1/8/2016

Inverse Square Law Calculation

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Home - General Resources - Formulas and Calculators - Radiography

Radiographic Inspection - Formula Based on
Newton's Inverse Square Law

In radiographic inspection, the radiation spreads out as it travels

away from the gamma or X-ray source. Therefore, the intensity of the
radiation follows Newton's Inverse Square Law. As shown in the
image to the right, this law accounts for the fact that the intensity of
radiation becomes weaker as it spreads out from the source since
the same about of radiation becomes spread over a larger area. The
intensity is inversely proportional to the distance from the source.
In industrial radiography, the intensity at one distance is typically
known and it is necessary to calculate the intensity at a second
distance. Therefore, the equation takes on the form of:

Where:
I1 = Intensity 1 at D1
I2 = Intensity 2 at D2
D1 = Distance 1 from source
D2 = Distance 2 from source
Note: This is the commonly found form of the equation. However, for some it is easier to remember that
the intensity time the distance squared at one location is equal to the intensity time the distance squared
at another location. The equation in this form is:
I1 x d12 = I2 x d22
Example 1) Use Newton's Inverse Square Law to calculate the intensity of a radioactive source at a
different distance than the distance it was originally measured. If the intensity of a Iridium 192 source was
found to be 62 milliroentgen/hour 100 feet, what is the exposure at a distance of 1 foot.

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Inverse Square Law Calculation

Where:
I1
I2

= Intensity at D 1
= Intensity at D 2

D1
D2

= Distance 1
= Distance 2

Reworking the equation to solve for I2

Substitute in the known values and solve for I2

Example 2) A source is producing an intensity of 456 R/h at one foot from the source. What would be the
distance in feet to the 100, 5, and 2 mR/h boundaries.
Convert Rem per hour to mRem per hour
456R/h x 1000 = 456,000 mR/h
Rework the equation to solve for D2

Plug in the known values and solve

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Inverse Square Law Calculation

D2= 67.5 feet

Using this equation the 100mR/h boundary would be 68 feet, the 5mR/h boundary would be 301.99 feet,
and the 2mR/h boundary would be 477.5 feet.

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Partial support for this work was provided by the NSF-ATE (Advanced Technological Education)
program through grant #DUE 0101709. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not
necessarily those of the National Science Foundation.

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