Radiation Safety Practice Exam

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Study for the Radiation Safety Exam. Test your knowledge with multiple choice questions, each equipped with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively and confidently!

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What is the equivalent of 1 mCi in dps?

37 dps
37,000 dps
370,000 dps
37,000,000 dps

The correct answer is: 37,000,000 dps

To determine the equivalent of 1 millicurie (mCi) in disintegrations per second (dps), it's important to understand the relationship between these units. A millicurie represents a measure of radioactivity; specifically, 1 curie (Ci) is defined as 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations per second. Since a millicurie is one-thousandth (1/1000) of a curie, you can calculate the equivalent of 1 mCi in dps as follows: 1 mCi = 0.001 Ci = 0.001 × 3.7 x 10^10 dps = 3.7 x 10^7 dps, or 37,000,000 dps. Therefore, when converted, 1 mCi equals 37,000,000 disintegrations per second, which corresponds to the correct answer option. Understanding this conversion is crucial in radiation safety and nuclear medicine, as it allows professionals to assess and manage radioactive materials accurately.