Radiation Characteristics ch5

These flashcards cover key concepts related to radiation characteristics including kilovoltage and milliamperage effects, inverse square law, half-value layer, and image density and contrast.

What is the effect of kilovoltage on the quality of the x-ray beam?

Kilovoltage affects the density and contrast of the image; an increase in kilovoltage results in a darker image.

What range of kilovoltage is required for dental imaging?

Dental imaging requires a kilovoltage range of 65 to 100 kV.

How does milliamperage influence the x-ray beam?

Milliamperage determines the quantity of the x-ray beam; increasing it results in more x-rays produced.

What is the relationship between exposure time and milliamperage?

There is an inverse relationship; if milliamperage increases, exposure time must decrease to maintain image density.

What is the half-value layer in x-ray imaging?

The half-value layer (HVL) is the thickness of material that reduces the intensity of the x-ray beam by half.

How does kilovoltage affect the contrast of an image?

Low kilovoltage (65-70 kVp) produces high contrast images with many black and white areas, while high kilovoltage (≥90 kVp) results in low contrast images with many shades of gray.

What is the inverse square law?

The inverse square law states that the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source; doubling the distance reduces intensity to one-quarter.

What is the primary unit of measurement for milliamperage?

Milliampere (mA) is the unit of measure used to describe the current flowing through the filament, with 1 mA equal to 1/1000 of an ampere.

What happens to the intensity of the x-ray beam as the distance from the source increases?

As the distance increases, the intensity of the x-ray beam decreases.

What is the significance of voltage in x-ray production?

Voltage is the potential difference that increases the speed of electrons in the x-ray tube, resulting in higher energy x-rays.