MILLICURIE Meaning and
Definition
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The term "millicurie" is a unit of measurement commonly employed in the field of nuclear physics and radiology. Derived from the metric system, it is a submultiple of the curie unit, which quantifies the amount of radioactivity present in a radioactive substance. More specifically, a millicurie is equivalent to one thousandth (1/1000) of a curie, denoted by the symbol mCi.
As a measure of radioactivity, a millicurie is used to express the rate at which a radioactive material disintegrates, emitting radiation particles or gamma rays. It is crucial in determining the strength or intensity of radioisotopes like cobalt-60, iodine-131, or cesium-137, which are commonly employed in medical diagnostics, treatments, and industrial applications.
By providing a standardized unit, a millicurie facilitates accurate dosing and the safe handling of radioactive materials, ensuring the protection of both individuals and the environment. Professionals working with nuclear medicine or radiation therapy often rely on millicurie measurements to determine the appropriate amount of radioisotopes to administer to patients or employ in industrial processes.
Overall, the millicurie serves as a fundamental unit for assessing and managing radioactivity, enabling precise control and handling of radioactive materials across various applications, which is vital to realizing the benefits of nuclear technology while ensuring safety and minimizing potential risks.
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A unit of radioactivity representing the quantity of radium emanation in equilibrium with a milligram of radium element; the equivalent of 2,670,000 Mache units.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MILLICURIE
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Etymology of MILLICURIE
The word "millicurie" is derived from two components: "milli-" and "curie".
The prefix "milli-" comes from the Latin word "mīllēsimus", meaning "thousandth". It is used in the International System of Units (SI) to denote a factor of one thousandth (1/1000) or dividing a unit by 1,000. It is commonly used to express smaller measurements, similar to "millimeter" or "milligram".
The term "curie" refers to the unit of radioactivity named after the physicist Marie Curie. Marie Curie was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity and was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. The curie is a unit that measures the intensity of radioactivity. It is defined as the amount of radioactive material that has 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations per second.
Similar spelling words for MILLICURIE
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