Homework Assignment #1

Question 1

A radiation safety officer in a health care facility must have sufficient authority, organizational freedom, and management perogative to:
1.) identify radiation safety problems
2.) initiate, recomend, or provide corrective action
3.) stop unsafe operations involving by product material
4.) verify implementation of corrective actions

a.) 1, 2 and 3 only
b.) 1, 3 and 4 only
c.) 2, 3 and 4 only
d.) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer 1

d.) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 2

The responsibility for maintaining radiation monitoring records for all personnel and for providing counseling for individuals who recieve monitor readings in excess of allowable limits belongs to the:

a.) director of human resources of a health care facility
b.) designated radiation safety officer of a health care facility
c.) hospital administrator
d.) radiologic technologist in charge of quality control

Answer 2

b.) designated radiation safety officer of a health care facility

Question 3

Which of the following are responsibilities of a health care facilitys radiation safety committee (RSC)?
1.) assist in the developement of the radiation safety program
2.) provide guidance for the radiation safety program
3.) facilitate the on going operation of the radiation safety program

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 3

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 4

The main function of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is to:
1.) inspect imaging facilities
2.) oversee the nuclear energy industry
3.) regulate imaging facilities

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 4

b.) 2 only

Question 5

Which of the following are functions and/or responsibilities of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?
1.) functions as a monitoring agency in places of employment, predominantly in industry
2.) regulates occupational exposure to radiation through part 1910 of Title 29 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR 1910)
3.) responsible for regulations concerning the “right to know” of employees with regard to hazards that amy be present in the workplace

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 5

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 6

Beta particles are actually:

a.) gamma rays
b.) high speed electrons
c.) protons
d.) xrays

Answer 6

b.) high speed electrons

Question 7

Which of the following is the SI unit of electrical current?

a.) ampere
b.) couloumb per kilogram
c.) erg
d.) sievert

Answer 7

a.) ampere

Question 8

Which of the following units are not SI units?
1.) roengtans
2.) couloumbs per kilogram, grays and sieverts
3.) rads and rems

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1 and 3 only

Answer 8

d.) 1 and 3 only

Question 9

Alpha particles have a radiation weighting factor (WR) that is numerically equal to:

a.) 1
b.) 5
c.) 10
d.) 20

Answer 9

d.) 20

Question 10

Which of the following are types of ionizing radiation that produce virtually the same biologic effect for equal absorbed doses in body tissue?

a.) xrays, beta particles and gamma rays
b.) alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays
c.) xrays, neutrons, and gamma rays
d.) xrays, alpha particles and fast neutrons

Answer 10

a.) xrays, beta particles and gamma rays

Question 11

IN the diagnostic radiology energy range from 23 to 150 kvp (which includes mammography), which of the following tissues possesses the greatest ability to absorb radiant energy through the process of photoelectric absorption?

a.) air
b.) bone
c.) fat
d.) muscle

Answer 11

b.) bone

Question 12

Of the two sources of ionizing radiation listed below, which source remains fairly constant from year to year?

a.) human made
b.) natural

Answer 12

b.) natural

Question 13

Which of the following sources of radiation is human made?
1.) atmospheric fallout from nuclear weapons testing
2.) cosmic radiation from the sun and beyond the solar system
3.) nuclear power plant accidents as a consequence of natural disasters

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer 13

b.) 1 and 3 only

Question 14

The mass of an alpha particle is approximately:

a.) two times the mass of a hydrogen atom
b.) four times the mass of a hydrogen atom
c.) six times the mass of a hydrogen atom
d.) eight times the mass of a hydrogen atom

Answer 14

b.) four times the mass of a hydrogen atom

Question 15

The first decay product of radium is:

a.) cesium
b.) radon
c.) strontium
d.) xray

Answer 15

b.) radon

Question 16

Both occupational and nonoccupational dose limits may be stated in:
1.) couloumbs per kilogram
2.) grays
3.) sieverts

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 16

c.) 3 only

Question 17

In the electromagnetic spectrum, higher frequencies are associated with:

a.) longer wavelengths and lower energies
b.) longer wavelengths and higher energies
c.) shorter wavelengths and lower energies
d.) shorter wavelengths and higher energies

Answer 17

d.) shorter wavelengths and higher energies

Question 18

The amount of energy transferred to electrons by ionizing radiaiton is the basis of the concept of:

a.) electromagnetic radiation
b.) nuclear power
c.) radioactive decay
d.) radiation dose

Answer 18

d.) radiation dose

Question 19

Which of the following are forms of electromagnetic radiaiton?
1.) microwaves
2.) visible light
3.) xrays

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 19

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 20

Which of the following is considered by the EPA to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in the united states?

a.) annual PA and lateral chest radiographs
b.) cosmic ray exposure
c.) radon exposure
d.) a fluoroscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Answer 20

c.) radon exposure

Question 21

Which of the following helps shield the global population from exposure to essentially all high energy bombarding cosmic rays?

a.) clouds
b.) fog
c.) earths atmosphere and magnetic field
d.) smog

Answer 21

c.) earths atmosphere and magnetic field

Question 22

When exposed to high radon levels in the home, which of the following groups of people have the highest risk of developing lung cancer?

a.) infants
b.) toddlers
c.) nonsmokers
d.) smokers

Answer 22

d.) smokers

Question 23

Through which of the following routes can radon enter houses?
1.) crawl spaces under living areas
2.) floor drains and sump pumps
3.) porous cement block foundations

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 23

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 24

Cosmic radiation occurs in which two forms?

a.) solar and manmade
b.) artificial and galactic
c.) natural background and artificial
d.) solar and galactic

Answer 24

d.) solar and galactic

Question 25

According to the enviromental protection agency (EPA) radon levels in homes should not exceed what level?

a.) 200 pCi/L
b.) 135 pCi/L
c.) 47 pCi/L
d.) 4 pCi/L

Answer 25

d.) 4 pCi/L

Question 26

Terrestrial radiation includes which of the following sources?

a.) long lived radioactive elements such as uranium 238, radium 226 and thorium 232 that are present in variable quanitites in the crust of the earth
b.) radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons tests in which detonantion occured above ground
c.) the sun and other stars
d.) video display terminlas and television recievers

Answer 26

a.) long lived radioactive elements such as uranium 238, radium 226 and thorium 232 that are present in variable quanitities in the crust of the earth

Question 27

Which of the following statements concerning the 1979 nuclear reactor accident at TMI 2 is not true?

a.) excess cancer deaths have been predicted to occur in the 2 million people living within 50 miles of the plant at the time of the accident
b.) excess cancer deaths have not been predicted to occir int he 2 million people living within 50 miles of the plant at the time of the accident
c.) the equivilent dose recieved by 2 million people living in the vicinity of the nuclear reactor at the time of the accident was 0.02 msv
d.) no melt thorugh of the reactor vessel occured during the accident

Answer 27

a.) excess cancer deaths have been predicited to occur in the 2 million people living within 50 miles of the plant at the times of the accident

Question 28

Electromagnetic radiation can travel through space in the form of a wave but can also interact with matter as a particle of energy. This dual nature is referred to as:

a.) wave attenuation capability
b.) wave particle interchange ability
c.) wave particle duality
d.) wave particle phenomena

Answer 28

c.) wave particle duality

Question 29

Diagnostic efficacy includes:
1.) imaging procedure or practice justified by the referring physician
2.) minimal radiation exposure field
3.) optimal images produced
4.) presence or absence of disease revealed

a.) 1, 2 and 3 only
b.) 1, 2 and 4 only
c.) 2, 3 and 4 only
d.) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer 29

d.) 1, 2 3 and 4

Question 30

The ALARA principle provides a method for comparing the amount of radiation used in various health care facilities in a particular area for specific imaging procedures. This information may be helpful to many:

a.) accrediting bodies
b.) advisory groups
c.) radiation standards organizations
d.) regulatory agencies

Answer 30

d.) regulatory agencies

Question 31

Which of the following statements below is true?

a.) it appears that no safe dose level exists for radiation induced malignant disease
b.) the ALARA method establishes a dose level for radiation induced malignancy
c.) the BERT method establishes a dose level for radiation induced malignancy
d.) the TRACE method establishes a dose level for radiation induced malignancy

Answer 31

a.) it appears that no safe dose level exists for radiation induced malignant disease

Question 32

Typically, people are more willing to accept a risk if they percieve that the potential benefit to be obtained is:

a.) greater than the risk involved
b.) equal to the risk involved
c.) less than the risk involved
d.) typically people are not willing to accept risk no matter how hreat the benefit may be

Answer 32

a.) greater than the risk involved

Question 33

Some ways of providing education for imaging department staff are:

1.) providing in service education on various radiation safety topics to accomodate individual needs of staff members
2.) handing out a facts to remember sheet at the end of an in service program
3.) emailing the most important topics covered in a staff in service program to imaging staff members to help reinforce and retain vital information

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 33

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 34

Some ways of providing education for non radiologist physicians who perform fluoroscopic procedures can include:
1.) creating increased awareness of radiation dose for specific procedures through discussion
2.) establishing goals for lowering radiation dose for patients, assisting personel, and themselves.
3.) radiographers helping physicians performing fluoroscopic procedures by informing them that they have reached a specific dose, therby giving fluoroscopists the oppurtunity to deice to continue or stop a procedure

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 34

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 35

Which of the following is a method of explainging radiation to the public?

a.) ALARA
b.) BERT
c.) ORP
d.) standardized dose reporting

Answer 35

b.) BERT

Question 36

WHich of the following provides the basis for determining whetheer an imaging procedure or practice is justified?

a.) ALARA program
b.) BERT method
c.) efficacy
d.) TRACE program

Answer 36

c.) efficacy

Question 37

Radiation phobia can be greatly reduced by explaining the diagnostic radiation dose to the patient by using the:

a.) ALARA method
b.) BERT method
c.) ORP method
d.) TRACE method

Answer 37

b.) BERT method

Question 38

The radiographer must answer patient questions about the potential risk of radiation exposure:

a.) abruptly to discourage the patient from asking any other questions
b.) evasively so as not to reveal any information about radiation risk
c.) honestly and in understandable terms
d.) with technical terms

Answer 38

c.) honestly and understandable terms

Question 39

Xrays are a form of which of the following kinds of radiation?

a.) enviromental
b.) ionizing
c.) internal
d.) non ionizing

Answer 39

b.) ionizing

Question 40

Why is a question about the amount of radiation a patient will recieve during a specific xray procedure difficult to answer?
1.) because the recieved dose is measured in a number of different units
2.) because scientific units for radiation dose are no comprehensible by the patient
3.) because the patient should not recieve any information about radiation dose

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 40

a.) 1 and 2 only

Question 41

In a hospital setting, which of the following professionals is expressly charged by the hospital administration to be directly responsible for the execution, enforcement, and maintenance of the ALARA program?

a.) assistant administrator of the facility
b.) cheif of staff
c.) radition safety officer
d.) student radiologic technologist

Answer 41

c.) radiation safety officer

Question 42

The basic priniciples of radiation protection include which of the following?
1.) time
2.) distance
3.) sheilding

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 42

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 43

Which of the following is the intention behind the ALARA concepts?

a.) to keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at the highest possible level
b.) to keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at an average level
c.) to keep radiation exposure and consquent dose at the lowest possible level
d.) to avoid the use of ionizing radiation in radiologic practice

Answer 43

c.) to keep radiation exposure and consequent dose at the lower possible level

Question 44

If a patient asks a radiographer a question about the potential risk of radiation exposure associated with a specific xray procedure, the radiographer should:

a.) use his or her intelligiance and knowledge to answer the question honestly and provide a suitable example that compares the amount of radiation recieved from the procedure in question with natural backgroud radiation recieved over a given period of time
b.) avoid the patients question by changing the subject
c.) tell the patient that it is unethical to discuss such concerns
d.) refuse to answer the question and recommend that he or she speak with the referring physician

Answer 44

a.) use his or her intelligiance and knowledge to answer the question honestly and provide a suitable example that compares the amount of radiation recieved from the procedure in questions with a natural background radiation recieved over a given period of time

Question 45

The advantages of the BERT method are:
1.) it does no imply radiation risk; it is simply a means for comparison
2.) it emphasized that radiation is an inate part of our enviroment
3.) the answer given in terms of BERT is easy for the patient to comprhend

a.) 1 and 2 only
b.) 1 and 3 only
c.) 2 and 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 45

d.) 1, 2 and 3

Question 46

The millisievert (msv) is equal to:

Answer 46

1/1000 of a sievert

Question 47

Patients who have an understanding of the medical benefits of an imaging procedure because they recieved factual information about the study before having the examination are more likely to:

a.) assume a small risk of biologic damage but not overcome any radiation phobia they may have
b.) cancel their scheduled procedure because they are not willing to assume a small risk of biologic damage
c.) overcome any radiation phobia but not assume a small risk of possible radiologic damge
d.) overcome any radiation phobia and be willing to assume a small risk of possible biologic damage

Answer 47

d.) overcome any radiation phobia and be willing to assume a small risk of possible biologic damage

Question 48

Which of the following is a special form of radiation that is capable of creating electrically charged particles by removing orbital electrons from the atom of the material with which it interests?

a.) ionizing radition
b.) non ionizing radiation
c.) subatomic radiation
d.) ultrasonic radiation

Answer 48

a.) ionizing radiation

Question 49

Some consequences of ionization in human cells include:
1.) creation of unstable atoms
2.) production of free electrons
3.) creation of reactive free radicals capable of producing substances poisonous to the cell

a.) 1 only
b.) 2 only
c.) 3 only
d.) 1, 2 and 3

Answer 49

d.) 1, 2 and 3