X-Ray Tube Controls (2)

Question 1

Three principal controls

Answer 1

• Milliamperage (ma)
• KiloVoltage (Kv)
• Timer

Question 2

What does the Milliamperage (ma) Control?

Answer 2

Controls the amount of electricity going to the negative Cathode

• AC or DC current
• AC is most used and can be altered by inverters and rectifiers

Question 3

What does the KiloVoltage (Kv) Control?

Answer 3

Controls the potential electrical energy (pressure) going between the Cathode and the Anode..

• The voltage that moves the electrons through the circuit.
• Higher voltage, faster movement

Question 4

What does the Timer Control?

Answer 4

Control the time it required for an X-Ray shot, or length of time an X-Ray Tube is energized.
- Longer the generation the more penetrating the X-Rays/ more photons will reach film

Question 5

Increasing Amperage does what?

Answer 5

Increases the # of electrons boiled off around filament in Cathode and intensity of the X-Ray beam.
- Won’t affect energy of penetration ability of the X-Ray

Question 6

Increasing KiloVoltage does what?

Answer 6

Increasing Kv, increases the electric potential between the Cathode and Anode, forcing electrons to jump the gap faster
- Greater speed greater kinetic energy and more energy to convert when striking the tungsten target on the Anode.