ASNT Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Practice Test

What do Becquerels and curies measure?

1. Voltage

2. Energy

3. Radiation

4. Pressure

The correct answer is: Radiation

Becquerels and curies are units used to measure the activity of radioactive materials, which directly correlates to the amount of radiation emitted by those materials. Specifically, the becquerel (Bq) measures the number of nuclear disintegrations or decays that occur per second, indicating how much radioactive decay is happening. On the other hand, the curie (Ci) is an older unit of measure that quantifies the activity of a radioactive substance, defined as 3.7 × 10^10 disintegrations per second, based on the activity of 1 gram of radium-226. Both units provide essential information for understanding the radiological properties of materials, which is crucial for safety practices in industrial radiography. This knowledge helps professionals assess exposure and ensure adequate protective measures are in place when working with radioactive sources.