RT Chapter 4

1. What is attenuation of radiation?

The decrease in intensity as radiation passed through material

2. How does test object thickness variations affect film density on a radiograph?
A thicker object will allow for more attenuation resulting in less film densiy

3. To create a radiograph there must be:

a. a source of radiation
b. test object
c. film, imaging plate, or detector

4. What affect will placing the film too far from the test object have on the image of a discontinuity?

The image will be enlarged

5. What is another name for the shadow that produces geometric unsharpness?

penumbra
6. What 3 items determine the sharpness of an image on a radiograph?

a. the size of the radiation source

b. ratio of the object to film distance
c. source to object distance

7. What is the following formula used to solve?

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹
𝑈𝑈𝑔𝑔 = Geometric unsharpness
𝐷𝐷
 Solve the following problems for geometric unsharpness. (round to three decimal places)

8. What is the geometric unsharpness when performing radiography on an object with a source size of
0.125 in., a source to object distance of 8 in., and an object to film distance of 0.25 in.?

.004"
9. What is the geometric unsharpness when performing radiography on an object with a source size of
0.115 in., a source to object distance of 15 in., and an object to film distance of 1.375 in.?

0.011"
10. What is the geometric unsharpness when performing radiography on an object with a source size of 1/8
in., a source to object distance of 24 in., and an object to film distance of 0.875 in.?

0.005"
11. What is the size of the source when performing radiography on an object with a Ug of 0.025 in., a
source to object distance of 8 in., and an object to film distance of 0.25 in.?

0.8"
12. What is the size of the source when performing radiography on an object with a Ug of 0.015 in., a
source to object distance of 16 in., and an object to film distance of 0.75 in.?

0.32"
13. What is the source to object distance when performing radiography on an object with a source size of
0.125 in., a Ug of .022 in., and an object to film distance of 0.125 in.?

0.7"
14. What is the source to object distance when performing radiography on an object with a source size of
0.110 in., a Ug of .011 in., and an object to film distance of 1.125 in.?

11.25"
15. What is the object to film distance when performing radiography on an object with a source size of
0.125 in., a source to object distance of 8 in., and Ug of .028 in.?

1.79"
16. What is the object to film distance when performing radiography on an object with a source size of
0.112 in., a source to object distance of 20 in., and Ug of .018 in.?

3.21"
17. What 3 factors would achieve optimum geometrical sharpness of a radiographic image?

a. Small radiation source

b. Large source to test object distance
c. Small test object to film distance

18. What results if the radiation beam is not directed perpendicular to the film/IP/detector plane?

The image is distorted

19. In what spectrum do X-rays and gamma rays overlap?

The electromagnetic spectrum

20. List 5 characteristics of X-rays and gamma rays.

1) Their wavelength is inversely proportional to their energy

2) They possess no electrical charge and no rest mass
3) They travel in straight lines
4) They travel in a vacuum at the velocity of light
5) They can penetrate matter depending on the wavelength of radiation and nature of the matter being penetrated

21. What 2 terms is bremsstrahlung radiation also known as?

braking or white radiation

22. In an X-ray tube, what interacts with matter to produce X-rays?

High energy electrons

23. What does the anode side of an X-ray tube contain and what charge (+/-) does it have?

A target of dense material, usually tungsten

24. What does the cathode side of an X-ray tube contain and what charge (+/-) does it have?
A wire filament. Negative charge
characteristic rays and
25. Radiation from an X-ray tube consists of the ____________________

continuous
______________________ rays.
 Continuous
26. ____________________ rays are most commonly used in radiography.

27. An increase in applied voltage increases the energy (quantity of X-rays), but of more importance to the
penetrating power
radiographer is the generation of the higher energy rays with greater ____________________.

28. Fill in the following table with the correct information.

Low Amperage High Amperage

Low Kilovoltage Low-intensity soft x-rays high-intensity soft x-rays
High Kilovoltage Low-intensity hard x-rays High-intensity hard x-rays

intensity
29. Variation in tube current varies the ___________________ of the beam, but the spectrum of
wavelengths produced remains unchanged.

30. What are the 3 types of scatter?

1) Internal
2) Sidescatter
3) Backscatter
31. List six methods a radiographer can employ to reduce or eliminate.

1) Lead screens
2) Diaphragms
3) Collimators
4) Cones
5) Masking materials
6) Area shielding equipment