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Questions and Answers
What type of radiation is alpha rays classified as?
What type of radiation is alpha rays classified as?
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Acoustic radiation
- Particulate radiation (correct)
- Thermal radiation
Which characteristic is true for X-rays?
Which characteristic is true for X-rays?
- They have mass and weight.
- They travel slower than sound.
- They can cause ionization in living cells. (correct)
- They are visible to the human eye.
What is the primary function of the aluminum filter in the position indicator device (PID)?
What is the primary function of the aluminum filter in the position indicator device (PID)?
- To increase the intensity of the X-ray beam.
- To produce X-rays within the tubehead.
- To filter out non-penetrating longer-wavelength X-rays. (correct)
- To protect against radiation leakage.
What type of radiation are gamma rays an example of?
What type of radiation are gamma rays an example of?
Which factor increases the penetration depth of beta rays compared to alpha rays?
Which factor increases the penetration depth of beta rays compared to alpha rays?
What is a primary use of cathode rays?
What is a primary use of cathode rays?
What does the collimator in the PID do?
What does the collimator in the PID do?
What creates a vacuum in the x-ray tube?
What creates a vacuum in the x-ray tube?
What is the role of the tungsten target in the anode?
What is the role of the tungsten target in the anode?
What type of radiation is primarily produced when electrons pass very close to the nucleus of a tungsten atom?
What type of radiation is primarily produced when electrons pass very close to the nucleus of a tungsten atom?
What is the diameter of the tungsten wire used in the filament of the cathode?
What is the diameter of the tungsten wire used in the filament of the cathode?
At what kilovolt peak (kVp) does characteristic radiation occur?
At what kilovolt peak (kVp) does characteristic radiation occur?
What potentially harmful effect can occur if the extension arm is left in an extended position?
What potentially harmful effect can occur if the extension arm is left in an extended position?
How is an electron cloud formed in the cathode?
How is an electron cloud formed in the cathode?
Which statement about copper in the anode is correct?
Which statement about copper in the anode is correct?
What is characteristic radiation primarily caused by?
What is characteristic radiation primarily caused by?
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Study Notes
Radiation
- Transmission of energy through space and matter
- Either particulate or electromagnetic
Particulate Radiation
- Composed of atomic nuclei or subatomic particles
- High velocity
- Examples: alpha rays, beta rays, cathode rays
Alpha Rays
- Decay from radioactive elements
- Give up energy quickly
- Travel a few microns in body tissue
Beta Rays & Cathode Rays
- High-energy electrons
- Smaller and lighter than alpha particles
- Depth of penetration: 1.5 cm in tissue
- Used in radiation therapy
- Cathode rays are man-made
Electromagnetic Radiation
- Movement of energy through space
- Electric and magnetic fields
- Examples: Gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays, visible light, infrared rays, microwaves, radio waves
Characteristics of X-rays
- Invisible and undetectable by human senses
- No mass, weight, or charge
- Travel at the speed of light
- Travel in short-wavelength, high-frequency waves
- Travel in a straight line and can be deflected or scattered
- Absorbed by matter
- Cause ionization and changes in living cells
- Cause certain substances to fluoresce
- Produce images on photographic film
X-ray Machine Components
- Oil prevents overheating by absorbing the produced heat
- Tubehead seal - made of leaded glass or aluminum containing the oil, filters the x-ray beam
- Position indicator device (PID) - open-ended lead-lined cylinder, limits the x-ray beam size to a circular 2-inch opening
- Collimator - located near the PID, limits the size of the x-ray beam to a circular 2-inch opening
- Aluminum filter - located inside the PID, filters out non-penetrating, longer-wavelength x-rays
- X-ray tube - heart of the x-ray generation system, made of glass, contains a vacuum that allows electron flow
X-ray Tube Components
- Anode - positive electrode, made of tungsten target embedded in copper
- Tungsten target is the focal spot and converts bombarding electrons into x-ray photons
- Copper dissipates the heat generated
- Cathode - negative electrode, made of tungsten filament mounted on a molybdenum cup
- Filament is the source of electrons and is made of tungsten wire
- Produces an electron cloud through thermionic emission
Extension Arm
- Folds up and can swivel from side to side
- Never leave extended when the machine is not in use
- Can cause a cone cut (central ray off the film) if the tubehead is loose
Types of X-Rays Produced
- Primary Radiation:
- Bremsstrahlung radiation: braking radiation, or General radiation
- Produced when an electron hits the nucleus of a tungsten atom or passes close to the nucleus
- Kinetic energy of the electron converted to x-ray energy
- Bremsstrahlung radiation: braking radiation, or General radiation
- Characteristic radiation:
- Produced when a high-speed electron dislodges an inner-shell electron of the tungsten atom
- Accounts for a small percentage of x-rays
- Only occurs at 70 kVp and above because the binding energy of the K-shell electron is approximately 70 keV.
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