Texas Industrial Radiography Gamma Practice Test

Which device provides an immediate indication of your radiation dose?

1. Film Badge

2. Survey Instrument

3. TLD

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: None of the above

In the context of radiation monitoring, the device that provides an immediate indication of radiation dose is typically a survey instrument, commonly known as a Geiger counter or a dosimeter that provides real-time measurements. A film badge and thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) are designed for dose monitoring over longer periods and do not give immediate feedback; they require processing to reveal exposure levels. The film badge needs to be developed like a camera film and read after the exposure period, meaning the user has to wait for an analysis period to know how much radiation they were exposed to. Similarly, a TLD measures exposure after it has been heated to release stored energy, and results are not available immediately. Therefore, the option indicating that none of the listed devices provides immediate dose indicators correctly identifies that the right device to monitor radiation dose in real-time is the survey instrument. This underscores the importance of understanding the operational characteristics of each device for effective radiation safety practices in industrial radiography.