Uses of Radioactivity

Medicine

Radiotherapy: High-energy radiation is used to destroy cancer cells in the body. The radiation damages the DNA of the cells, preventing them from dividing and growing.
Diagnostic Imaging: Radioisotopes can be used to visualise different processes in the body. For example, Technetium-99m is commonly used in medical imaging to track the flow of blood or to look at the function of organs.
Sterilisation: Radioactivity can be used to sterilise medical equipment by killing bacteria and other microorganisms. This is commonly done using gamma rays from Cobalt-60.

Environment and Agriculture

Dating Fossils and Rock: Radiocarbon dating uses the half-life of Carbon-14 to estimate the age of artefacts and geological samples.
Tracing Substances: Radioisotopes can be used to track the movement of substances within an ecosystem or the human body.
Improving Crop Yields: Irradiation can cause mutations in plant seeds, which can lead to new plant varieties with improved yield and drought resistance.

Industry and Engineering

Thickness Measurement: Beta radiation can be used to measure the thickness of materials in industries. As beta particles are absorbed by the material, a decrease in detected radiation indicates an increase in thickness.
Nuclear Power: Nuclear fission in controlled reactors generates heat, which is used to produce electricity in nuclear power plants.
Smoke Detectors: Alpha radiation from Americium-241 is used in smoke detectors. Smoke particles decrease the amount of alpha radiation detected, triggering the alarm.

While there are many beneficial applications of radioactivity, it is important to remember the safety aspects. All uses of radioactivity must abide by guidelines to prevent unnecessary exposure and minimise potential health risks. Always remember that while radioactivity can provide numerous societal benefits, it should always be handled with caution due to its potential dangers.