Lesson 4.4.3.3

4.4.3.3 Uses of nuclear radiation Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.4.3.3, Uses of nuclear radiation: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Unit 4: Atomic structure, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What are the two main uses of nuclear radiation in medicine?

    • Filtering and replacing DNA
    • Filtering and oxygenating blood
    • Imaging and destroying tissue
    • Cooling and heating cells

  2. Radiation is used to destroy unwanted tissue in which treatment?

    • Cleaning the skin
    • Setting broken bones
    • Eye testing
    • Cancer treatment

  3. Which radiation property makes gamma rays suitable for medical imaging inside the body?

    • High penetration
    • Low penetration
    • High mass
    • Absorbed by skin

  4. What is the key advantage of using a short half-life isotope for medical tracers?

    • Quick activity drop
    • Permanent emission
    • Heavy shielding
    • Zero radiation

  5. What should be used to evaluate the perceived risks of using nuclear radiation?

    • Given data and consequences
    • Media headlines
    • Public opinion polls
    • Historical superstitions

  6. How should public fears about a high perceived radiation risk be evaluated?

    • Using gut feeling
    • Using data and consequences
    • Using social media trends
    • Using political debate

  7. What must radiation treatment for unwanted tissue be balanced against?

    • Nuclear waste
    • Patient age
    • Half-life
    • Tissue damage

  8. Which medical use of radiation controls unwanted tissue?

    • Tracer injection
    • Gamma imaging
    • X-ray scan
    • Radiotherapy

  9. Which technique uses radiation to explore internal organs?

    • Nuclear fusion
    • Radiotherapy
    • Gamma imaging
    • Chain reaction

  10. What does perceived risk describe in radiation safety?

    • Half-life value
    • Measured dose
    • Public belief
    • Actual data

  11. What is the primary medical aim of radiotherapy for a tumour?

    • Cool organs
    • Produce energy
    • Absorb neutrons
    • Destroy tissue

  12. Which statement correctly describes medical uses of nuclear radiation?

    • Only for imaging
    • Only for heating
    • Only for fusion
    • Explore and destroy

  13. What must be compared when evaluating a radiation source use?

    • Cost and mass
    • Speed and volume
    • Risks and benefits
    • Colour and size

  14. Why should evaluations of radiation risks rely on data?

    • Speed up decay
    • Increase power
    • Reduce costs
    • Avoid irrational fear

  15. Which property is crucial when choosing a source for a medical scan?

    • Zero decay
    • Short range alpha
    • High toxicity
    • Penetration ability

  16. Why is radiation used to destroy tumours carefully targeted?

    • Stop decay
    • Save electricity
    • Protect healthy tissue
    • Prevent fusion

  17. A medical source has a half-life of 6 hours and is used for a treatment lasting 12 hours. What fraction of its activity remains at the end?

    • One half
    • One quarter
    • One eighth
    • One sixteenth

  18. Which radiation type is best for internal organ imaging?

    • Slow neutrons
    • Alpha particles
    • Gamma rays
    • Beta-minus

  19. What does a radiation risk assessment compare?

    • Force versus speed
    • Time versus distance
    • Harm versus benefit
    • Mass versus weight

  20. How should the radiation dose from a medical scan be decided?

    • Made as high
    • Weighed against benefit
    • Always kept zero
    • Ignored entirely

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