Exposure to 10 nCi for 10 minutes is more hazardous for a child than for an adult because
A) the child's cells are dividing more rapidly than the adult's and are, therefore, more susceptible to the radiation.
B) the child's smaller body size makes the effective dose larger for the child than for the adult.
C) the child's immune system is not developed well enough to resist damage.
D) the child's skin is not as thick as an adult's and cannot block as much radiation.
E) None of the above reasons is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child's smaller body size makes the effective dose larger for the child than for the adult. Even though the dose of 10 nCi is the same for both the child and the adult, the child's smaller body means that there is less tissue to absorb the radiation, and hence, more radiation reaches the sensitive organs. As a result, the child would receive a higher effective dose of radiation than the adult.

Exposure to 10 NCi for 10 Minutes Is More Hazardous