What is the conventional radiation unit of absorbed dose in the British system?

In the British system, the conventional radiation unit used to measure absorbed dose is the rad. The term "rad" stands for "radiation absorbed dose" and quantifies the amount of radiation energy absorbed by a given mass of material, typically tissue. One rad is defined as the absorption of 100 ergs of energy per gram of material.

This unit is primarily used in older literature and in some regulatory environments, and while newer units such as the gray (the SI unit of absorbed dose) are now more commonly used in contemporary practice, it is important to recognize that the rad remains significant in historical contexts and in specific applications. Understanding the rad is essential for professionals dealing with radiological procedures and for interpreting older texts that might still use this unit for absorbed dose measurement.