Nuclear & Radiation Converter - Free Online Tool

Convert nuclear & radiation units instantly. Support for 7+ units including Sievert, Rem, Gray. Free calculator with accurate conversions, formula, and table.

☢️ Nuclear & Radiation Converter

Select your units from the lists below

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From Unit

Sievert
Symbol: Sv

Rem
Symbol: rem

Gray
Symbol: Gy

Rad
Symbol: rad

Becquerel
Symbol: Bq

Curie
Symbol: Ci

Rutherford
Symbol: Rd

To Unit

Sievert
Symbol: Sv

Rem
Symbol: rem

Gray
Symbol: Gy

Rad
Symbol: rad

Becquerel
Symbol: Bq

Curie
Symbol: Ci

Rutherford
Symbol: Rd

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☢️ Nuclear & Radiation Converter

Radiation measurements appear in medical imaging, nuclear safety, and radiation protection. Convert between sieverts, rems, grays, rads, becquerels, curies, and other radiation units instantly. Whether you're working in medical physics, nuclear safety, or radiation protection, our converter handles the calculations.

☢️ About Nuclear & Radiation

Radiation measurement quantifies ionizing radiation exposure and dose—both the physical energy absorbed and the biological effects on living tissue. The sievert (Sv) measures equivalent dose and effective dose for radiation protection, while the gray (Gy) measures absorbed dose. From medical imaging and nuclear safety to radiation protection, these measurements are used everywhere. Different regions use different units. The metric system (sieverts, grays, becquerels) dominates global science and most countries, while the rem remains common in the United States for some applications. Working with all these units helps with radiation safety, medical applications, and international standards.

Understanding Nuclear & Radiation Measurement

Radiation measurement encompasses several related quantities. The sievert (Sv) is the SI unit for equivalent dose and effective dose, accounting for the biological effects of different radiation types. It equals one joule per kilogram, but includes radiation weighting factors that account for how different types of radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, neutrons) cause different biological damage. The gray (Gy) measures absorbed dose—the physical energy deposited per unit mass—also equal to one joule per kilogram. For X-rays and gamma rays, one gray equals one sievert, but for other radiation types, weighting factors apply. The becquerel (Bq) measures radioactivity—the rate of radioactive decay—equal to one decay per second. The curie (Ci), an older unit, equals 3.7×10¹⁰ becquerels, approximately the activity of one gram of radium-226.

📜 History & Context

The history of radiation measurement dates back to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 and radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1896. Early measurements used the roentgen, defined in 1928 to measure ionization in air. The need to account for biological effects led to the development of units like the rem (roentgen equivalent man) in the 1950s. The modern era of radiation measurement began with the development of the International System of Units. The gray was adopted in 1975 for absorbed dose, and the sievert was adopted in 1979 for equivalent dose, named after Swedish medical physicist Rolf Sievert. The becquerel, named after Henri Becquerel, replaced the curie as the SI unit for radioactivity. These SI units provide a coherent system for radiation measurement, with the sievert accounting for biological effects through radiation and tissue weighting factors developed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

✨ Fun Facts

• The sievert is named after Rolf Maximilian Sievert, a Swedish medical physicist who pioneered radiation protection research and invented the Sievert chamber for measuring X-ray intensity.
• One sievert equals 100 rems, with the rem (roentgen equivalent man) being the older unit still used in some US contexts for radiation protection.
• The becquerel, equal to one decay per second, replaced the curie (approximately 3.7×10¹⁰ becquerels) as the SI unit for radioactivity.
• For X-rays and gamma rays, one gray of absorbed dose equals one sievert of equivalent dose, but for alpha particles and neutrons, weighting factors make the sievert much larger than the gray.
• The roentgen, one of the first internationally defined radiation units from 1928, measured ionization in air and was used before modern dose units were developed.

💡 Real-World Examples

• Medical imaging: X-ray, CT scans, and nuclear medicine procedures measure radiation dose in sieverts or rems, requiring conversion for patient safety and international medical standards compliance.
• Nuclear safety: Radiation monitoring and safety systems measure exposure in various units, requiring conversion for regulatory compliance and international nuclear safety standards.
• Radiation therapy: Cancer treatment uses precise radiation doses measured in grays or sieverts, requiring conversion for treatment planning and international medical standards.
• Occupational safety: Workers in nuclear facilities and medical settings monitor radiation exposure in various units, requiring conversion for safety compliance and international occupational health standards.
• Environmental monitoring: Background radiation and environmental contamination are measured in various units, requiring conversion for public health assessment and international environmental standards.
• Nuclear power: Power plant operations measure radiation levels in different units, requiring conversion for safety monitoring and international nuclear regulatory compliance.
• Research and development: Radiation experiments and research measure doses in various units, requiring conversion for reporting and international scientific collaboration.
• Emergency response: Radiation incidents and emergency situations require rapid conversion between units for safety assessment and international emergency response coordination.

🔧 Common Applications

• Medical physics and radiology: Medical imaging, radiation therapy, and diagnostic procedures measure radiation dose in sieverts or rems. Converting between units helps with patient safety and international medical standards.
• Nuclear safety and regulation: Radiation monitoring, safety systems, and regulatory compliance measure exposure in various units. Converting between units helps with safety assurance and international nuclear standards.
• Radiation protection: Occupational safety, environmental monitoring, and public health measure radiation exposure in different units. Converting between units helps with protection standards and international health regulations.
• Nuclear power and industry: Power plant operations, nuclear facilities, and industrial applications measure radiation levels in various units. Converting between units helps with safety monitoring and international regulatory compliance.
• Research and emergency response: Scientific research, emergency planning, and incident response measure radiation in different units. Converting between units helps with safety assessment and international coordination.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

+ How do I convert sieverts to rems?

To convert sieverts (Sv) to rems (rem), multiply the sievert value by 100. For example, 1 sievert equals 100 rems, and 0.01 sieverts (10 mSv) equals 1 rem. Sieverts are the SI unit, while rems are used in the United States.

+ What is the difference between sieverts and grays?

Sieverts (Sv) measure biological dose equivalent, accounting for the type of radiation and its effect on tissue. Grays (Gy) measure absorbed dose, the actual energy deposited. For X-rays and gamma rays, 1 sievert equals 1 gray, but for other radiation types, the conversion factor differs.

+ How do I convert millisieverts to rems?

To convert millisieverts (mSv) to rems (rem), divide the millisievert value by 10. For example, 10 mSv equals 1 rem, and 100 mSv equals 10 rems. Millisieverts are commonly used for medical and occupational exposure measurements.

+ What is a safe level of radiation exposure?

Background radiation averages about 2-3 mSv per year. Occupational limits are typically 20 mSv per year (2 rem/year). Medical imaging doses vary: a chest X-ray is about 0.1 mSv, while a CT scan can be 1-10 mSv. Emergency limits are higher but time-limited.

+ How do I convert grays to rads?

To convert grays (Gy) to rads (rad), multiply the gray value by 100. For example, 1 gray equals 100 rads, and 0.01 grays (10 mGy) equals 1 rad. Grays are the SI unit for absorbed dose, while rads are used in the United States.