Uses of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation

Which of these is a use of alpha radiation?

• Sterilising food

• Smoke detectors

• Monitoring paper thickness

• Industrial tracers

Explain why alpha radiation is not suitable for use in monitoring paper thickness.

__________ radiation is used in radiotherapy.

Radioactive sources used in smoke detectors must have...

• a long half-life

• a short half-life

Gamma sources used for sterilisation should have...

• a high activity

• a low activity

• a long half-life

• a short half-life

Radioactive sources used as industrial or medical tracers should have...

• a long half-life

• a short half-life

Alpha particles in a smoke detector ionise the air particles in the detector. This causes a __________ to flow.

Explain why gamma radiation is not suitable for use in smoke detectors.

Explain how alpha radiation is used in a smoke detector.

Explain how beta radiation is used to monitor paper thickness.