Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
curie
noun
/ˈkjʊəri/
Definition
A unit of measurement for radioactivity, defined as the amount of a substance that produces 3.7 × 10^10 disintegrations per second.
Examples
- The laboratory reported a sample containing one curie of radioactive material.
- Measurements of radiation levels are often expressed in curies.
- As a standard, one curie is equivalent to 37 billion disintegrations per second.
Meaning
The term ‘curie’ is used to quantify the amount of radioactive material and is named after the pioneers of radioactivity, Marie and Pierre Curie.
Synonyms
- radioactivity unit
- radioactive decay unit
