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Thorium is a radioactive element - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 6
Thorium is a radioactive element. It has several isotopes. State what is meant by the term isotopes. (1) One isotope of thorium has a half-life of 1.9 years. Radi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Thorium is a radioactive element - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Compare the initial activities of the samples.
Answer
The initial activity of a radioactive sample is inversely related to its half-life. Since thorium has a half-life of 1.9 years and radium has a half-life of 3.5 days, radium will show a higher initial activity compared to thorium because it decays much more quickly.
Step 3
Step 4
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer.
Answer
For the toothpaste that contains radioactive thorium, I would place an X in option C (we understand more about the effects of radiation) because advancements in scientific understanding have highlighted the health risks associated with radioactive materials.
Step 5
Discuss how dangerous it would be to use this isotope of thorium in the toothpaste.
Answer
Using an isotope of thorium in toothpaste poses significant health risks. Thorium is radioactive and can emit harmful alpha radiation which can cause damage to oral tissues and bones upon contact. Additionally, the decay of thorium into radium and subsequently into radon gas increases the risk of further radiation exposure, which has been linked to cancer and other health issues. Understanding these dangers, strict regulations have been established to prevent the use of such radioactive materials in consumer products.