Chapters 1-2: Radiation History & Radiation Physics Flashcards
Define the term: matter
anything that occupies space and has mass
What occurs when matter is altered?
energy
What is the fundamental unit of matter?
the atom
List the two parts of an atom
- nucleus
- electrons in orbit
Define the term: nucleus
the dense core of the atom, composed of protons and neutrons
What electrical charge do protons carry?
positive charge
What electrical charge do neutrons carry?
- no electrical charge
- they are neutral
What electrical charge do electrons carry?
negative
Define the term: mass number / atomic weight
the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
How is the atomic number of an atom determined?
by the number of protons inside the nucleus, which equals the number of electrons outside the nucleus
Define the term: element
substances made up of only one type of atom
How do electrons travel inside an atom?
in well-defined paths called orbits or shells
How are electrons maintained in their orbit inside the atom?
by electrostatic force (the attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative electrons)
Define the term: binding energy / binding force
the attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative electrons that maintains electrons in their orbits
What are the two measurements used to determine the binding energy?
- electron volts (eV)
- kilo electron volts **(keV) **
What forms when atoms are combined?
molecules
Define the term: molecule
two or more atoms joined together by chemical bonds
What are the two ways that molecules can be formed?
- by the transfer of electrons
- by the sharing of electrons between the outermost shells of an atom
What charges are present in a neutral atom?
an equal number of protons (positive charges) and electrons (negative charges)
Define the term: ion
- an electrically unbalanced particle
- an atom that gains or loses an electron
Define the term: ionization
- the production of ions
- the process of converting an atom into an ion, resulting in the formation of a positive atom and a dislodged negative electron
During the ionization process, what is the result of an ion pair?
- when an electron is removed from the atom
- the atom becomes the positive ion
- the ejected electron becomes the negative ion
Define the term: radiation
a form of energy carried by waves or a stream of particles
Define the term: x-radiation
a high-energy radiation produced by the collision of a beam of electrons with a metal target in an x-ray tube
Define the term: x-ray
a beam of energy that has the power to penetrate substances and record image shadows on image receptors
What is radiology the study of?
the science or study of radiation as used in medicine
Define the term: radiograph
an image or picture produced on an image receptor (ex: digital sensor, phosphor plate) by exposure to ionizing radiation
Fill in the blank: A radiograph is a ______-dimensional representation of three-dimensional object
A radiograph is a two -dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object
Define the term: dental radiograph
a photographic image produced on an image receptor by the passage of x-rays through teeth and related structures
What is radiography the science of?
the art and science of making radiographs by the exposure of an image receptor to x-rays
Explain the difference between radiology and radiography.
- radiology is the overall branch of medicine that studies the uses of radiation in medicine
- radiography is the science of making physical radiographs by exposing x-rays
Define the term: dental radiography
the production of radiographs of the teeth and surrounding structures by the exposure of an image receptor to x-rays
Who is a dental radiographer?
any person who positions, exposes, and processes dental x-ray image receptors
Define the term: image
a picture or likeness of an object
Define the term: image receptor
a recording medium (ex: film, phosphor plates, digital sensors)
Define the term: dental imaging
the creation of digital, print, or film representations of anatomic structures for the purpose of diagnosis
List some of the uses/benefits of dental images.
- to detect lesions, diseases, and conditions of the teeth and surrounding structures that cannot be seen clinically
- to confirm or classify suspected diseases
- to localize lesions or foreign objects
- to provide information during dental procedures
- to evaluate growth and development
- to illustrate the changes of caries, disease, and trauma
- to document the condition of a patient at a specific point in time
- to aid in the development of a clinical treatment plan
In dentistry, is radiation or radioactivity used?
radiation
Define the term: radioactivity
Why would a substance be considered radioactive?
if it gives off energy in the form of particles or rays as a result of the disintegration of the atomic nuclei
Define the term: ionizing radiation
radiation that is capable of producing ions by removing or adding an electron to an atom
List the two groups of ionizing radiation.
- particulate radiation
- electromagnetic radiation
What are particulate radiations?
tiny particles of matter that possess mass and travel in straight lines at high speeds to create kinetic energy
List the two electron classifications in particulate radiation.
- beta particles
- cathode rays
List the four types of particulate radiation.
- electrons (beta particles or cathode rays)
- alpha particles
- protons
- neutrons
Define the term: beta particles
fast-moving electrons emitted from the nucleus of radioactive atoms
Define the term: cathode rays
streams of high-speed electrons that originate in an x-ray tube
Define the term: electromagnetic radiation
the propagation of wavelike energy (without mass) through space or matter
Cosmic rays, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible light, infrared light, radar waves, microwaves, and radio waves are all examples of what time of ionizing radiation?
electromagnetic radiation
What type of ionizing radiation are x-rays?
electromagnetic radiation
How are electromagnetic radiations arranged?
according to their energies on the electromagnetic spectrum
From the following, which is the only radiation to be created in the x-ray tube?
1. alpha particles
2. beta particles
3. cathode rays
4. protons
5. neutrons
cathode rays (the rest originate in the nucleus of an atom)
List the two concepts of that describe how electromagnetic radiations move through space.
- particle concept
- wave concept
What is the particle concept of electromagnetic radiations?
electromagnetic radiations are discrete bundles of energy with no mass or weight that travel in waves at the speed of light in a straight line
What is the wave concept of electromagnetic radiation?
electromagnetic radiations are waves that travel in various wavelengths at the speed of light
What is the term used to measure the speed of a wave?
velocity
Define the term: wavelengths
the distance between the crest of one wave and the crest of the next
What determines the energy and penetrating power of the radiation?
wavelength