Radiation and half life

• alpha: consists of 2 neutrons and 2 protons and is equivalent to a helium nucleus
• Alpha is highly ionisibg
• Alpha is low penertating
• Alpha ranges 1-2 cm in air
• beta: a high-speed electron ejected from the nucleus as a neutron turns into a proton
• Beta is medium penetrating
• Beta is medium ionising
• Beta's range in the air is around 154cm long
• gamma: electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus
• Gamma is low ionising
• Gamma is highly penetrating
• •Ionising radiation: any form of radiation that interacts with matter, resulting in ionization of that matter….makes it an ion by removing electrons
• Gamma has no mass or charge
• Radioactive decay: the random process that occurs when an unstable nucleus loses energy by giving out alpha or beta particles or gamma radiation.
• Half-life: the time taken for half the unstable nuclei in a sample to decay.
• Alpha, beta and gamma radiation all have UV light. This means that it can be highly dangerous because they can change the chemistry of the body. The function of enzymes can be changed, cells can be damaged and the DNA in cells can be damaged, which can lead to cancer.
• Isotopes: atoms of the same element (they have the same number of protons) but with different number of neutrons.
• Radioisotopes: unstable isotopes that undergo radioactive decay emitting radioactivity as they do so.
• Gamma is best to use a radioactive tracer as it is low ionising
• Radioactive Tracer and why to use them:

  An isotope emits gamma rays that easily pass through the body to a detector outside the body, for example a ‘gamma camera’.

  In this way, the radioactive isotope can be followed as it flows through a particular organ in the body.

  Changes in the amount of gamma emitted from different parts would indicate how well the isotope is flowing, or if there is a blockage. This is best to identidy if a vaccine is working and goes to right areas