Diagnostic X-ray production (Ch 2)

Voltage (V):

The speed with which the electrons in the electric current transfer energy along the circuit.

High voltage (kV) produces

short-wavelength/high-frequency, highly penetrating x-rays.

Current (I):

Amperage is the unit used to measure the electric current that activates the x-ray tube. (In radiography, we use milliamperage.)

Resistance (R):

Resistance is the factor that slows the current as it travels through a wire.

A wire that is large in diameter will have ____resistance. A wire that is small in diameter will have ____ resistance

• low

• high

Time:

Controls the length of time that the x-rays are produced. This is determined by the operator selection on the control panel.

kV

kilovoltage

mA

milliamperes

Voltage controls the :

penetrability of the x-ray beam

The timer on the x-ray generator is simply the time over which the radiation is _______

produced

Power (Watt) =

Voltage (V) × Current (A)

The x-ray unit consists of three component parts:

1. The high-voltage transformer

2. The x-ray generator (control panel)

3. The x-ray tube

The x-ray tube consists of a glass enclosure that houses a _____ and an _____.

• cathode

• anode

The cathode is a thin tungsten wire that is

coiled and placed in a focusing cup

Most small-animal x-ray units have one______ exposure switch . The ______ activates the rotating anode and boosts the filament circuit. The _____ activates the exposure, and x-rays are produced.

two-stage

• first stage

• second stage

A transformer is used to step up or step down electricity. It receives:

High voltage and low amperage

In x-ray technology, potential difference refers to the difference between:

The charge between the cathode and the anode of the x-ray tube

The purpose of a transformer is to:

Increase the voltage in a step-up transformer

Rectifiers are used in the x-ray circuit to ensure that:

The current flows through the x-ray tube in a continuous direction

The high-frequency x-ray unit is _________ efficient than a/an __________ unit.

more, single-phase

The cathode in the x-ray tube is a coiled _________. It is made of ______________.

wire, tungsten

The filament circuit is used to:

Send voltage to the cathode to heat it

The anode rotates in order to:

Dissipate the heat emitted in the production of x-rays

X-rays are produced when ________ electrons are attracted to _______________ by an electromagnetic force.

negative, a positive anode

Heat builds up on the anode and must be dissipated by:

A stationary anode and a tungsten alloy target