Radiation Safety Practice Exam

RADIAC instruments that operate on the scintillation principle can be categorized into which two types?

1. Gas detectors and liquid detectors

2. Solid crystal scintillators and liquid scintillators

3. Thermal detectors and photodetectors

4. Ionization chambers and probe sensors

The correct answer is: Solid crystal scintillators and liquid scintillators

RADIAC instruments that utilize the scintillation principle are categorized based on the type of scintillating material they employ. Scintillators are materials that emit light when they are excited by ionizing radiation. The two main types are solid and liquid scintillators. Solid crystal scintillators, such as sodium iodide (NaI) doped with thallium, are widely used for detecting gamma radiation due to their high efficiency and good energy resolution. They are robust and can be shaped into various sizes and forms for specific detection needs. On the other hand, liquid scintillators consist of organic solvents that contain fluorescent dyes. These types of detectors are often used in applications where large volumes of detection material are needed, such as in liquid scintillation counting for radioisotope analysis. Understanding these categories helps in selecting the appropriate scintillation detector for specific applications in radiation safety and measurement, making option B the correct choice.