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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 would decay too quickly. This rapid decay would not allow sufficient time for the isotope to travel through the bloodstream and accumulate in the kidneys for effective imaging.
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 remains in the body for too long. This prolonged presence increases the radiation exposure to the patient and the technician, posing higher health risks.
Step 4
State two ways of reducing the radiation risks to the technician.
Answer
- Distance: The technician can maintain a safe distance from the patient during the scan to reduce exposure to radiation.
- Shielding: Use lead aprons or barriers to shield against radiation during the procedure, minimizing direct exposure.