Radioactivity Converter
Convert between radioactivity units like Becquerel, Curie, and radiation dose units.
Radioactivity (Activity)
Radiation Dose
Notes
Activity measures the rate of radioactive decay, expressed in Becquerels (disintegrations per second) or Curies.
Dose measures the amount of radiation absorbed by matter, expressed in Gray (joules per kilogram) or Sievert (accounting for biological effect).
Activity and dose measure different properties. Use the activity converter for decay rate and the dose converter for absorbed radiation energy.
About this tool
Understanding radioactivity requires working with different units depending on the context—whether you're studying nuclear physics, working in radiation safety, or tracking medical isotopes. This tool converts between Becquerel (Bq), Curie (Ci), and radiation dose units like Sievert (Sv) and Gray (Gy), allowing you to move seamlessly between international SI standards and traditional units used in research and industry.
To use the converter, simply enter a value in one unit and select the source and target units from the dropdown menus. The tool instantly displays the converted result, making it easy to cross-reference values across different measurement systems. Whether you're preparing lab reports, verifying safety calculations, or comparing historical data recorded in older unit conventions, the converter handles all standard radioactivity measurements.
Keep in mind that radioactivity units measure different aspects—activity (how many decays occur per second) versus dose (the energy absorbed or biological effect)—so ensure you're converting between compatible unit types. This tool is invaluable for nuclear scientists, radiation protection specialists, medical imaging technicians, and environmental monitoring professionals who need accurate, instant conversions without manual calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Code Implementation
# Radioactivity unit conversions
ACTIVITY_TO_BQ = {
"Bq": 1,
"kBq": 1e3,
"MBq": 1e6,
"GBq": 1e9,
"Ci": 3.7e10,
"mCi": 3.7e7,
"uCi": 3.7e4,
"nCi": 3.7e1,
"pCi": 3.7e-2,
"dpm": 1 / 60,
}
DOSE_TO_GY = {
"Gy": 1,
"mGy": 1e-3,
"uGy": 1e-6,
"rad": 1e-2,
"Sv": 1, # For low-LET radiation, 1 Sv ≈ 1 Gy
"mSv": 1e-3,
"uSv": 1e-6,
"rem": 1e-2,
"mrem": 1e-5,
}
def convert_activity(value: float, from_unit: str, to_unit: str) -> float:
bq = value * ACTIVITY_TO_BQ[from_unit]
return bq / ACTIVITY_TO_BQ[to_unit]
def convert_dose(value: float, from_unit: str, to_unit: str) -> float:
gy = value * DOSE_TO_GY[from_unit]
return gy / DOSE_TO_GY[to_unit]
# Examples
print(f"1 Ci = {convert_activity(1, 'Ci', 'GBq'):.2f} GBq")
print(f"1 Sv = {convert_dose(1, 'Sv', 'rem'):.1f} rem")
print(f"100 mSv = {convert_dose(100, 'mSv', 'mGy'):.1f} mGy")Comments & Feedback
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