A multiplying factor applied to the Dose (RAD), representing the effect of different values of energy deposited per unit distance in tissue for different types of radiation. Some examples: Gamma rays and x-rays Q = 1, for Alpha particles Q = 20, and for Thermal radiation Q = 2.3.

A factor which relates biological effects of different types of radiation. (For X, gamma and beta rays the quality factors are one; for fast neutron, alpha particles and protons up to 10 MeV, the quality factor are ten.)

A modifying factor used in the derivation of dose equivalent. Used to allow comparison of different types of radiation. Also known as the Radiation Weighting Factor. It varies from 1 to 20.

The LET-dependant modifying factor that is used to derive dose equivalent from absorbed dose.

measure of biological effectiveness of different types of ionizing radiation, most often of widely different LET values.

a modifying factor that is used to derive dose equivalent from absorbed dose. It corrects for varying risk potential due to the type of radiation.

A numerical factor assigned to describe the average effectiveness of a particular kind (and sometimes energy) of radiation in producing biological effects on humans.

a term to express the varying effects of different types of radiation when assessing doses to tissue.

The modifying factor used to calculate the dose equivalent from the absorbed dose; the absorbed dose (expressed in rad or gray) is multiplied by the appropriate quality factor. When spectral data are insufficient to identify the energy of the neutrons, a quality factor of 10 shall be used.

the factor by which the absorbed dose ( rad or gray) is multiplied to obtain a quantity that expresses, on a common scale for all ionizing radiation, the biological damage ( rem) to an exposed person. It is used because some types of radiation, such as alpha particles, are more biologically damaging internally than other types. For more information, see " Primer on Radiation Measurement" at the end of this document.

(Q) means the modifying factor (listed in tables 1004(b).1 and 1004(b).2 of 10 CFR 20.1004) that is used to derive dose equivalent from absorbed dose.

A measure of the sharpness of resonance or frequency selectivity of a resonant vibratory system having a single degree of freedom, either mechanical or electrical. See vibration. In a mechanical system, this quantity is very nearly equal to one-half the reciprocal of the damping ratio. When used with reference to a lightly damped system, it is also approximately equal to the following: (1) transmissibility at resonance; (2) π/δ where δ is the logarithmic decrement; (3) 2πW/ΔW where W is the stored energy and ΔW the energy dissipation per cycle; and (4) fr/Δf where fr is the resonance frequency and Δf is the bandwidth between the half-power points. Historically the letter Q was an arbitrarily chosen symbol to designate the ratio of reactance to resistance of a circuit element. The name quality factor was introduced later.

The ratio of reactance to resistance in a coil which affects Q.

The ratio of true power to reactive power in a coil or a resonant circuit.