Chapter 24, Problem 74A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The useful unit for describing the effect of radiation on living tissue needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Dose of radiation: The amount of radiation which a body absorbs from a radioactive source is dose of radiation.

Answer to Problem 74A

The unit of radiation dose is rem.

Explanation of Solution

To measure the dose of radiation, there are two units, the rad and the rem.

Rad stands for radiation absorption dose.

Rem stands for roentgen equivalent men.

The rad and the rem are used to measure doses.

• The rad, which means radiation-absorbed dose, is a measure of the amount of radiation that involves the absorption of 0.01 J of energy per kilogram of tissue.
• But the dose in rads is not the energy of the radiation for the type of living tissue absorbing the radiation, or the time of the exposure. Thus, for including these above mentioned factors, the value of dose in rads is multiplied by a value which relates it to the radiation’s effect on the tissues. This gives a unit called the rem. So, rem is another unit which is used for dose of radiation.

Conclusion

In system of DNA if damage is not properly repaired, the cell may divide and cause mutation.