Physics Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is atomic number and atomic mass?
AN= Proton # AM= Protons and Neutrons
What is ionization?
Neutral atom loses electron and becomes charged and unstable.
What is the basics of the X-ray tube (anode, cathode, tungsten, filiment,)
Filament (tungsten wire) generates electrons at cathode (-), shoots at anode (+) (tungsten target).
What is the focusing cup?
Focuses electrons from filament into narrow beam directed at anode focal spot.
What is the anode wrapped in? Why?
Wrapped in copper to act as a heat sink.
Why is tungsten used?
Higher melting point, high atomic number (dense), high conductivity, low vapor pressure.
What is radiation?
Transmission of energy through space and matter.
What is particulate radiation?
Large unstable atoms breaking apart and shooting smaller particles that ionize other things.
What is Electromagnetic radiation (EMR)? shorter wavelength equals what kind of energy?
Movement of energy through space as a combination of electric and magnetic fields.
Shorter wavelength=higher energy.
How is EMR generated?
Velocity of an electrically charged particle is altered.
What is Bremsstrahlung radiation? 2 types?
Sudden stopping or slowing of electrons.
- Electron directly hits atom nucleus, turns into x-ray (photon)
- Electron flies close to nucleus, veers off course, and released x-ray photons.
What is characteristic radiation?
Electron hits and ejects inner electron of atom. Electrons move down to fill that shell and release x-ray (photons).
What is voltage? Measured in?
Force that pushed electrons. determined by potential difference between two points. Measured in kVp.
what is filament voltage? Want it high or low?
Foltage across the filament wire. Want it low to not burn it out and create electron cloud.
What is current? Measured in?
Current is # of electrons flowing. Measured in mA.
What is filament current? Tube current?
FC= # of electrons in filament. TC= # of e- from anode to cathode.
what does the power supply do?
Generates high potential difference from cathode to anode.
What does a step-up transformer do? Used for?
Increases voltage from incoming power source. Used to increase V from cathode to anode.
Step down transformer does what? Used for?
Decreases voltage from power source. Used for filament.
Energy in beam is controlled by? # of photons?
E= kVp #= kVp and mA
What is increasing exposure doing?
Increases exposure time increases # of photons.
Increase tube voltage (kvP) does what?
Increases photons and their energy level.
What is inherent and added filtration?
- Inherent= materials photons encounter as they travel from focal spot to detector.
- Added= Aliminum discs added .
what does the collimation do?
Limits x-ray exposure and reduces scatter.
