Final answer:
In radiation treatment, the gray (Gy) is the standard measure of energy for the absorbed dose, and the rad is also used, especially in medical settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
In radiation treatment, the standard measure of energy is the gray (Gy), an SI unit where 1 Gy is equivalent to the absorption of 1 Joule of energy per kilogram of tissue. Moreover, the non-SI unit rad is also frequently used, especially in medical contexts, where 1 rad equals 0.01 Gy or the absorption of 0.01 Joule per kilogram. To provide a perspective, if a 70 kg patient received a 1.0 rad dose over their entire body, they would absorb 0.14 millijoules (mJ) of energy, akin to the energy transferred to the skin by a minuscule droplet of boiling water.
The absorption of radiation is an important factor in calculating the overall effect of radiation therapy. Other related units include the becquerel (Bq) for the rate of radioactive decay, and the sievert (Sv) or roentgen equivalent man (rem) for measuring tissue damage, taking into account the biological effects of the type of radiation.