1. RADIOACTIVITY
By : Nuriman Syakirah Binti Ahmad Kilani
409/13138

2. Understanding the uses of isotopes :
- Fundamentals of Radioisotopes
- Application of Radioisotopes In Various
Field
- Q&A
CONTENT

3. • •Isotopes that are not stable and go through radioactive decay are
known as radioisotopes
• •Radioisotopes exist naturally. Examples of such radioisotopes are
uranium -238 and radium-226
• •Artificial radioisotopes are manufactured mainly by irradiating
substance with neutrons in a nuclear reactor. They can also be
manufactured by bombarding a stable nucleus with hgh-energy
particles such as protons or neutrons.
• •For example, radioisotope sodium-24 is produced when magnesium
nucleus is bombarded by a neutron.
Fundamentals of Radioisotopes

4. • Medicals
• Agriculture
• Archeology
• Industries
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

5. Medicals
1. Radiotherapy
Gamma rays of cobalt-60 can be used to destroy cancer
cells in patients. This treatment is known as radiotherapy.
Tracer to Detect Blood Clots or Tumour
1. A small amount of sodium-24 is injected into the
patient's body.
1. Radioactive imaging is then used to detect accumulation
of sodium-24 and therefore detect tumours and blood
clots before they become dangerous.
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

6. Medicals
2. Sterilising Medical Instriment
1. Gamma ray emitted from radioactive cobalt-60
can kill germs such as bacteria and fungus.
1. Medical instruments such as surgical equipment,
syringes and bandages can be sterilised by using
gamma rays.
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

7. Medicals
3. Heart Peacemaker
1. A heart pacemaker is a medical device which uses
electrical pulses to contract the heart muscles, and
hence to regulate the beating of the heart.
1. Plutonium-238 in a nuclear battery is used to produce
small electric shocks in the heart pacemaker.
1. People with irregular heartbeats need to have a heart
pacemaker implanted inside their chest.
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

8. Agriculture
1. Pest Control
1. Male insect is sterilised by exposing to radioactive
radiation and then released back to the ecosystem.
1. This can ensure that their reproducing effort do not
generate new generation and hence reduces the
population of the insect.
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

9. Agriculture
2.. Tracer
1. The metabolism of phosphorus by plants can be studied using phosphate fertilisers
that contain phosphorus-32.
2. A small amount of phosphorus-32 is used in fertilisers.
3. The radiation produced by phosphorus-32decay is detected by a Geiger-Muller
counter.
4. This method can trace the passage of phosphate ions in plants.
5. Carbon-14 is used to study the passage of carbon during photosynthesis in plants.
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

10. Agriculture
3. Develop New Species of Plant
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field
1.
1. Radioactive radiation is targeted to the seeds
of plants and hence causes mutation to the
genes.
2. By chance, this may develop some superior
agricultural products.

11. Agriculture
4. Food Preservation
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field
1. The gamma rays from cobalt-60 are used to kill
bacteria in food to make fresh vegetables and
fruits last longer without any change in quality,
flavour and texture of food.
2. Gamma rays are used to inhibit budding in
potatoes.

12. Archeology
1. Estimation of Artifacts Age
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field
1. In archaeology radioisotope carbon-14 is used
to study and estimate the age of ancient
artifacts. This method is named as the
radiocarbon dating.
2. Radiocarbon dating can be used to estimate
the age of organic materials, such as wood
and leather, up to about 58,000 to 62,000
years.

13. Industry
1. Monitoring Content Of Food
2. Monitoring Thickness of Steel/Paper Sheet
3. Detecting Underground Leakage
4. Measuring the Wearing Rate Of Engine
p/s : Do click on the names to get more info
Application of Radioisotopes In
Various Field

14. 1. Cobalt-60 destroys cancer cells because it
A has a long half-life
B has no side effect
C radiates gamma rays
D decays spont
2. What is the radioisotope that can be used to determine the age of a fossil?
A Radon-222
B Uranium-238
C Carbon-14
D Iodine-131
Questions and Answers

15. 3. Which of the following statements is a characteristic of gamma radiation?
A It has a positive charge
B It is an electromagnetic wave
C It has a higher ionizing power than alpha radiation
D It has a lower penetrating power than beta radiation
4. Which statement is true about the use of radioactive substance?
A To determine the sex of a foetus
B To determine the contents in the baggage of the air plane passengers
C To detect leakage in underground pipes
D To identify counterfeit bank-notes
Questions and Answers

16. 5. In the fission reaction for an atom of uranium-235, the energy produced is 2.9 x 10-11 J.
What is the total loss of mass in the reaction?
A 3.22 x 10-28 kg
B 9.67 x 10-20 kg
C 2.61 x 106 kg
D 1.03 x 1019 kg
Answers.
1. C
2. C
3. B
Questions and Answers