A lab technician needs to work with a sample of cesium-137, which is a beta and gamma emitter. Which of the following procedures will not reduce the radiation dose received by the technician?
Storing the source behind a thick lead shield.
Cooling the source to extremely low temperatures before handling.
Using long-handled tongs to increase distance from the source.
Minimizing the total time spent in close proximity to the source.
484 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.2 Radioactivity, covering 5.2.1 Background radiation and measuring count rate, 5.2.2a Alpha, beta and gamma emission, 5.2.2b Deflection and ionising effects of nuclear radiation, 5.2.3a Radioactive decay, 5.2.3b Effects of decay on the nucleus and decay equations, 5.2.4a Half-life, 5.2.4b Choosing isotopes for applications, and 5.2.5 Effects of ionising radiation and safety precautions. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.