Radiography Exposure Settings

Question 1

What does kilovoltage (kV) determine in radiography?

Answer 1

Kilovoltage affects the quality and penetrating power of the X-ray beam.

Question 2

How does increasing kilovoltage (kV) affect radiographs?

Answer 2

Increases the contrast of the radiograph

Higher kV is used for tissues with high atomic numbers, high density, or significant thickness.

Question 3

What does milliamperage (mA) control in the X-ray tube?

Answer 3

The degree of heating of the filament and the number of electrons produced

Increasing mA affects the quantity of X-rays produced.

Question 4

How does altering mA affect the radiograph?

Answer 4

Alters the blackening of the radiograph

Higher mA results in more intense X-ray beams.

Question 5

What does the time (s) setting indicate in radiography?

Answer 5

The total time that kV is applied across the tube head

This indicates the duration of electron movement and collision with the target area.

Question 6

How does increasing time (s) affect the number of X-rays produced?

Answer 6

Increases the number of X-rays produced

Increasing time is functionally similar to increasing mA.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: Increasing the mA alters the _______ of X-rays or intensity of the X-ray beam.

Answer 7

QUANTITY

Question 8

Fill in the blank: The quality of the X-ray beam is controlled by _______.

Answer 8

kilovoltage (kV)

Question 9

How is mAs calculated?

Answer 9

mAs = mA x s (time)

Question 10

What is the rule of thumb?

Answer 10

If you increase the kV by 10 you can half the mAs.