Multiple Choice
Two technicians in a nuclear laboratory were accidentally exposed to radiation. If one was exposed to 5 mGy and the other to 9 rad, which technician received more radiation?
1831
views
17. Radioactivity and Nuclear Chemistry
Measuring Radioactivity
2:20 minutesProblem 14
Textbook Question
A typical chest X ray exposes a patient to an effective dose of 0.02 mSv. How many rem is this, and how many chest X rays would a patient have to receive before biological effects would be observed? (The limit from Table 11.6 is >25 rem.)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the conversion between millisieverts (mSv) and rem: 1 mSv is equivalent to 0.1 rem.
Convert the effective dose from mSv to rem using the conversion factor: multiply the dose in mSv by 0.1 to get the dose in rem.
Determine the threshold dose in rem for biological effects from the problem statement, which is >25 rem.
Calculate the number of chest X-rays needed to reach the threshold dose by dividing the threshold dose in rem by the dose per X-ray in rem.
Interpret the result to understand how many X-rays are required before biological effects might be observed, based on the given threshold.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
2mKey Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Radiation Dose Units
Radiation exposure is measured in different units, with the sievert (Sv) and rem being common. The sievert is the SI unit that quantifies the biological effect of ionizing radiation, while the rem is an older unit that is still used in some contexts. The conversion factor is 1 Sv = 100 rem, which is essential for converting the effective dose from mSv to rem.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:06
Types of Radiation Concept 1
Biological Effects of Radiation
Biological effects of radiation refer to the potential harm that ionizing radiation can cause to living tissues. These effects can range from cellular damage to increased cancer risk, depending on the dose and duration of exposure. Understanding the threshold for observable biological effects, such as the >25 rem limit mentioned, is crucial for assessing safety in medical imaging.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:06Types of Radiation Concept 1
Cumulative Radiation Exposure
Cumulative radiation exposure is the total amount of radiation a person has received over time from various sources, including medical procedures like X-rays. To determine how many chest X-rays would lead to observable biological effects, one must calculate the cumulative dose by multiplying the dose per X-ray by the number of X-rays, comparing it to established safety limits.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:06Types of Radiation Concept 1
Related Videos
Related Practice