RADIOACTIVITY

AND ITS USES

Arshia Tewari, IGCSE 1.
What is radioactivity?
Radioactivity is established as the electromagnetic ray and particle emission from an
unstable atom. Radioactivity is also known as nuclear decay, radioactive decay,
radioactive disintegration or nuclear disintegration. There are several types of
electromagnetic radiation but not all of them are produced by radioactivity. For
example, a tube light might emit radiation in form of light and heat but it is not
radioactive. A substance that holds unstable atomic nuclei is taken to be radioactive.
Radioactive decay is a
random process that usually
happens at the measure of
separate atoms. Even
though it isn't possible to
anticipate precisely when
the decay of an unstable
nucleus will take place, the
half-life can be used as a
base to foretell the pace of
decay for a group of atoms.
The measure of time it needs
for the decay of one-half of
the radioactive isotope is
perceived as the isotope's
half-life.
Harmful effects of radioactivity
Radiation is the particles that are released during radioactive
decay.
Some harmful effects of radioactivity are Ionizing radiation, the
type of radiation that minerals, atom bombs and nuclear reactors
release, weakens and breaks up human DNA by either damaging
cells so much that they die or causing them to mutate in ways
that might, later on, lead to cancer. Vomiting blood, nausea and
diarrhoea can all be results of radiation damage to our intestinal
tract lining.
Radioactive materials that release alpha and beta particles are
highly toxic when consumed, inhaled, absorbed or injected. Some
ionizing radiations can be dangerous. Gamma rays are formed
instead of energy and are the most damaging outer danger.
Interesting facts about radioactivity
The S.I Unit for radioactivity is named after its
accidental discoverer - Henri Becquerel.
The first radioactive isotope linked to cancer in
humans is Radon.
Radium was still sold as a health tonic for
some time after scientists first learned about
how harmful it was.
The half-life of carbon-14 is utilized in carbon
dating to ascertain the age of fossils.
Bismuth is the heaviest element that has a
stable isotope. Other elements that are
heavier than bismuth are all radioactive.
Modern uses of radioactivity
Even though scientists have known about
radiation only for about a hundred and thirty
years, they have uncovered a wide range of
applications for this natural force. For our own
advantage, today radiation is used in medicine,
academia, industry and for generating electricity.
In addition, radiation has many applications in
areas such as agriculture, archaeology, space
exploration, law enforcement, geology (especially
mining), etc.
 Medical uses of Radioactivity
Hospitals, dentists and doctors all use a wide The most usual mentioned
range of nuclear substances and methods to pharmaceutical methods include the
diagnose, monitor and administer a wide utilisation of x-rays (a form of
variety of metabolic processes and human radiation that has the ability to see
diseases. Radiation therapy, otherwise known
beyond the surface of our skin).
as diagnostic x-rays, has been applied to
Shadows projected by bodily
roughly seven out of ten people in America.
structures denser than skin (our
Discovery and remedy of ailments like bone
cancer and hyperthyroidism using radiation in bones for example) can be
the pharmaceutical method have rescued recognised on photographic film
thousands of lives. when x-rayed.
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THANK
YOU