New
New
Uses of radiation
I can describe some uses of radiation and how it can be used safely.
Lesson 7 of 7
New
New
- Year 11
- AQA
Uses of radiation
I can describe some uses of radiation and how it can be used safely.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Radioactive contamination is the presence of unwanted radioactive atoms.
- A material being exposed to iodising radiation is being irradiated and does not become radioactive.
- Radioactive isotopes with short half-lives decay quickly, emitting most radiation over a short period of time.
Keywords
Irradiation - the effect of exposing an object to radiation
Radioactive contamination - the transfer of radioactive particles to an object or place
Radiation dose - a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation
Sievert (Sv) - the unit of radiation dose
Radiotherapy - a method for killing cancer cells using radiation
Common misconception
A material exposed to radiation will become radioactive.
Take time to clearly distinguish between radioactive contamination and irradiation.
This lesson provides an opportunity to engage pupils with individual research projects to investigate the use of radiation in more detail. A clearly structured research task helps make this work more useful and focused on what pupils need to know for their examinations.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are properties of alpha radiation?
Which of the following are properties of alpha radiation?
weakly ionising
most penetrating
Q2.Which of the following are properties of gamma radiation?
Which of the following are properties of gamma radiation?
strongly ionising
least penetrating
Q3.Which of the following statements about beta radiation are correct?
Which of the following statements about beta radiation are correct?
It is less ionising than alpha and gamma radiation.
It is more ionising than alpha and gamma radiation.
It is less penetrating than alpha and gamma radiation.
Q4.Which type(s) of radiation can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper or skin?
Which type(s) of radiation can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper or skin?
beta only
gamma only
alpha and beta
alpha, beta and gamma
Q5.Which type(s) of radiation can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium or plastic?
Which type(s) of radiation can be stopped by a few mm of aluminium or plastic?
alpha only
beta only
gamma only
alpha, beta and gamma
Q6.Match the following types of radiation to their typical range in air.
Match the following types of radiation to their typical range in air.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is irradiation?
What is irradiation?
the transfer of radioactive particles to an object or place
a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation
a method for killing cancer cells using radiation
Q2.What is contamination?
What is contamination?
the effect of exposing an object to radiation
a measure of risk of harm from a person’s exposure to radiation
a method for killing cancer cells using radiation
Q3.Which of the following causes an object itself to become radioactive?
Which of the following causes an object itself to become radioactive?
irradiation only
both irradiation and contamination
Q4.Match the following types of radiation to the correct uses.
Match the following types of radiation to the correct uses.
Q5.Why are alpha sources unsuitable for medical imaging with radioactive substances injected into the body?
Why are alpha sources unsuitable for medical imaging with radioactive substances injected into the body?
Alpha sources are too weak for imaging.
Alpha sources are not detectable by imaging equipment.
Q6.What is radiation dose, and in what unit is it measured?
What is radiation dose, and in what unit is it measured?
the rate of radiation emitted, measured in becquerels (Bq)
the total energy of radiation, measured in joules (J)
the intensity of radiation emitted, measured in watts (W)
