Final answer:
The actual absorbed dose of radiation is called the radiation absorbed dose (rad) and the gray (Gy), where 1 rad equals 0.01 Gy or 0.01 joules per kilogram of matter, and the sievert (Sv) measures biological effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
A measurement of the actual absorbed dose of radiation is called the radiation absorbed dose (rad) or, in SI units, the gray (Gy). The rad is defined as the amount of radiation that causes 0.01 joules (J) of energy to be absorbed by 1 kilogram (kg) of matter. Conversely, one gray is equivalent to 1 joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of tissue; specifically, 1 rad = 0.01 Gy. Furthermore, the sievert (Sv) is another critical unit which measures the actual biological effects of the absorbed radiation, taking into account factors like the type of radiation and its relative biological effectiveness (RBE).