How do you measure the amount of radiation?

Radiation is measured using a device called a Geiger-Muller tube, which detects ionising radiation.

To measure the amount of radiation, a Geiger-Muller tube is connected to a counting device, such as a scaler or ratemeter. The tube contains a gas that becomes ionised when radiation passes through it, producing a small electrical pulse. The counting device measures the number of pulses per second, which is proportional to the amount of radiation present.

The unit of measurement for radiation is the becquerel (Bq), which represents one radioactive decay per second. Another commonly used unit is the sievert (Sv), which takes into account the biological effects of different types of radiation on the human body.

It is important to note that different types of radiation have different levels of ionising power, which means that they can cause different levels of damage to living tissue. For example, alpha particles have a high ionising power but a short range, while gamma rays have a lower ionising power but a longer range.

Overall, measuring radiation is crucial for ensuring the safety of workers in nuclear industries and for monitoring environmental radiation levels.