Question detail
What is a key reason for using gamma emitters as medical tracers?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation
Question
- A. They have a very short half-life
- B. They are highly ionising
- C. They penetrate tissues effectively
- D. They are easily absorbed by the body
Answer
The correct answer is C: They penetrate tissues effectively.
Explanation
The correct answer is C: They penetrate tissues effectively. This supports the learning objective "Explain why medical tracers should have long enough half-lives to be detected." in Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes idea: They have a very short half-life; They are highly ionising; They are easily absorbed by the body.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life Duration
Students often confuse the concept of half-life with the total time a radioactive isotope remains active, thinking that a longer half-life means the isotope is active for a longer period overall.
Clarify that half-life is the time taken for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay, and that isotopes with longer half-lives can still remain detectable for extended periods, but their activity decreases gradually.
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