A 14-gram ovarian tumor is treated using a sodium phosphate solution in which the phosphorus atoms are the radioactive Phosphorus-32 isotope with a half-life of 14. 3 days and which decays via beta emission (RBE=1) with an energy of 1.71 MeV. Half of the sodium phosphate solution is absorbed by the tumor and deposits 9.0 J of energy into it. The other half of the solution is dispersed throughout the patient’s tissues, also depositing 9.0 J of energy into the 50.0 kg of body tissues. i. What is the dose (in gray and rem) that the tumor receives? ii. What is the dose (in milligray and rem) that the rest of the tissues receives?
Radioactive decay
The emission of energy to produce ionizing radiation is known as radioactive decay. Alpha, beta particles, and gamma rays are examples of ionizing radiation that could be released. Radioactive decay happens in radionuclides, which are imbalanced atoms. This periodic table's elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Several of these kinds are stable like nitrogen-14, hydrogen-2, and potassium-40, whereas others are not like uranium-238. In nature, one of the most stable phases of an element is usually the most prevalent. Every element, meanwhile, has an unstable state. Unstable variants are radioactive and release ionizing radiation. Certain elements, including uranium, have no stable forms and are constantly radioactive. Radionuclides are elements that release ionizing radiation.
Artificial Radioactivity
The radioactivity can be simply referred to as particle emission from nuclei due to the nuclear instability. There are different types of radiation such as alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Along with these there are different types of decay as well.
A 14-gram ovarian tumor is treated using a sodium phosphate solution in which the phosphorus atoms are the radioactive Phosphorus-32 isotope with a half-life of 14. 3 days and which decays via beta emission (RBE=1) with an energy of 1.71 MeV. Half of the sodium phosphate solution is absorbed by the tumor and deposits 9.0 J of energy into it. The other half of the solution is dispersed throughout the patient’s tissues, also depositing 9.0 J of energy into the 50.0 kg of body tissues.
i. What is the dose (in gray and rem) that the tumor receives?
ii. What is the dose (in milligray and rem) that the rest of the tissues receives?
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