Answer
a. 540 rem.
b. 540 rad.
c. It’s very small, about 13 percent.
Work Step by Step
a. The RBE for x-rays is 1.0, so the absorbed dose in Gy is the same as the equivalent dose in Sv, by equation 43.20.
$5.4Sv\frac{100rad}{Sv}=540 rad$
By equation 43.21, the equivalent dose in rem equals the absorbed dose in rad. 540 rem.
b. As just derived, 540 rad.
c. The total energy absorbed is $\frac{5.4J}{kg}(65kg)=351J$.
The energy required to raise the temperature of 65 kg by 0.01 Celsius degree is $(65kg)\frac{4190J}{kg\cdot K}0.01K=2700J$.
The amount of energy received in the fatal radiation dose causes very little heating of the body.
