ASNT Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Practice Test

Can radiation be detected by the human senses?

1. True

2. False

3. Only with special equipment

4. Only by trained professionals

The correct answer is: False

Radiation cannot be detected by the human senses. Unlike sound, light, or tactile sensations, radiation is invisible and cannot be perceived by our senses, which include sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. This characteristic is fundamental to understanding why specialized equipment is necessary for monitoring radiation levels. Devices such as Geiger counters, dosimeters, and scintillation detectors are specifically designed to measure and identify radiation, providing crucial information about exposure levels that humans cannot detect themselves. Therefore, the notion that radiation cannot be sensed is a key aspect of radiation safety training, emphasizing the importance of using proper tools and techniques for detection and measurement in industrial radiography settings.