What does the equivalent dose (H) represent?

The equivalent dose (H) represents the product of absorbed dose and the radiation weighing factor, which accounts for the biological effect of different types of radiation on human tissue. This measurement is important because not all types of radiation have the same impact on health; for example, alpha particles have a higher biological effect than beta particles or gamma rays for the same absorbed dose. By incorporating the radiation weighing factor, the equivalent dose provides a more accurate reflection of potential health risks compared to just using the absorbed dose alone.

The other choices do not accurately define the equivalent dose. The weight of absorbed dose does not encompass the weighting factors necessary to assess the biological impact. The duration of radiation exposure is unrelated to the calculation of equivalent dose, and measurement of scanning speed pertains to the operational aspects of imaging rather than the biological risk assessment of radiation exposure.