Question detail
Why is it important to consider the half-life of a radioactive isotope used in 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. To ensure it remains in the body for a long time
- B. To limit the radiation dose to the patient
- C. To increase the effectiveness of the tracer
- D. To ensure it can be detected easily
Answer
The correct answer is B: To limit the radiation dose to the patient.
Explanation
The correct answer is B: To limit the radiation dose to the patient. This supports the learning objective "Explain why radiotherapy must be targeted to reduce damage to healthy tissue." in Uses of nuclear radiation 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 Uses of nuclear radiation idea: To ensure it remains in the body for a long time; To increase the effectiveness of the tracer; To ensure it can be detected easily.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Radiotherapy Targeting
Students often think that radiotherapy can be applied broadly without concern for healthy tissue damage.
Emphasize that radiotherapy must be precisely targeted to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues while effectively destroying cancer cells.
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