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Becquerel (Bq) is the SI unit of radioactivity, defined as the activity of a quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second. It replaces the curie (Ci) as a more precise measurement unit.
Key Points:
- Definition: One becquerel corresponds to one nuclear decay per second.
- Conversion:
\( 1 \text{ Bq} = 2.7 \times 10^{-11} \text{ Ci} \) - The curie is a much larger unit, where
\( 1 \text{ Ci} = 3.7 \times 10^{10} \text{ Bq} \) .
Usage:
- Small Unit: The becquerel is a very small unit of measurement, often necessitating the use of standard SI prefixes for practical purposes.
- Common Prefixes:
- Kilobecquerel (kBq):
\( 10^3 \text{ Bq} \) - Megabecquerel (MBq):
\( 10^6 \text{ Bq} \) - Gigabecquerel (GBq):
\( 10^9 \text{ Bq} \)
Applications:
- Medical Imaging: Used in nuclear medicine to quantify the radioactivity of tracers.
- Radiation Safety: Monitoring and controlling environmental and occupational exposure to radioactive materials.
- Scientific Research: Measuring radioactivity in various fields, including geology, archaeology, and physics.
Advantages:
- Precision: Provides a more precise and standardized measurement of radioactivity.
- SI Compatibility: Fits within the International System of Units (SI), making it universally accepted and used in scientific and industrial applications.
In summary, the becquerel is a fundamental unit for measuring radioactivity, offering precision and compatibility with the SI system, and is essential in various applications from medical imaging to radiation safety and scientific research.
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