The Mathematics of Radiation Protection
These articles and guidance look at the mathematics (maths) associated with radiation protection / health physics including half-life, inverse square law, statistics, instrumentation, famous physics equations and much more. If you like your radiation safety served with maths, then this resource section is for you!
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Radioactive source holders - Dose rate through an aperture
Published: Apr 23, 2024
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator / Ionactive radiation protection resource
Read moreThis article, and our discussions with Dr Chris Robbins of Grallator, was born from a consideration of when a radioactive source holder (such as that fitted as part of a nuclear gauge) might become detached during a radiation accident, such that the radiation from the source is exposed directly through a small aperture. This is reasonably foreseeable compared to a radioactive source which might be completely exposed (unshielded). What would the dose rates be at a certain distance from the source holder, and what % of the trunk of the body would be exposed? This article considers the maths / physics behind this situation which has been developed for Ionactive by Chris. Ionactive has then taken the results of this analysis and shown how it would apply to a real world radiation accident.
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Calculate an estimate of x-ray dose rate from an x-ray tube given kV and mA
Published: Mar 24, 2024
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator/ Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
Read moreHow do you calculate an estimate of dose rate from an X-ray tube give kV and mA? In this resource we consider a 'ballpark' estimate of radiation dose rate using some physics principles, including an estimate of % bremsstrahlung from an anode target, combined with a calculation of power density and consideration of average energy absorption rate.
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When \( 1/d^2 \) breaks down - part 2: area source
Published: Mar 22, 2024
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator
Read moreWhen \( 1/d^2 \) breaks down - part 2: area source. Using some mathematics to explore how the inverse square law works with a radiation area source.
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When \(1/d^2\) breaks down - part 1: line source
Published: Mar 22, 2024
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator
Read moreWhen \( 1/d^2 \) breaks down - part 1: line source. Using some mathematics to explore how the inverse square law works with a radiation line source.
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The accumulated radiation dose when moving up to a source
Published: Nov 27, 2023
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator
Read moreConsider the situation where you move up to a radioactive source, perform some operations for a period of time, and then move away. What total dose will be received?
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Physical, biological and effective half-life
Published: Sep 29, 2021
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator
Read moreThis technical mathematics article is written by Dr Chris Robbins of Grallator Limited. This article looks at Physical, biological and effective half-life and the mathematics behind them.
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