Lecture 1: intro & fundamental physics Flashcards
what are the 10 characteristics of x-rays?
1- Travels in a straight line (essential) 2- Penetrates matter (essential) 3- obeys inverse square law (sometimes) 4- travels at the speed of light 5- excites atom 6- ionises atoms 7- produces chemical effects 8- produces biological effects 9- produces photographic effects 10- produces fluoroscopic effects
What is the inverse square law?
What is the equation for inverse square law?
- The intensity of the rays decreases with distance from the source because the rays are spread over greater areas as the distance increases.
- 1/D2 (D is the distance from the source of radiation)
What are the 2 types of energy?
1- potential
2-kinetic
What does an atom consists of?
- Nucleus: protons and neutrons
- Electrons
How small is an electron?
Very small, approximately 1840X smaller than the size of a proton.
Where can electrons be found in an atom?
They are not part of the nucleus but orbit around it, in a number of electron shells/energy bands
In radiation what are the electron energy bands labelled as?
K, L, M
K being the innermost shell
What is the formula for the number of electrons in an energy band?
N = 2(n2)
N: number of electrons
n: band number
What is the rule of electrons filling energy bands?
The inner bands must be completely filled first. (first K then L then M)
What is a proton?
- Subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom
- It is large and determines the atomic number (element)
- Has a positive charge
- protons spin and each moving proton creates a magnetic field
- for each direction of movement there is an opposing proton
What is a neutron?
- subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom
- slightly smaller than a proton
- has no charge, is neutral
- in smaller elements there is an equal number of neutrons and protons. But as the elements get bigger there are more neutrons than protons present.
What are electrons?
- subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom in energy shells
- very small, about 1840X smaller than a proton
- it has a negative charge
- The electrons orbit the nucleus in all different directions, if they all moved in the same direction they would create a very strong magnetic field
How do electrons move?
In a sinosoidal form, this is how they maintain energy to stay within the energy level
What is needed to produce X rays?
1- two electrical supplies (one low voltage, one high voltage)
2- perfect vacuum (evacuated glass tube)
3-a means of converting kinetic energy of movement into kinetic energy of electromagnetic radiation
Why is an image fixed?
What 2 functions does the fixer have?
-To make the image permanent and the protect it from damage
Functions:
1-The fixer dissolves the unexposed silver bromide crystals so no further exposure can take place: image is made permanent
2- The fixer hardens the emulsion to protect it and prevent scratching during storage
-after fixing, the image is washed and dried
What does the developer do?
How is an image developed?
-The developer is a reducing agent: it donates electrons
1- The crystals in the film emulsion are surrounded by a negative charge shield, this repels the electrons of the developer.
2- After x-ray exposure, the crystals with dissociated molecules will have a defect in this negative charge shield. This defect is known as the sensitivity spec. This will now allow electrons from the developer to enter the crystals.
3- The developer only enters exposed crystals and donates electrons.
4-The donated electrons exert a force of attraction on the positive charged silver atoms, causing them to clump together and this darkens the exposed area.
can developer enter unexposed crystals?
No, only exposed crystals
what is a latent image?
It is an image that already exists, but is invisible.
It needs to be developed.
How is a latent image formed?
What happens to the silver-bromide crystals?
- Upon interaction with an x-ray, the silver or bromine atom of the crystal is ionised and this weakens the bonds between silver and bromine causing them to dissociate.
- The number of molecules dissociating is proportional to the number of x-ray photons hitting that part of the emulsion. The more x-rays hit the emulsion, the more particles dissociate.
What is the active part of the x-ray film made of?
It is a suspension of silver halide crystals in a gelatinous base (called the emulsion).
The halide used is silver-bromide (AgBr) this is light sensitive.
What is a molecule?
Two or more atoms joined together
What is the valency band?
- The last permanently occupied band. (The outermost electron band)
- This governs the chemical properties of the atom, if you change the number of electrons in the valency band, you change the chemical properties of the atom
- The electrons in this band make/break connections with other atoms