Which unit is commonly used to measure the absorbed dose of radiation?

The Gray (Gy) is the standard unit used to measure the absorbed dose of radiation. It quantifies the amount of energy deposited by ionizing radiation in a specified mass of tissue. One Gray is defined as the absorption of one joule of radiation energy by one kilogram of matter. This measurement is important in fields such as medicine and radiation safety because it provides a direct correlation between radiation exposure and potential biological effects.

In contrast, the Sievert (Sv) is used to measure the biological effect of radiation and takes into account the type of radiation and its impact on human health. The Röntgen (R) measures exposure to ionizing radiation in air but does not directly correlate to absorbed dose in tissue. The Curie (Ci) is a unit of radioactivity that quantifies the amount of radioactive material rather than the dose received or absorbed by living organisms. Thus, while all these units are important in the context of radiation, the Gray specifically addresses the absorbed dose, making it the correct choice for this question.