Converting radiation units is essential in fields like medical physics, radiation therapy, and nuclear engineering. One common conversion is from Petagray per second (PGy/s) to Watt per kilogram (W/kg).
1. Understanding Petagray/Second (PGy/s) and Watt/Kilogram (W/kg)
Petagray/Second (PGy/s)
- Gray (Gy) measures absorbed radiation dose (energy absorbed per unit mass).
- Petagray (PGy) = 10¹⁵ Grays.
- PGy/s indicates the rate of radiation absorption per second.
Watt/Kilogram (W/kg)
- Watt (W) measures power (energy per second).
- W/kg represents power absorbed per kilogram of material.
Why Convert PGy/s to W/kg?
- Helps compare radiation doses in different units.
- Useful in radiation safety, medical dosimetry, and reactor physics.
2. Conversion Formula: PGy/s to W/kg
The conversion is straightforward since 1 Gray/second (Gy/s) = 1 Watt/kilogram (W/kg).
Thus:1 PGy/s=1015 W/kg1PGy/s=1015W/kg
General Formula:W/kg=PGy/s×1015W/kg=PGy/s×1015
3. Manual Conversion: 26.66 PGy/s to W/kg
Let’s convert 26.66 PGy/s to W/kg step-by-step.
Step 1: Recall the Conversion Factor
1 PGy/s=1015 W/kg1PGy/s=1015W/kg
Step 2: Multiply by 26.66
26.66 PGy/s=26.66×1015 W/kg26.66PGy/s=26.66×1015W/kg
Step 3: Express in Scientific Notation
26.66×1015=2.666×1016 W/kg26.66×1015=2.666×1016W/kg
Final Answer:
26.66 PGy/s=2.666×1016 W/kg26.66PGy/s=2.666×1016W/kg
4. Practical Applications
Medical Radiation Therapy
- Ensures accurate dosage calculations for cancer treatment.
Nuclear Power Plants
- Monitors radiation exposure in reactors.
Space Radiation Studies
- Measures cosmic radiation effects on spacecraft.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is 1 Gy/s always equal to 1 W/kg?
Yes, because both represent 1 Joule per kilogram per second.
Can I convert W/kg back to PGy/s?
Yes, divide by 10151015:PGy/s=W/kg1015PGy/s=1015W/kg
Why use Petagray instead of Gray?
For extremely high radiation levels (e.g., astrophysics or particle accelerators).
7. Conclusion
Converting 26.66 PGy/s to W/kg is simple:
- Multiply by 10151015 → 2.666 × 10¹⁶ W/kg.
- Use online tools for quick results.
This conversion is crucial in radiation physics, healthcare, and nuclear engineering.