Physics 3 Flashcards
Why do CT scans use high doses of x-rays?
To distinguish small variations in tissue density.
What does CT stand for?
Computerised axial tomography.
What does CCDs stand for?
Charge-coupled devices.
What are x-rays?
High frequency
Short wavelength
Electromagnetic waves
What is the wavelength of an x-ray the same size as?
The diameter of an atom.
How do CT scans work?
1) The patient is placed inside of a cylindrical scanner.
2) An x-ray beam is fired through the body and picked up by detectors.
3) Detectors and the X-ray tube is rotated during the scan.
4) Then a computer interprets the information from the detectors to form an image.
5) Many 2D images are put together to make a 3D image.
What sort of images do CT scans produce?
Detailed. This makes them good for diagnosing bone fractures.
What is a problem with CT scans?
The patient is exposed to a lot of x-rays.
How do CCDs work?
They are silicon chips which are divided up. They detect x-rays and produce electronic signals which can make high resolution images.
What are the safety measures taken when using x-rays?
Lead aprons.
Stand behind lead screens.
Limit the time you are exposed to x-rays.
What is ultrasound?
Sound with a higher frequency than the range of human hearing.
What is the range of human hearing?
20-20000 Hz
What is partial reflection?
When some wave reflects off a boundary between two media and some of the wave is transmitted. This occurs when a wave passes from one medium into another.
How can ultrasound be used for kidney stones?
An ultrasound beam can be used to concentrate high energy waves at the kidney stone which breaks it up into smaller particles.
How can you use ultrasound for pre-natal scanning?
When an ultrasound wave hits the boundary between the fluid in the womb and the skin of a fetus, some of the wave is rejected back and can be detected.
Out of the following three, which is the safest and which is the most dangerous?
CT scans
Ultrasound
X-rays
Safest= Ultrasound (as they are non ionising).
Most dangerous= CT scans.
Out of the following three, which produces the best quality image and which produces the worst?
CT scans
Ultrasound
X-rays
Best= CT scans. Worst= Ultrasound.
Define refraction.
When a wave changes direction as it enters a different medium.
What causes refraction?
Change in density from one medium to another.
What happens when light enters a more dense medium?
It slows down and bends towards the normal.
What happens when light enters a less dense medium?
It speeds up and bends away from the normal.
What happens if a wave meets a boundary at 90 degrees?
It won’t change direction.
What is refractive index?
The ratio of speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a medium.
What are the two main types of lenses?
Converging (convex)
Diverging (concave)
What is the focal length?
Distance from the centre of the lens to the principal focus.
What are the two types of images?
Real
Virtual
What is a real image?
It can be captured on a screen.
The light rays pass through a point.
What are virtual images?
The light rays don’t actually pass through a point. They only appear to have.
How can you describe an image?
How big it is compared to the object.
Whether it’s real or virtual.
Whether it’s upright or inverted.
What sort of image is produced beyond 2F?
Real.
Inverted.
Smaller.
The image will be between F and 2F on the far side of the lens.
What are CCDs used for?
Detecting x-rays and producing electronic signals which can be turned into a picture.
What image is formed at 2F?
Real.
Inverted.
Same size.
Sit at 2F.
What image is formed between F and 2F?
Real n
Inverted.
Bigger.
Sit beyond 2F.
What image will form between the lens and F?
Virtual.
Right way up.
Bigger.
On the same side as the object.
What image is formed by a diverging lens?
Virtual.
Right way up.
Smaller.
On the same side as the object.
What type of lens do magnifying glasses have?
Converging.
How do magnifying glasses work?
They create a virtual, upright image which is larger and on the same side as the object. In order for this to occur, the object which is being magnified must be closer to the lens than the focal length.
What does the cornea do?
Does most of the eyes focussing.
What is the pupil?
Enables light to enter the eye.
What is the iris?
Made up of muscles that control the size of the pupil and therefore it controls the light intensity entering the eye.
What controls the size of the pupil?
Iris.
What are the ciliary muscles connected to?
The lens.
How are the lens and ciliary muscles connected to each other?
By sensory ligaments.