Convert rad [rd] to femtogray [fGy] Online | Free radiation-absorbed-dose Converter

Rad [rd]: A Legacy Unit of Absorbed Radiation Dose

The rad (short for radiation absorbed dose) is a legacy unit used to measure the amount of ionizing radiation energy absorbed per unit mass of material. It was widely used before the adoption of the gray (Gy) in the International System of Units (SI).

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  1 rad = 0.01 gray (Gy)

  
  
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  This means that 1 rad corresponds to the absorption of 0.01 joules of radiation energy per kilogram of matter.

  
  

The rad was commonly used in medical, industrial, and scientific settings to quantify radiation doses. Although now largely replaced by the gray for consistency and international standardization, the rad is still sometimes referenced in older research, medical records, and certain fields.

The rad and its subunits (like the millirad) helped establish the groundwork for understanding radiation exposure and effects before the transition to the more precise and universally accepted gray unit.

Femtogray [fGy]: A Tiny Unit of Radiation Dose

The femtogray (fGy) is a unit of absorbed radiation dose equal to 10⁻¹⁵ grays (Gy). The gray (Gy) is the standard SI unit used to measure the amount of ionizing radiation energy absorbed per kilogram of matter. One femtogray, therefore, represents a quadrillionth (0.000000000000001) of a gray. This unit is extremely small and is primarily used in theoretical research, nanodosimetry, or highly sensitive radiation studies where even the smallest levels of energy absorption can have measurable effects on microscopic or molecular systems. While real-world applications like medical imaging or radiation therapy use much larger units such as milligray (mGy) or gray (Gy), the femtogray can help researchers simulate or analyze interactions of radiation with DNA, proteins, or other cellular components. Although it is impractical for most everyday uses due to its tiny scale, the femtogray plays a valuable role in scientific fields requiring ultra-precise radiation dose measurements. It demonstrates how finely scientists can scale radiation measurements to better understand the effects of energy on matter at the smallest biological or atomic levels.