Comprehensive Physics of Radiation, X-Rays, and Atomic Interactions

Matter

Anything with mass occupies space. When altered, energy is produced.

Atom

Fundamental unit of matter. Identity determined by nucleus.

Nucleus

Composed of protons and neutrons. Most of the atom is empty space.

Ionization

An atom that gains or loses an electron becomes unbalanced and is called an ion.

Radiation

Emission and propagation of energy through space or a substance in the form of waves or particles.

Radioactivity

Process by which certain atoms or elements undergo spontaneous disintegration or decay to attain a more balanced nuclear state.

Particulate Radiation

Tiny particles that have mass and travel in straight lines at high speeds.

Electrons

Beta particles are fast-moving electrons emitted from the nucleus of radioactive atoms.

Alpha Particles

Emitted from the nucleus of heavy metals, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons without electrons.

Protons

Accelerated hydrogen nuclei with a mass of 1 and a charge of +1.

Neutrons

Accelerated particles with a mass of 1 and no charge.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Propagation of wavelike energy without mass through space or matter, classified as ionizing or non-ionizing.

Photon

Bundles of energy without mass or weight that travel at the speed of light and move in a straight line.

Wavelength

Distance between the crest of one wave and the crest of the next.

Frequency

Number of wavelengths that pass a certain point in a given length of time.

X Radiation

High-energy ionizing electromagnetic radiation; X-rays are weightless bundles of energy without charge that travel in waves.

X-ray Machines

Control panel contains on/off switch, indicator light, control devices, time, kilovoltage, and milliamperage.

Filament Circuit

Regulates flow of electrical current to the filament, controlled by milliamperes settings.

High Voltage Circuit

Requires 65,000 to 100,000 volts to generate X-rays, controlled by kilovoltage settings.

Step-down Transformer

Used to decrease voltage from the incoming 110 or 220 line voltage to 3 to 5 volts used by the filament circuit.

Step-up Transformer

Used to increase incoming voltage to 65,000 to 100,000 volts used by the high voltage circuit.

Rectification

Conversion of alternating current to direct current.

Amperage

Measurement of the number of electrons moving through a conductor, measured in amperes (A) or milliamperes (mA).

Voltage

Measurement of electrical force that causes electrons to move from a negative pole to a positive one, measured in volts (V) or kilovolts (kV).

Thermionic Emission

Release of electrons when the tungsten filament is heated.

Characteristic Radiation

Produced when a high-speed electron dislodges an inner shell electron from a tungsten atom, causing ionization.

Photoelectric Effect

X-ray photon collides with tightly bound inner shell electron, giving up all energy to eject it from its orbit.

Compton Scatter

X-ray photon deflected from its path during passage through matter, losing energy and continuing in a different direction.

Coherent Scatter

X-ray photon that has its path altered by matter; low-energy X-ray photon interacts with outer shell electrons.