Review of ionizing radiation Flashcards
T/F?
Some types of radiation produce damage in biologic tissue, whereas others do not. (i.e. artificial lights)
True
What are the 2 Sources of radiation?
- Natural
- Manmade
What are 3 examples of natural radiation?
- Terrestrial radiation (e.g., radon)
- Cosmic radiation (solar and galactic)
- Internal radiation from radioactive atoms (also called radionuclides)
What are 5 examples of manmade radiation?
- Consumer products containing radioactive material
- Air travel
- Nuclear fuel for generation of power
- Atmospheric fallout from nuclear weapons testing
- Nuclear power plant accidents
What are 2 examples of terrestrial radiation? How is can it get into the body?
- Decay of radioactive materials in the earth (soil, water, vegetation)
-Internal or through skin
What does cosmic radiation come from? What type of radiation is it typically?
-From space (stars)
-Typically gamma rays and beta
What is internal radiation due to?
Ingestion, Inhalation, or natural decay of radioactive materials inside the body
What are examples of internal ingested radiation?
Uranium, thorium
What is an example of natural inhaled radiation?
Uranium
What are examples of internal natural radiation within the body?
K-40, Carbon-14
Where does radon gas typically come from?
Radon gas can come in through the basement (any crack or opening)
What are some examples of man made consumer products with radiation?
Tobacco, building materials, older televisions, airport x ray systems, smoke detectors, construction materials
How much radiation is typically emmitted from nuclear power plants?
Small amounts of radioactive gases and liquids
What form of radiation contributes most to dose now days?
Medical radiation
What is the highest source of medical radiation?
CT
What percentage of CT accounts for radiation dose?
65.2%
What percentage does general Radiography account for dose?
8.7%
What percentage does Nuclear Medicine account for dose?
17.4%
What percentage do interventional proceedures account for dose?
8.7%
What are the two largest sources of artificial radiation?
- Diagnostic medical x-ray
- Nuclear medicine procedures
T/F?
We are unable to control natural background radiation; however, exposure from artificial sources must be limited to protect the general population from further biologic damage
True
What is the ONLY source of radiation that we can control?
Medical radiation
When describing the amount of radiation that an individual recieves, what system do we use? What does this system do?
The BERT system; it emphasizes that radiation is an innate part of our environment
Define Energy:
The ability to do work— to move an object against resistance
What type of energy is radiation?
Kinetic energy
What are the 2 catagories of ionizing radiation?
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Particulate radiation
Define ionization?
Conversion of atoms to ions
What is the mass of an x-ray and gamma photon
Has no mass
What is the charge of an x-ray and gamma photon?
Has no charge
How are electromagnetic waves classified?
- Frequency
- Wavelength
What is wave-particle duality?
This form of radiation can travel through space in the form of a wave but can interact with matter as a particle of energy.
What are some examples of particulate radiation?
Alpha particles, beta particles, neutrons, and protons
T/F?
No ionization occurs when the subatomic particles are at rest
True
What elements are alpha particles emmitted from?
Elements such as uranium and plutonium during the process of radioactive decay
What subatomic particles does an alpha photon contain?
2 protons
2 neutrons
What is the mass and charge of an alpha particle?
Have a large mass (approximately 4 times the mass of a hydrogen atom) and a positive charge twice that of an electron
T/F?
Alpha particles can cause a lot of damage in a small amount of time
True
T/F?
Alpha particles are more penetrating than beta particles.
False; Alpha particles are less penetrating than beta particles (fast electrons).
What type of radiation is the least penetrating? Why is this?
-Alpha particles
-They lose energy quickly as they travel a short distance in biologic matter (i.e., into the superficial layers of the skin)