Section 19.

Application of Radioactivity
Objectives To learn about some uses of radioactivity in our lives

Section 19.2

Application of Radioactivity
Some Uses Of Radioactivity Food Sterilization Medical Applications and Radiotracers Smoke detectors Radiocarbon Dating (Energy Production) (Weapons)

Section 19.2

Application of Radioactivity
Food Sterilization Gamma irradiation of foods often from 60Co source Spices, herbs and dehydrated vegetables. Also pork and poultry FDA approved

Section 19.2

Application of Radioactivity
Medical Applications of Radioactivity Radiotracers Radioactive nuclides can be introduced into laboratory reactions or organisms and traced for diagnostic purposes.

Section 19.2

Application of Radioactivity
Medical Applications of Radioactivity - Scanners

Medical Scanners utilize many types of radiations

X X X X X-Rays Bone structures opaque to rays X-ray computed tomography (CT Scan X-rays) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Nuclear magnetism) Ultrasound (high frequency sound waves)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan)

Positron emitting tracer into body, concentrates in organ of interest Positrons annihilate with electron giving off pairs of gamma rays Detector maps pair to show image of organ

Section 19.2

Application of Radioactivity
Smoke Detectors Americium-241 emits alpha particles and ionizes air in a space in the detector Ions allow a current to flow Smoke absorbs alpha particles, interferes with ion formation and electric current. An alarm sounds

Section 19.2

Application of Radioactivity
Dating by Radioactivity Radiocarbon dating Originated in 1940s by Willard Libby Based on the radioactivity of carbon-14

Used to date wood and artifacts up to about 50,000 years old

Radiocarbon dating activity