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10 (a) Radioactive tracers can be used when scanning a person's kidneys - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 10 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 10
10 (a) Radioactive tracers can be used when scanning a person's kidneys. A radioactive isotope is injected into a person's blood stream. The isotope emits radiatio... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:10 (a) Radioactive tracers can be used when scanning a person's kidneys - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 10 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
State why an isotope with a half-life of about 6 minutes is not suitable.
Answer
An isotope with a half-life of about 6 minutes is not suitable because it decays too quickly. The short half-life would not allow enough time for the isotope to travel through the bloodstream and emit sufficient radiation for the scan before it loses its efficacy.
Step 3
State why an isotope with a half-life of about 6 days is not suitable.
Answer
An isotope with a half-life of about 6 days is not suitable because it would remain in the body for too long. The prolonged exposure to radiation could increase the risk of harmful side effects and radiation exposure to the patient and technician.
Step 4
State two ways of reducing the radiation risks to the technician.
Answer
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Increase distance: The technician can maintain a greater distance from the patient during the scan, as radiation intensity decreases with distance.
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Use shielding: Providing physical barriers, such as lead aprons or walls, can significantly reduce the amount of radiation exposure to the technician.