Radiation Safety Quiz

Ionizing Radiation

• has enough energy to knock out electrons from atoms & cause damage to tissue

How are x-rays (photons) formed?

generated by equipment

How are alpha, beta, gamma, protons, and neutrons formed?

emitted by radioactive materials

What is a curie?

a unit of activity of radioactive substances

What is a Becquerel?

international unit for activity

= 1 disintegration per second

What is a half-life?

the amount of time needed for activity to reach one half of the original amount

What is absorbed dose?

quantity of absorbed radiation per unit mass

What is dose equivalent?

• modified version of absorbed dose that relates to the amount of biological damage

• takes into account type of radiation & tissue

What are the units of absorbed dose?

• Gy

• rads

• 1 Gy = 100 rads

What are the units of dose equivalent?

• Sieverts (Sv)

• Rems

• 1 Sv = 100 rem

What is dose rate?

• dose delivered per unit of time

what is a Roentgen?

unit of radiation exposure

What is a half value layer?

thickness of material needed to block half of radiation passing it

Can radiation be detected by human senses?

no

What is the typical individual natural background radiation exposure in the U.S.?

3 mSv (300 milirems) per year

What is the average individual exposure from medical procedures?

3 mSv (doesn’t include RT)

What are the 3 radiation protection concepts?

• time

• distance

• shielding

How is time a radiation protection principle?

• radiation exposure is directly proportional to the amount of time we are exposed

How is distance a radiation protection concept?

• exposure is inversely proportional to distance

• inverse square law

How is shielding a radiation protection concept?

• reduced exposure

  • lead

  • acrylic plastics