What is absorbed dose also known as?

Absorbed dose is a measure of the energy deposited by ionizing radiation in a specific mass of matter, typically expressed in grays (Gy) or rads. It represents the amount of radiation energy absorbed by a tissue or material. The term that is synonymous with absorbed dose is "radiation dose," which denotes the same concept of energy deposition per unit mass.

While equivalent dose and effective dose are related concepts, they are distinct from absorbed dose. Equivalent dose accounts for the biological effect of the type of radiation using a weighting factor, while effective dose incorporates both the type of radiation and the sensitivity of the tissues exposed, aiming to provide a measure of risk. Exposure dose refers to the amount of ionization produced in air by X or gamma radiation, typically expressed in roentgens (R), but does not account for the energy absorbed in tissue.

Understanding the definition of absorbed dose as it relates to energy deposition helps clarify its unique role in radiation health physics, distinguishing it from other related measures in radiation safety and protection.