Cobalt-60 and iodine-131 are used in treatments for some types of cancer. Cobalt-60 decays with a half-life of 5.27 years, emitting beta particles with a maximum energy of 0.32 MeV. Iodine-131 decays with a half-life of8.04 days, emitting beta particles with a maximumenergy of 0.60 MeV.(a) Suppose a fixed small number of moles of each of these isotopes were to be ingested and remain in the body indefinitely. What is the ratio of the number of millisieverts of total lifetime radiation exposure that would be caused by the two radioisotopes?(b) Now suppose that the contact with each of these isotopes is for a fixed short period, such as 1 hour. What is the ratio of millisieverts of radiation exposure for the two in this case?
Cobalt-60 and iodine-131 are used in treatments for some types of cancer. Cobalt-60 decays with a half-life of 5.27 years, emitting beta particles with a maximum energy of 0.32 MeV. Iodine-131 decays with a half-life of
8.04 days, emitting beta particles with a maximumenergy of 0.60 MeV.
(a) Suppose a fixed small number of moles of each of these isotopes were to be ingested and remain in the body indefinitely. What is the ratio of the number of millisieverts of total lifetime radiation exposure that would be caused by the two radioisotopes?
(b) Now suppose that the contact with each of these isotopes is for a fixed short period, such as 1 hour. What is the ratio of millisieverts of radiation exposure for the two in this case?
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps with 3 images
