How to Calculate Becquerels Per Meter Cubed
Radiation can be produced from many sources -- e.g., the Sun, radioactive material -- and has many everyday uses. It is important to be able to measure certain levels of radiation, whether for practical reasons, such as energy production, or to determine if an environment is safe for humans. Becquerels per meter cubed is the International System of units (SI) measurement for units of radioactivity within a specified volume. Calculating this quantity is possible using a few short steps.
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Instructions
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Determine the amount of radiation of the sample, in becquerels, using a becquerel meter or similar device which measures radiation in units of becquerels (Bq). For example, assume the sample has a radiation measurement of 20 Bq.
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2
Determine the volume in which the sample is enclosed in. As an example, assume the sample volume is 9 meters cubed.
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3
Divide the radiation, measured in units of Bq, by the volume. In our example, dividing 20 Bq by 9 meters cubed gives 2.2 Bq per meter cubed.
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Tips & Warnings
For some measurement devices, you may need to convert a different measure of radioactivity, such as counts per minutes, into becquerels.
Note there may be environmental radioactivity or other constraints on your ability to measure the radioactivity of your sample.
Note that if the radiation is emitted from a single source, the becquerels per meter cubed will decrease as you move away from the sample.
Ensure you follow proper safety protocols if dealing with samples of radioactive material.
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