MEDICAL PHYSICS QUESTIONS

a. Explain the following forms of energy and the useful role each of them plays in production of a good radiograph: i. Potential energy ii. Kinetic energy iii. Heat energy iv. Chemical energy v. Nuclear energy. b. Explain concisely the purposes served by the presence of oil surrounding the glass envelope of a diagnostic X-ray tube. c. Give reasons for the choice of tungsten being used as X-ray filament in preference to other materials.

POTENTIAL ENERGY
This is a property of an object in a force field. In this case, it is electrical force field as electrons are charged particles. The force(F) exerted on a charged particle by a second charged particle is described by the equation: F= K q1q2 r2 where q1 and q2 are the charges on the two particles, r is the distance between the two particles and k is a constant.

It is the energy possessed by electrons by virtue of their positions. The thermionically emitted electrons from the filament (cathode) come to the surface from the various energy levels where they were bounded and without these electrons emitted, no X-rays could be produced.

If electron changes position with respect to the force field, its potential energy changes. Electrical potential(voltage) is the difference in the electrical potential energy of an electrical charge at two positions, divided by the charge: Vab = Epa - Epb q where Epa is the electrical potential energy of the charge at location a, Epb is the electrical potential energy of the same charge at location b and q is the amount of charge.

Potential energy is useful in determining the final kinetic energy of a charged particle moving between two electrodes through a vacuum (X-ray tube).

KINETIC ENERGY
This is the energy possessed by a body as a result of its motion and it is defined by: Ek =1/2 mv2 where Ek is the kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object in motion and v is the velocity of the object in motion.

 The thermionically emitted electron must be accelerated towards the target (anode) in which it is suddenly stopped to produce the Xrays with which a radiograph is produced.

According to the principle of conservation of energy, the gain in kinetic energy of the charged particle is equal to its loss of potential energy: Ekfinal Ekinitial = Epinitial Epfinal i.e Ekfinal = qV (Ekinitial =0) For example, the kinetic energy of an electron, initially at rest, which is accelerated through a potential difference of 70 kilovolts is Ek= qV=(1 electron charge)(70kV) = 70 KeV [ Electron Volt is the kinetic energy developed by an electron accelerated across a potential difference of 1 V].

HEAT ENERGY
Heat energy is the energy of the movement of atoms and molecules of any material as a result of temperature differences only. Heat is used to dry wet processed radiographic films in the drying chamber before it could be read by the radiologist.

CHEMICAL ENERGY
This is the energy that is locked up in chemical compounds and released under certain circumstances. To make the latent image formed on the exposed radiographic film visible, it requires chemical process of development (chemical reaction) involving release of chemical energy. The developer is a water-based solution containing chemicals that will reduce the exposed silver halide crystals to metallic silver without changing the unexposed silver halide crystals.

Chemical components Hydroquinone Phenidone Sodium carbonate Sodium sulfite Potassium bromide Glutaraldehyde Water

Functions Reducing agent Reducing agent Maintains proper pH Preservative Restrainer Hardener Solvent

The fixer stops the action of developer and removes the unexposed silver halide crystals from the emulsion: Chemical component Functions Ammonium thiosulfate Clearing agent Acetic acid Maintains proper pH Potassium alum Hardener Sodium sulfite Preservative Water Solvent

NUCLEAR ENERGY
This is the large amount of energy that is locked up in the heart of the atom- the nucleus. Nuclear energy does not play any role at all in the production of a good radiograph as no Xray energy is produced from the nucleus.

b. The purposes served by the presence of oil surrounding the glass envelope of a diagnostic X-ray tube are: i.It acts as a coolant by transferring heat from the insert(cathode, anode, rotor assembly and support structures sealed in a glass under a high vacuum) to the housing surface which encloses and supports the other components unto the surrounding air so that the heat is eventually distributed through the whole X-ray room by convection. ii. It attenuates X-ray beam (inherent filtration).

iii. Since there is usually a high potential difference (between 40-150 KV) between the filament and target of a diagnostic X-ray tube, the oil then provides sufficient electrical insulation between these two structures.

c. The reasons for the choice of tungsten being used as X-ray filament in preference to other materials are as follows: i. It is characterized by high atomic number (Z=74). ii. It has a high melting point (3,380 degree centigrade) iii. It maintains its strength at high temperatures with copious thermionic emission. iv. It has a relatively low rate of evaporation.

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