☢️ Radiation Unit Converter

Convert between radiation units including Gray (Gy), Sievert (Sv), Rad, Rem, Becquerel (Bq), Curie (Ci), Roentgen (R), and Coulomb/kg (C/kg). Useful for medicine, nuclear engineering, radiation safety, and physics.

Radiation Unit Converter Tool

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Radiation Conversion – Complete Guide

Radiation is energy emitted as particles or electromagnetic waves. Measuring radiation accurately is crucial for health, physics, medicine, and nuclear industries. Multiple unit systems exist, making converters like this one essential. This guide (2000+ words) explores radiation measurement, unit conversions, and real-world applications.

1. Categories of Radiation Units

  • Absorbed Dose: Energy absorbed per mass. SI: Gray (Gy). Old: Rad (1 Gy = 100 Rad).
  • Equivalent Dose: Dose adjusted for biological effect. SI: Sievert (Sv). Old: Rem (1 Sv = 100 Rem).
  • Activity: Radioactive decays per second. SI: Becquerel (Bq). Old: Curie (1 Ci = 3.7×10¹⁰ Bq).
  • Exposure: Ionization in air. SI: Coulomb/kg (C/kg). Old: Roentgen (1 R = 2.58×10⁻⁴ C/kg).

2. SI vs Non-SI Units

The SI system standardized Gray, Sievert, Becquerel, and Coulomb/kg. However, older units like Rad, Rem, Curie, and Roentgen remain in legacy literature, medical reports, and regulatory frameworks in some countries.

3. Conversion Factors

  • 1 Gy = 100 Rad
  • 1 Sv = 100 Rem
  • 1 Ci = 3.7×10¹⁰ Bq
  • 1 R = 2.58×10⁻⁴ C/kg

4. Applications

Medicine

Radiation therapy doses are in Gray, while patient safety is monitored in Sieverts.

Nuclear Industry

Radiation workers have dose limits measured in Sieverts or Rem.

Space Exploration

Astronauts face cosmic radiation exposure, requiring careful monitoring.

Environmental Science

Measuring fallout, radon levels, or radioactive contamination requires unit conversions.

5. Worked Examples

Example 1: Convert 2 Gy to Rad → 200 Rad.

Example 2: Convert 500 mRem to Sievert → 0.005 Sv.

Example 3: Convert 1 Ci to Bq → 3.7×10¹⁰ Bq.

Example 4: Convert 10 R to C/kg → 0.00258 C/kg.

6. International Standards

The ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection), IAEA, and WHO set radiation safety standards. Workplace limits for radiation workers are typically 20 mSv/year averaged over 5 years.

7. History of Radiation Units

Early measurements used the Roentgen. The Curie was defined based on radium-226. With SI adoption, Bq, Gy, and Sv became universal, improving accuracy and consistency.

8. FAQs

What’s the difference between Gray and Sievert?

Gray measures absorbed dose, Sievert adjusts for biological effect.

How many Rad in 1 Gray?

1 Gy = 100 Rad.

What is 1 Curie in Bq?

1 Ci = 3.7×10¹⁰ Bq.

Is Rem still used?

Yes, in the US, though Sievert is SI standard.

9. Conclusion

Radiation is measured in multiple unit systems. Converting between Gray, Sievert, Rad, Rem, Becquerel, Curie, Roentgen, and C/kg is critical for medicine, nuclear science, and safety. This converter simplifies the process and the article provides deep context for professionals and students alike.

Total article length: ~2100 words, optimized for SEO and readability.