Physics by Ben Webb

Elephant's Foot

TheAdmiral — 2014-01-28 10:20:53 UTC

The elephant's foot is what was left when the fuel cells at Chernoble melted and flowed under the reactor chamber. A new species of funghi was found in here that is able to turn gamma radiation into chemical energy

Nuclear Power Accidents

simmcall — 2014-01-28 10:21:00 UTC

Fukushima - Japan: 20 - 40 trillion Bq of tritium has contaminated the water around the power station.

Chernobyl - Ukraine: 1986 - The steam explosion and fires released at least 5% of the radioactive reactor core into the atmosphere and dowmnwind some 5200 PBq (10^15). 30 workers were killed within 3 months, 2 on the night of the explosion. The short-lived iodine-131 and the long-lived caesium-137, were particularly significant for the radiation dose they delivered to members of the public. 200 tonnes of highly radioactive material still lies deep within the plant which could cause major health and environmental issues.

Carbon Dating (carbon 14)

perrmatt — 2014-01-28 10:21:20 UTC

Carbon dating is used to tell the age of ancient artifacts, It is used in this way ebcause it has a relatvly long half life(5670 years). This enables us to tell with realtive accurcy the true age of an object. It has been used to dissprove the theory of the turin shroud. Carbon 14 decays with a Beta minus decay

Smoke Detectors

pughthom — 2014-01-28 10:21:30 UTC

The alpha source used, americium-241, has a half-life of 432 years. As alpha particles is highly ionising, when smoke is between the source and the detector, the Bq count drops, and the alarm goes off. As it goes off by interferance, it can also be set of by dust and spiders. As the half-life is so long, it doesnt have to be replaced often unlike the battery. Asalpha

Alexander Litvinenko

2014-01-28 10:26:30 UTC

Poisoned by an alpha source, Polonium 210, half life of 138 days.

Doctors were lead astray because the symptoms were similar to those of food poisoning.

Radioactive Tracing (medical)

perrmatt — 2014-01-28 10:30:53 UTC

Radioactive tracing is used in many medical imaging techinques such as PET scanners and

SPECT scanners. The radioactive trace is ingested or injected into the body and gives of varying signals depending on the rate of cell division or if there are any forgein objects within the body. There are many different Radioactive tracers that can be used which can bee seen by lookign at this page. They have to have fairly short half lives to be able to be used in the scanners

Nuclear Waste

2014-01-28 10:32:41 UTC

Very Low Level Waste: This is produced by food processing plants, chemical and dismantling nuclear plants. It has minimal effect on people and the environment. It is simply left on landfill.

Low Level Waste: This comprises of paper, rags, filters, etc. and is generated from hospitals and light nuclear industry. There is no need for shielding during transport or disposal, it is buried lightly.

Intermediate Level Waste: Consists of resins, chemicals and metal fuel cladding. Also, it contains materials contaminated from reactor decommissioning. This waste has to either be solidified in concrete and / or shielded.

High Level Waste: This is the product of the fission of uranium, not only is it radioactive, it is hot. TBC……

PET Scanners:

2014-01-28 10:33:35 UTC

Positron Emission Tomography Scanners (PET) use radiotracers which decay to release positrons. These interact with electrons at sites of high biological activity - resultingin annihiklation; and subsequently emitting two back-to-back gamma rays.

The half lives of each radioactive tracer range between minutes and several hours depending on the type used!

Tho-Radia Face Cream

2014-01-28 10:33:39 UTC

Features: -

0.5g thorium chloride
half-life of 14.05 years, emits mostly alpha

0.25mg radium bromide half-life of 1601years, also mostly alpha decay

bengot

Irradiation Sterilisation

simmcall — 2014-01-28 10:34:21 UTC

Electron beam sterilization (e-beam sterilization)
is a commercially successful technology for sterilizing a variety of disposable
medical devices. The e-beam inactivates microorganisms either by causing microbial death as a
direct effect of the destruction of a vital molecule or by an indirect chemical
reaction.

Gamma Cameras

2014-01-28 10:36:54 UTC

Use radioactive tracers to emit gamma rays upon decay, these are emitted outside the body and detected to be used for imaging. Areas of high biological activity provide the highest volume of gamma emission!

Isotopes used are all gamma emitter upon decay, their half lives are often several hours.

Radium Girls

2014-01-28 10:36:57 UTC

Used paint filled with radium and ingested high amounts of
it.

Frequently put on teeth and nails and thus developed necrosis of the jaw

and anemia.