Hazards and uses of radiation

• What are isotopes?

  Atoms of the same element with different neutrons
• What makes carbon-14 special among carbon isotopes?

  It is a radioactive isotope
• What is the key characteristic of isotopes undergoing radioactive decay?

  They have an unstable nucleus
• What happens to the nucleus of a radioactive isotope during radioactive decay?

  It gives out radiation to become stable
• What term describes the process where a nucleus gives out radiation to become stable?

  Radioactive decay
• What is a key characteristic of radioactive decay as described by scientists?

  It's a completely random process
• What can scientists NOT do regarding the decay of a nucleus?

  Predict when it will decay
• What is 'activity' in the context of radioactive materials?

  The rate at which unstable nuclei decay
• What is the unit of measurement for activity?

  Becquerel
• What is the symbol for Becquerel?

  Bq
• How many decays per second does one Becquerel represent?

  One decay per second
• What device is used to measure the activity of a radioactive source?

  A Geiger-Müller tube
• What is recorded each second by a detector such as a Geiger-Müller tube?

  The count rate
• Why is count rate not the same as activity?

  Due to background radiation
• How many different types of radiation can be emitted by an unstable nucleus?

  Four
• What particles make up an alpha particle?

  Two protons and two neutrons
• What is an alpha particle equivalent to?

  The nucleus of a helium atom
• What is a beta particle?

  An electron ejected from the nucleus
• Where does a beta particle originate since the nucleus doesn't contain electrons?

  It's formed when a neutron changes
• What particles does a neutron change into when forming a beta particle?

  A proton and an electron
• What type of radiation is a gamma ray?

  Electromagnetic radiation
• What are the two main uses of radiation in medicine discussed in the video?

  Radiotherapy and medical tracers
• How does ionizing radiation damage cells?

  By ionizing atoms and molecules within them
• What is the major problem caused by ionizing radiation at a cellular level?

  It can mutate DNA
• What happens if cells receive a large enough dose of radiation?

  They can be killed off completely
• What is the term for the condition caused by receiving large doses of radiation across the entire body?

  Radiation sickness
• What are some symptoms of radiation sickness?

  Vomiting, tiredness, and hair loss
• How can doctors use radiation to treat cancer?

  To destroy particular cancer cells
• What is the process of using radiation to treat cancer called?

  Radiotherapy
• What type of radiation is normally emitted by external sources in radiotherapy?

  Gamma rays
• What are the two main ways to deliver radiation in radiotherapy?

  Externally or internally
• Why are external radiation sources targeted at the cancer site from different angles?

  So only the cancer site gets highest dose
• Which type of radiation is usually used in the internal method of radiotherapy?

  Beta radiation
• Why is beta radiation chosen for internal radiotherapy?

  More damaging but can't pass far
• Why does cancer therapy often make patients feel sick?

  Healthy cells get damaged or killed
• What is another use of radiation that the video covers besides radiotherapy?

  Medical tracers
• How do medical tracers work?

  Track the movement of isotopes
• How can the movement of isotopes be tracked in the body?

  By tracking the radiation they emit
• How can medical tracers help in diagnosing organ function?

  By seeing if organs absorb substance right
• How can iodine-123 be used as a medical tracer?

  To see if iodine absorbs into thyroid