Intermediate 1 Physics

Radiations

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Homework 5
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Return day 1.

Write down three things that x-rays and gamma rays have in common. (3) Gamma ray sources can be used as tracers to look inside the human body. a) Why is gamma radiation (rather than alpha or beta radiation) used in tracers? b) What is used to detect the gamma rays?

2.

c) Why must exposure to gamma rays be strictly controlled? (3)

3. Tracers can also be used to watch the flow of liquid through metal pipes. Describe how they might be used to find the position of a leak in an underground pipeline. You will have to think about this carefully!

(4)

Intermediate 1 Physics

Radiations

4.

Complete the following passage filling in the blank spaces with words from the word bank.

Word bank:

light, detected, nuclear, penetrate, decreases, invisible.

Gamma rays are a form of ________ radiation. Like x-rays, they are _________ and travel at the speed of ________. Gamma rays can ____________ most materials, including flesh so can be used in medicine as tracers. The source is injected into the body, and the rays are __________ outside with a gamma camera. The strength of a gamma ray source ___________ over time, so the radiation will eventually disappear. (6)

5.

Gamma rays are present all around us as part of the background radiation. State two sources of background radiation. (2)