An exposure received within a short period of time is called acute exposure.

Generally, a large acute exposure can result in observable effects, such as radiation sickness or death, shortly after exposure. The severity of these immediate effects depends on the amount of radiation dose. Large acute exposures can also result in effects such as cancer that show up after a number of years. The probability of these delayed effects also depends on the amount of radiation dose.

The line graph on this screen displays acute exposure as it relates to time and exposure (or dose).