Question detail
What is a consequence of using a medical tracer with a very long half-life?
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. It can be detected for a longer time
- B. It increases the risk of long-term radiation exposure
- C. It is more effective in tracing
- D. It decays too quickly to be useful
Answer
The correct answer is B: It increases the risk of long-term radiation exposure.
Explanation
The correct answer is B: It increases the risk of long-term radiation exposure. This supports the learning objective "Explain why medical tracers should have short enough half-lives to limit dose." 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: It can be detected for a longer time; It is more effective in tracing; It decays too quickly to be useful.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life Duration
Students often think that a short half-life means the radioactive material is less harmful overall, without considering the implications for medical tracers.
Emphasize that medical tracers need short half-lives to ensure they decay quickly after use, limiting the patient's exposure to radiation.
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