What are Becquerels and curies used to measure?

Becquerels and curies are units of measurement that specifically quantify the rate of radioactive decay. The becquerel is defined as one disintegration per second, while the curie is based on the decay rate of a certain amount of radium, originally defined as 37 billion disintegrations per second. These units help scientists and safety professionals understand how much radioactive material is present and how quickly it is decaying, which is crucial for assessing potential exposure risks and implementing safety measures.

Understanding decay rates is essential in radiation safety as it directly relates to the amount of radiation a source emits over time, influencing the safety protocols needed to protect individuals from harmful exposure. In contrast, while radon levels, radiation shielding, and exposure time are important aspects of radiation safety, they do not pertain to the specific measurement of radioactive decay, which is what becquerels and curies provide.