81 - Radioactivity! (w/ Roger Sit!)

81. Radioactivity

Radiation brings along images of post-apocalyptic landscapes and mutant ghouls, but there are also aspects of radioactivity that directly contribute to scientific research. Today, we’ll discuss radioactivity. Let’s learn to be scientifically conversational.

Roger Sit's EHS Profile!

General Learning Concepts

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1)     Discussion questions:

a.     What is an atom? What are the major components of atoms?

1.     What is a proton?

2.     What is an electron? A particle. Electrons reside in orbitals around the nucleus. They contain a negative charge.

b.     What does it mean to be radioactive?

c.     What are alpha, beta, and gamma radiation types?

d.     Where does radiation come from? Is it all “man-made”? How does one detect radioactivity?

e.     Why can radiation cause problems for the human body?

f.       What are some uses for radiation nowadays?

g.     How do researchers on a campus such as UNC use radioactive materials safely?