What is the dosimeter's dynamic range?

What is the dosimeter's dynamic range?

• A. 0-1000 rads in increments of 5 rads
• B. 10-1000 rads in increments of 5 rads
• C. 10-100 rads in increments of 5 rads
• D. 10-1000 rads in increments of 1 rad

Answer: (B)

Dynamic range is the span of doses a dosimeter can read reliably, including its lowest detectable dose and its maximum readable dose, along with the reporting step or resolution. This device can read from 10 rads up to 1000 rads and reports in 5-rad increments, so readings fall on 10, 15, 20, and so on up to 1000. The other options miss one of these elements: starting at zero would imply detectable readings below what this dosimeter can reliably measure; an upper limit of only 100 rads is too low for many applications; and reporting in 1-rad steps would imply finer resolution than specified.

Dynamic range is the span of doses a dosimeter can read reliably, including its lowest detectable dose and its maximum readable dose, along with the reporting step or resolution. This device can read from 10 rads up to 1000 rads and reports in 5-rad increments, so readings fall on 10, 15, 20, and so on up to 1000. The other options miss one of these elements: starting at zero would imply detectable readings below what this dosimeter can reliably measure; an upper limit of only 100 rads is too low for many applications; and reporting in 1-rad steps would imply finer resolution than specified.