Gy, abbreviated from Gray, is the SI (International System of Units) unit used to measure the absorbed dose of radiation. It represents the amount of energy deposited by ionizing radiation in a unit mass of matter.
In simpler terms, Gy tells you how much radiation energy a material (like human tissue) has absorbed.
Here's a breakdown:
- Definition: Gray (Gy) is the SI unit of absorbed radiation dose.
- Measurement: It quantifies the energy absorbed per unit mass.
- Units: 1 Gy is equal to 1 Joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of matter (1 Gy = 1 J/kg).
- Relation to Older Unit: The Gray has replaced the older unit called the "rad." 1 Gy equals 100 rad.
So, when you see "Gy" in the context of radiation, it signifies the absorbed dose, indicating the amount of energy from radiation that a specific material has taken in.
