Chapter 9 (X-Ray Emission) Flashcards
What does x-ray quantity refer to?
The number of x-ray photons in the beam.
What does x-ray quality refer to?
The penetrability of the x-ray beam.
What is the primary factor controlling x-ray quantity?
mAs (milliampere-seconds).
What is the primary factor controlling x-ray quality?
kVp (kilovolt peak).
How does kVp affect x-ray intensity?
Higher kVp = More x-ray photons and greater penetration.
What happens to x-ray intensity if mAs is doubled?
X-ray intensity is doubled.
How does increasing distance (SID) affect x-ray intensity?
Intensity decreases according to the Inverse Square Law.
What is the Inverse Square Law?
Intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
What does beam filtration do?
Removes low-energy photons, increasing beam quality.
What is HVL (Half-Value Layer)?
The thickness of material that reduces x-ray intensity by half.
What happens when HVL increases?
The x-ray beam becomes harder (higher average energy).
What effect does increasing kVp have on contrast?
Decreases contrast (more scatter).
What effect does increasing filtration have on patient dose?
Reduces patient dose by removing low-energy photons.
What is the effect of increasing mAs on image brightness?
Increases image brightness.
What is the relationship between exposure time and patient dose?
Longer exposure time = Higher patient dose.
What effect does increasing kVp have on Compton scatter?
Increases Compton scatter, reducing contrast.
What is the 15% rule in radiography?
Increasing kVp by 15% is equivalent to doubling mAs.
What happens to x-ray production efficiency when the atomic number of the target increases?
More x-rays are produced with higher energy.
How does increasing collimation affect scatter radiation?
Reduces scatter, improving image contrast.
What is the best method to reduce motion blur in x-ray imaging?
Decrease exposure time and increase mA.
