Which units of measurement are used to quantify radioactivity?

The correct response identifies Becquerels and curies as the units of measurement used to quantify radioactivity.

The becquerel (Bq) is the SI unit of radioactivity, defined as one disintegration per second. It provides a standard and scientifically accepted measure of how much radioactive decay is occurring in a radioactive material. The curie (Ci) is an older, non-SI unit that was originally based on the radioactivity of one gram of radium-226 and is equal to approximately 37 billion disintegrations per second. Both units effectively convey the level of radioactivity present in a sample, making them essential for understanding the behavior of radioactive materials.

This choice captures the essential units used in the field, distinguishing them from options that incorporate irrelevant measurement units. For instance, amperes and joules measure electric current and energy, respectively, which do not directly pertain to radioactivity. Similarly, while sieverts and rems are units used for measuring the biological effect of radiation (dose), they do not quantify radioactivity itself. Thus, selecting both becquerels and curies encompasses the necessary units specifically relevant to measuring the amount of radioactive decay.