Radiation Dose: GCSE Physics Definition
Written by: Ann Howell
Reviewed by: Katie M
Published
Read time
2 minutes
What is radiation dose?
In GCSE Physics, the amount of radiation received by a person is called the radiation dose and is measured in sieverts (Sv). It is important to regulate the dose of radiation received by humans because a high dose of radiation can increase the risk of developing cancer.
A radiation dose of one sievert is a very big dose and would cause acute radiation poisoning. Most people receive a dose of about 3 mSv a year. A dosemeter is worn by a person working with radiation to measure the amount of radiation exposure received.
The radiation exposure a person receives depends on the intensity of background radiation at the location. People working with nuclear radiation or in the medical field are exposed to radiation regularly so their radiation dose must be monitored carefully. For example, the limit for radiation workers in the UK is 20 mSv per year.
Radiation dose revision resources to ace your exams
Radiation dose is covered in some of the GCSE Physics and Combined Science course revision notes, for example, as part of the AQA GCSE Physics Background radiation revision note. Some exam boards do not require you to know about radiation dose, so use the Save My Exams specific course revision notes to ensure you learn the correct information for your exam. Once you are ready to test your knowledge you can use our specific exam practice questions, for example, AQA GCSE Physics questions on radioactivity. If you are ready for some general exam revision then you can use the past paper section, for example, the OCR GCSE Physics past papers.
Explore all the Save My Exams GCSE Physics resources
Sign up for articles sent directly to your inbox
Receive news, articles and guides directly from our team of experts.
Share this article