Image Characteristics

Question 1

X-Ray Quality

Answer 1

average energy and penetrating power of the beam; controlled by kV (dental = 65-100kV)

Question 2

Exposure time

Answer 2

measured in impulses, 1 impulse = 1/60 second

Question 3

kV Peak Rule

Answer 3

increase kVp by 15, decrease exposure time by 1/2.

decrease kVp by 15, increase exposure time by 2x.

Question 4

3 Exposure Factors

Answer 4

time, mA, kVp

Question 5

Density

Answer 5

overall darkness of film; controlled by mA; mA + exposure time have inverse relationship

Question 6

Constrast

Answer 6

how sharply dark/light areas are separated; high = few shades of gray (low kVp) / low = many shades of gray (high kVp)

Question 7

Short-Scale Contrast

Answer 7

black/white densities visible; high contrast

Question 8

Long-Scale Contrast

Answer 8

many shades of gray; low contrast

Question 9

Radiolucent

Answer 9

dark/black; pulp. low atomic #

Question 10

Radiopaque

Answer 10

light/white; enamel, bone. high atomic #

Question 11

mAs

Answer 11

mA x s = mAs

Question 12

Inverse Square Law

Answer 12

distance and intensity have inverse relationship; exposure time follows distance change

Question 13

Geometric Characteristics

Answer 13

sharpness, magnification, distortion - must be minimized for an accurate image

Question 14

Penumbra

Answer 14

zone of unsharpness along edges of images

Question 15

Sharpness influences

Answer 15

[detail/resolution] affected by motion

Question 16

Magnification influences

Answer 16

target-film distance, object-receptor distance

Question 17

Distortion influences

Answer 17

object-receptor alignment, beam angulation