The term rad means __________.

The term "rad" stands for "radiation absorbed dose," which is a unit of measurement used to quantify the amount of ionizing radiation energy that is absorbed by a material, typically biological tissue. One rad is defined as the absorption of 100 ergs of energy per gram of the absorbing material. This measurement is crucial in radiation protection and health physics because it helps to assess the potential biological effects of radiation exposure on living organisms.

Understanding this unit allows professionals to determine safe exposure levels and implement necessary protective measures in environments where radiation is present. The accurate measurement of absorbed dose is vital for the assessment of health risks associated with radiation exposure, guiding regulations and safety practices in various fields such as medicine, nuclear energy, and research.