Radiation Converter Calculator

Convert radiation measurements between different units quickly and accurately. This calculator supports common radiation units including becquerel (Bq), curie (Ci), gray (Gy), sievert (Sv), and rem.

Understanding Radiation Units

Different units measure different aspects of radiation:

• Becquerel (Bq): SI unit for radioactive decay (1 decay per second)
• Curie (Ci): Traditional unit for radioactive decay (3.7 × 10¹⁰ decays per second)
• Gray (Gy): SI unit for absorbed dose (1 joule/kg)
• Sievert (Sv): SI unit for equivalent dose (biological effect)
• Rem: Traditional unit for equivalent dose

Common Conversions

Here are some useful radiation conversion factors:

• 1 Ci = 3.7 × 10¹⁰ Bq
• 1 Gy = 100 rad
• 1 Sv = 100 rem
• 1 rem = 0.01 Sv
• 1 rad = 0.01 Gy

Applications

Radiation measurement is crucial in many fields:

1. Nuclear Medicine: Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
2. Radiation Protection: Occupational safety
3. Nuclear Power: Plant operations and safety
4. Research: Laboratory experiments
5. Environmental Monitoring: Background radiation
6. Space Exploration: Cosmic radiation protection

Using the Calculator

1. Enter a radiation value in any unit
2. The calculator automatically converts to other units
3. Results are shown with appropriate scientific notation

Common Radiation Values

For reference, here are some typical radiation levels:

• Background radiation: 2.4 mSv/year
• Chest X-ray: 0.1 mSv
• CT scan: 10 mSv
• Radiation worker limit: 50 mSv/year
• Emergency limit: 250 mSv
• Acute radiation sickness: >1 Sv

Tips for Accurate Conversion

• Pay attention to SI prefixes (milli-, micro-, etc.)
• Consider the type of radiation being measured
• Use appropriate units for your application
• Be aware of regulatory requirements

Safety Notes

1. Radiation Protection:

   • Always follow ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable)
   • Use appropriate safety equipment
   • Monitor exposure levels regularly

2. Unit Selection:

   • Use Bq/Ci for radioactivity
   • Use Gy for absorbed dose
   • Use Sv/rem for biological effects

3. Regulatory Compliance:

   • Different regions may require specific units
   • Maintain proper documentation
   • Follow local radiation safety guidelines