Which item is an example of a radioactive material?

Which item is an example of a radioactive material?

• A. Enriched uranium
• B. Water
• C. Wood
• D. Plastic

Answer: (A)

Radioactive materials are substances with unstable atomic nuclei that emit radiation. Enriched uranium contains a higher proportion of uranium-235, which is radioactive and can emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. This makes it a textbook example of a radioactive material and one that requires strict handling, shielding, and monitoring. Water, wood, and plastic are ordinary materials that do not inherently contain significant radioactive isotopes under normal conditions, so they are not considered radioactive in everyday contexts.

Radioactive materials are substances with unstable atomic nuclei that emit radiation. Enriched uranium contains a higher proportion of uranium-235, which is radioactive and can emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. This makes it a textbook example of a radioactive material and one that requires strict handling, shielding, and monitoring. Water, wood, and plastic are ordinary materials that do not inherently contain significant radioactive isotopes under normal conditions, so they are not considered radioactive in everyday contexts.