Fundamentals of X rays-UR Flashcards
what are the three subatomic building blocks of an atom?
electrons, protons, and neutrons
which subatomic building block orbits the nucleus?
electrons
what are the two subatomic parts of a nucleus?
protons and neutrons
What term describe atoms with the same atomic number but different atomic masses?
isotopes
what is the letter designation for the first orbital shell around the nucleus?
the K-shell
what is an element?
a collection of atoms that have the same chemical properties
how is electromagnetic radiation measured?
with frequency and wavelength
what characteristic enables X rays to penetrate materials?
short wavelengths
What electromagnetic radiation has the same biological and photographic effect as X rays?
Gamma rays
what natural property does spontaneous atomic disintegration describe?
radioactivity
what happens when fast moving electrons change speed or direction abruptly?
energy in the form of X rays is produced
what determines the energy of an X-ray photon?
the degree of deceleration by the electron
what type of radiation contains one or more sharp peaks within a continuous spectrum?
characteristic radiation
What area of the tube head is positive?
anode
What area of a tube head is negative?
cathode
how are electrons emitted in a tube head?
by heating a filament to a high temperature
why is there a target in a tube head?
an electron beam has to strike a target before x rays are actually produced
what material is generally used in the construction of a target?
tungsten
Why is a small focal spot desired?
the smaller the focal spot- the better the detail of the x ray image
what causes electrons to be accelerated to the target?
step-up transformers
by which process do x rays give up all their energy to an orbital electron?
photoelectric effect (true absorption)
which x-ray matter interaction results in both a displaced electron and a deflected x-ray photon?
Compton effect
at what energy level does pair production occur?
1.02 MeV
