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Chapter 20: Problem 10

Define the units curie, \(\mathrm{rad},\) and \(\mathrm{rem} .\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Curie measures radioactivity, rad measures absorbed dose, and rem measures radiation exposure effect.

Step by step solution

01

Define the Curie

The curie (Ci) is a unit that was originally defined to represent the activity of 1 gram of radium-226 and is now defined as the quantity of radioactive substance in which the number of disintegrations per second is 3.7 脳 10^10. The curie is used to measure the intensity of radioactivity.
02

Define the Rad

The rad (radiation absorbed dose) is a unit used to measure the dose of absorbed radiation energy by any material. One rad is equivalent to the absorption of 0.01 joules of energy per kilogram of material. It is commonly used to quantify the amount of radiation that has been received.
03

Define the Rem

The rem (roentgen equivalent man) is a unit that quantifies radiation exposure and accounts for the effect of different types of radiation on human tissues. It considers both the absorbed dose (in rads) and the biological effect of the radiation type, using a quality factor (Q). One rem is equal to one rad multiplied by the quality factor.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Curie
The "curie" is a unit used to measure radioactivity. Initially, it represented the activity of 1 gram of radium-226, a naturally radioactive element. Today, this measurement refers to a substance in which there are 3.7 脳 10^10 disintegrations per second. This means that if a material is said to have one curie of activity, it hosts this level of disintegration continuously. Measurements like curie help scientists understand the intensity of radioactivity in a given substance or space.
  • Named after Marie Curie, who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity.
  • A useful unit in nuclear medicine, physics, and environmental studies.
  • Allows tracking how much radioactivity a person, equipment, or site is exposed to.
Understanding the curie helps us appreciate the energy release and potential impact of radioactive materials in our environment.
Rad
The "rad," or "radiation absorbed dose," represents the amount of radiation energy absorbed by a material. If a substance absorbs 0.01 joules of radiation energy per kilogram, it has absorbed a dose of one rad. This unit helps quantify how much radiation energy is being absorbed by objects or tissues, providing a measure of exposure and potential biological impact.
  • Commonly used in assessing radiation exposures in medical and industrial fields.
  • Crucial for determining the safety and effectiveness of radiation in cancer treatments.
  • Although rad is still referenced, the gray (Gy) is the globally preferred unit in the SI system, where 1 Gy equals 100 rad.
The concept of "rad" enables us to evaluate the risks associated with radiation exposure and guides protective measures for both people and materials.
Rem
The "rem," or "roentgen equivalent man," gauges the biological impact of radiation exposure on human tissue. It combines the absorbed dose measured in rads with a biological "quality factor" that adjusts for the type of radiation, recognizing that different types of radiation cause varying levels of damage. For example, alpha particles are more damaging than beta or gamma rays, even with equal exposure in rads.
  • Helps estimate potential health effects from radiation exposure.
  • Used in occupational safety to monitor and manage doses received by workers handling radioactive materials.
  • In contemporary settings, the sievert (Sv) is often used, where 1 Sv equals 100 rem, aligning with the SI units.
Understanding "rem" is crucial in assessing radiation's biological effects and advancing safety protocols in environments where radioactive exposure occurs.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Actinium was discovered in uranium ore residues by Andr茅-Louis Debierne. Actinium-227 decays by emitting a single alpha particle. Write the nuclear equation for this decay.

You have a mixture that contains \(10 \mathrm{~g}\) of Pu-239 with a half-life of \(2.4 \times 10^{4}\) years and \(10 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{Np}-239\) with a half-life of 2.4 days. Estimate how much time must elapse before the quantity of radioactive material is reduced by \(50 \% .\)

A sample of sodium thiosulfate, \(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{~S}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}\), weighing \(43.6 \mathrm{mg}\) contains radioactive sulfur-35 (with mass \(35.0 \mathrm{amu}\) ). If \(22.3 \%\) of the sulfur atoms in the compound is sulfur- 35 (the remainder is naturally occurring sulfur), how many disintegrations of this nucleus occur per second in this sample? Sulfur- 35 has a half-life of \(87.9 \mathrm{~d}\).

Promethium- 147 has been used in luminous paint for dials. The half-life of this isotope is \(2.5 \mathrm{y} .\) What is the decay constant (in /s)?

Gamma radiation can be used to kill bacteria in food using a process called irradiation. There is concern on the part of some people that the irradiated food is radioactive. Why is this not the case? If you wanted to make the food radioactive, what would you have to do?
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