Tissue damage caused by radiation is measured in units of Sieverts (Sv) or rems. On average, a person living in the United States is exposed to 3.6 mSv of radiation each year. Space Shuttle astronauts are exposed to about 25 rems of cosmic radiation during a mission. Roughly how does this quantity compare with the annual dose the astronaut would have received on the ground in the United States? (1 Sv = 100 rems)

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

25 rems is equivalent to 250 mSv (since 1 Sv = 100 rems and 1 Sv = 1000 mSv). The average annual exposure on the ground is 3.6 mSv, so 250 mSv is a bit less than 100 times more than 3.6 mSv.

Tissue Damage Caused by Radiation Is Measured in Units of Sieverts