 How would Eddie's reaction to the missing isotope been different if he had not been so knowledgeable about radioactivity?
Still, one clue is as good as another when it comes to hunting uranium ore, I guess. In fact, anything having to do with atomic science excited him. You couldn’t have a father who was head of the atomic-science department at Oceanview College without picking up a little knowledge along the way. Eddie knew that a radioisotope was a material which had been “cooked” in an atomic reactor until it was “hot” with radioactivity. When carefully controlled, the radiation stored up in such isotopes was used in many beneficial ways. One reason for asking that particular question was to keep from prying deeper into the subject of the radioisotope. His father usually volunteered any information he wanted known, so Eddie stuck to questions which could and would be answered.
 He would not have cared because he would be disinterested in the situation.
 He would have been very worried due to the severity of the situation.  He would not have cared because he would be disinterested in the situation.  He would have been extremely curious about the situation.  He would have found a way to be more helpful for his father's situation.