As pre-requisite knowledge, students are supposed to be familiar with the concepts from subunit 2 and with the structure of nucleus, radioactive isotopes, nuclear force.
The activities in this subunit introduce students into nuclear medicine. At the end of this subunit the student is able to:
- describe the nature and properties of the alpha, beta and gamma radiation
- explain the radioactive decay law
- explain the concepts of decay constant and half-life
- explain how radioactive materials are used in nuclear medicine
- explain why Technetium 99m is suitable as the radioactive tracer
- explain how gamma camera works
- measure background radiation
- explain the health hazards in use ionising radiations
- specify ways of protection from ionising radiation.
This unit does not explain the principles of a detector of ionising radiation. This subject should be treated separately.
Experiments with radioactive sources may be difficult to perform in schools.
In such cases virtual labs can be used, below few Internet examples:
- Virtual Physics lab http://www.polyhedronlearning.com/cengage/
Lab 45: Geiger Counter Measurement of the Half-Life of 137Ba”
Lab 47: Absorption of Beta and Gamma Rays - Radioactive decay simulation: http://www.7stones.com/Homepage/Publisher/halfLife.html
Applets:
http://lectureonline.cl.msu.edu/~mmp/applist/decay/decay.htm
http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/lawdecay.htm
http://www.7stones.com/Homepage/Publisher/halfLife.html.