uses of Nuclear Radiation

1. Would a geiger-muller counter work if the tube had no gas in it (a
vacuum)? (3)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
It would not because a Geiger-Müller counter requires air to complete the circuit
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Would a gamma source be suitable for automatic thickness monitoring of
aluminium foil? Explain your answer. (1)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Gamma radiation easily passes through aluminium so would not vary in detection
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Beta radiation can be stopped by Aluminium, how comes it can be used for
monitoring thickness of aluminium foil? (2)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Variations in thickness between 0-5mm of aluminium are detected by fluctuations in
radioactivity level detected by a Geiger-Müller counter
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Why is an alpha source most appropriate for use in a smoke detector? (2)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Alpha has the shortest range in air so it is not a risk to health and it is also highly ionising, so when
smoke goes into the smoke detector, the current stops enough to trigger the alarm
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Explain how the age of an igneous rock can be determined by Uranium
dating? (4)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Uranium has a half-life of 4500 years. Each Uranium atom decays into lead. The age of the rock can be
determined by comparing the number of uranium and lead atoms.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Why would the age of rock not be possible to determine using a
radioactive isotope with a half-life of 15 hours? (2)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Because the half-life of the isotope is too short, it would have decayed long ago and we wouldn’t be able to compare it
with anything
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Explain why nuclear radiation can be dangerous?
Nuclear radiation is ionising. This means it can damage/mutate cells, potentially causing tumours.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Explain why a radioactive gamma source is with a half life of 6 hours is
suitable for medical imaging as a tracer. (3)
Gamma can be detected by passing through the body . The half life is long enough to last the length of
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
the imaging but will decay quickly enough to not cause damage to the body.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
NAME:…………………………………………………..
Review Questions – Uses of Nuclear Radiation
1. Would a geiger-muller counter work if the tube had no gas in it (a
vacuum)? (3)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Would a gamma source be suitable for automatic thickness monitoring of
aluminium foil? Explain your answer. (1)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Beta radiation can be stopped by Aluminium, how comes it can be used for
monitoring thickness of aluminium foil? (2)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Why is an alpha source most appropriate for use in a smoke detector? (2)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Explain how the age of an igneous rock can be determined by Uranium
dating? (4)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Why would the age of rock not be possible to determine using a
radioactive isotope with a half-life of 15 hours? (2)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Explain why nuclear radiation can be dangerous?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Explain why a radioactive gamma source is with a half life of 6 hours is
suitable for medical imaging as a tracer. (3)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………