Physics of Radiation Flashcards
Wilhelm Roentgen
discovered radiation in 1895
How did Roentgen discover radiation?
He:
- created a vacuum tube, electrical current, and screens; noticed the green lights coming from the screen and named those rays “x-rays” (with “x” as the symbol for the unknown)
- demonstrated that shadowed images can be recorded permanently on photographic plates by placing objects between the tube and the plate
- exposed his wife’s hand for 15 minutes and saw the appearance of bones. This image is considered the first radiograph of the human body (you could see her ring as well)
Otto Walkhoff
created the first dental radiograph in 1895
- placed a glass photographic plate in his mouth and exposed himself for 25 minutes
Edmund Kells
created the first practical radiograph in dentistry in 1896
Atom
Smallest component of an element
- Consists of a nucleus and orbiting electron(s)
Molecule
two or more atoms combined
- molecule is the smallest particle of substance that retains the property of the original substance
Nucleus
Positively-charged central core of an atom consisting of protons and neutrons
Contains nearly all of the atom’s mass
Protons
+ charge
Neutrons
no electrical charge
Electrons
(-) charge
Orbiting shells
three-dimensional structures around the nucleus that contain electrons
each shell can contain only a specific number of electrons
Shells are designated to which capital letters?
KLMNOPQ
The closer the orbit is to the nucleus, the — its binding energy (stronger bond)
Higher
What letter shell interaction has the highest binding energy and is the most useful for medical imaging?
K Shell
In order to remove an orbital electron from its shell?
the energy equal to or greater than the binding energy of a specific shell is needed
Radiation
propagation of energy through space in the form of particles or waves
T/F: Any exposure, no matter how small, doesn’t have the potential to cause harm
False, it does
Ionization
process by which an atom gains or loses electrons to become a negatively- or positively-charged atom
Ion
charged particle that is either positive or negative
Ion pair
positive ion (atom missing an electron) and a negative ion (ejected electron)
Ionizing radiation
any type of radiation that is high in energy and is capable of producing ions
What type of radiations are formed because of an ionizing process?
Particulate and electromagnetic radiation
Particulate radiation
involves particles that have a mass and travel in straight lines at high speeds
may have a charge, except for neutrons
include neutrons, protons, electrons, Beta particles, and Gamma particles
Can particulate radiation reach the speed of light?
No
Electromagnetic radiation
electric and magnetic fields of energy that move through space in a wave-like motion
includes radio waves, microwaves, visible light, UV rays, x-rays, and gamma rays (from low to high energy)
Only high energy waves have?
Ionizing capacity
X rays
powerful invisible rays that are capable of penetrating substances
travels at the speed of light and has no mass or charge
Wavelength
distance between the peaks or crests of one wave to another (measured in horizontal length)
determines the energy of the radiation
Longer wavelength
low frequency
has less energy and thus less ability to penetrate objects
Shorter wavelength
high frequency
has more energy and more ability to penetrate objects
X-ray Characteristics
Invisible
No mass or weight
No electrical charge
Travel at the speed of light
Travel in a wave-like motion
Short wavelength of high frequency
Cause ionization
Can produce images
Can cause biological changes in cells
what is first in the sequence of x-ray production?
An electrical current travels through the step-down transformer to the cathode and reduces the voltage from 110/220 to 3-5 volts