Chapter 39, Problem 68A

Write a letter to a friend and explain that you've learned that radioactivity has been a part of nature from the beginning of time. Explain its benefits and its dangers, and how common sense can minimize radiation dangers.

To determine

To Explain: Radioactivity is part of nature from the beginning. Its benefits and dangers. The common measures to avoid radiation dangers.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Radioactivity is the phenomenon in which a heavy unstable nucleus emits radiation naturally and loses its part of energy and becomes new daughter nucleus.

One of the important points is that the process is natural; no external aid is required for the process. So, this process is a part of nature from the beginning. This conclusion is attained from half-life of a radioactive element. Half-life is the time taken by the radioactive substance to reduce to half of its initial mass. By knowing the half-life of an element, one can find the age of the stone or monument made up of that element.

There are many benefits of this radioactivity, and those depend on the radioactive radiations. There are three types of radiations, those are alpha, beta and gamma radiations.

Radioactive radiations are penetrating in nature. Gamma radiations are highly penetrating in nature and used in cancer treatment. Radioactivity is also used in power reactor, sterilization of medical instruments and food, tracers.

Exposure to the highly penetrating radiation causes health disorder in humans and animals. Radioactive radiations damage the living tissue and causes cancer.

Avoiding direct exposure to the radiation causes less damage to the health, also wearing white clothes is one of the common measures to avoid radiation.

Conclusion: Radioactivity has both advantages as well as disadvantages.