Radiography as art
knowing how to think outside the box
Radiography as science
Physical science: nonliving matter
Physics
Biological science: living matter
Anatomy and physiology
Physics studies relationships between matter and energy
matter has mass and occupies space
Energy is force used to do work
unit of energy is joule (J)
Law of conservation of matter and energy
Matter and energy cannot be destroyed, just changed
Matter and energy have a unique relationship
Sum of all matter and energy is constant
Theorized by Albert Einstein in 1905
E=mc^2
Structure of matter
Substances
Simple versus complex
Elements versus compounds
Atoms versus molecules
Mixtures
Two or more substances combined
Simple versus complex
Simple
Element
Atom
Complex
Compound
Molecule
Compound
2 or more elements chemically combined
Molecule
2 or more atoms chemically combined
Molecules
Smallest particle of a compound possessing characteristics of the compound
Consist of two or more atoms that are chemically united
Held together by chemical bonds
Laws of attraction
Atoms are bound to one another by varying degrees of attraction
States: Solid, liquid, gas
The degree of attraction between the atom is what determines the state of the matter
Solid: atoms that are tightly bond together
Gas: atoms that are loosely bond together
Liquid: in between a solid and gas
Ancient greeks found matter was made of 4 components
Air, water, earth, and fire
Dalton (early 1800s)
Separated elements based on mass
Lead to Mendeleev’s development of periodic table of elements
Rutherford (1911)
Created a model of the atom that has a positive nucleus surrounded by cloud of negative electrons
Bohr (1913)
Expanded on Rutherfords model creating a model of atom likened to a miniature solar system
Schrödinger
Foundation of modern physics (quantum physics or wave mechanics)
Atomic structure
Atom is made of 3 parts
Protons, neutrons, and electrons
Nucleus
Small, dense center
Contains nucleons, protons, and neutron
Electrons
Orbit nucleus in a variety of planes
In specific energy states
Cannot be divided into smaller parts
All of x-ray magic start at the atomic level
Basic atomic particles
Subatomic particles (each have their own charge)
Proton
Positive charge; Mass number 1
Neutron
Neutral charge/no charge; Mass number 1
Electron
Negative charge; Very small mass (essentially 0 mass)
Atom
Neutral or electrical stability
When maintained through equal number of protons and electrons
Atomic number (Z#)
Distinguishes elements by number of protons contained in nucleus
Examples:
Hydrogen has 1 proton and its atomic number is 1
Lead has 82 protons and its atomic number is 82
Changing elements
Having an element changed from one element to another does not happen commonly because its not a natural occurrence, the only way to have an element changed is by
Changing the protons or change the Z#
This process happens during radioactive decay
Example: Radioactive decay
Radium (Z# 88) emits alpha particle and decays to Radon (Z# 86)
Other atomic variations
Changing the number of neutrons or electrons does not change the element
Isotopes - if an atom gains or loses neutrons
Ions - if an atom gains or loses electrons
Ionization is the process of adding or removing electrons from an atom
Changing the number of neutrons, changes atomic mass only
Isotopes
an atom gains or loses neutrons
Ions
an atom gains or loses electrons
Ionization
the process of adding or removing electrons from an atom
More on ionization
Addition or removal of electron from atom
X-ray photons can interact with atom within the human body
Results in ejection of electron
Changes charges between atoms
Ionization of atoms causes disruptions in body’s metabolic relationships
Exposing patients to ionizing radiation can produce short-term and long-term effects therefore x-rays requires order from a licensed practitioner
Atomic mass
Concentrated in nucleus (this is because electrons have very little mass)
Mass of proton 1,836 times greater than electron (proton mass #: 1)
Mass of neutron 1,838 times greater than electron (neutron mass #: 1)
Atomic mass number (A#)
Consists of total protons and neutrons
Neglects mass of atom’s electrons
Orbital electrons
All electrons surrounding the nucleus are constantly in motion, they inhabit what is known as shells
Orbital
Defines location where electron might be at any given time in atom
Shells: labeled by letters or numbers
Formerly: K, L, M, N, O, P, Q (slowly fading away for method of labeling)
Now: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Electron capacity = 2n^2 : maximum number of electrons per shell
n = the orbital shell number
Shell 7 = 2(7)^2 = 98
Electron binding energy (Eb)
Energy needed to eject electron from atom (ionization)
Related to how close electron is to nucleus
The closer the electron is from the nucleus, the harder it is to eject
The k shell is closest to nucleus so it will be the hardest to eject from atom it
The p shell is the farthest so it will be easier to eject electrons from that shell
Eb increases as Z# increases
Electron binding energy (Eb)
Determined by two primary factors
Electron proximity to nucleus
Number of protons in nucleus
Unit: electron volts (eV)
Energy of one electron when accelerated by one volt
Understanding the concept of electron binding energy is a key concept in radiology physics because x-rays are capable of ionizing atoms through radiation
Hydrogen, carbon, & oxygen are primary component of human body
Iodine & barium are used as contrast media
Tungsten is used in x-ray tube
Lead is used for radiation protection
Elements that can be ionized by radiation
Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, Iodine, Barium, Tungsten, and Lead
Periodic table of elements
Elements are arranged into horizontal periods & vertical groups
Horizontal periods represent elements with the same # of electron shells
Vertical groups (columns) represent elements with the same # of electrons in the outer most shell
Elements are listed in ascending order based on the atomic #
Not every element has a symbol that related to its name
Atomic number represents the number or protons in the element
Valence
The # of electrons in the outer shell will determine if it gives up electrons or gains electrons
If elements have 4 or less valence electrons, it will lose electrons
If elements have more than 4 valence electrons, it will gain electrons
Valence definition
Chemical behavior of the element is determined by how many electrons are in the outer most shell of an element
Octet rule
Atoms want to abide to this rule which states atoms want to obtain 8 electrons in the outer shell
Work defined
Definition of energy
Ability to do work
Physicist’s definition of work
Work = force X distance
When a force acts upon an object over a distance, energy is expended. This is work.
6 types of energy
Mechanical
Chemical
Heat
Electrical
Nuclear
Electromagnetic
Mechanical energy
The action of physical movement by either machine or by human
2 types: Potential and Kinetic energy
Potential energy: energy that an object has because of its position, object might be at rest but its ready to move
Kinetic energy: the energy of motion, an object in motion can perform work because it is moving
Chemical energy
The energy released from chemical reactions
EX: battery converting chemical energy into electrical energy
EX: body converting chemical energy from food into mechanical energy (movement)
Heat energy AKA thermal energy
The result of moving atoms & molecules
The amount of thermal energy created is dependent on how fast the atoms or molecules move or vibrate within a substance
The faster they move, the ore thermal energy it produces
X-ray production produces high thermal energy
Temperature is the measure of thermal energy and can be measured in Fahrenheit or Celsius
Electrical energy AKA electricity
Results from the movement of electrons in a conductor
EX: lightbulb is a device that converts electric energy into light
Nuclear energy
Obtained by breaking the bonds between particles within the nucleus
Protons & neutrons inhabit the nucleus
EX: nuclear power-plants convert nuclear energy into thermal energy that is converted into electricity
Electromagnetic (EM) energy
Results from electric & magnetic disturbances in space
Travels as waves and has many familiar forms such as microwaves, radio-waves, cosmic waves and x-rays
Electromagnetic (EM) radiation AKA electromagnetic energy (same definition)
The electromagnetic spectrum
Covers all forms of EM radiation
Something that is common to all forms of EM radiation is that their velocity is equal to the speed of light in a vacuum
EM energy is capable of ionizing an atom or molecule when it is measured @ 10 eV or hight
EM radiation is considered to have wave particle duality, this means sometimes an x-ray photon behaves as a wave and sometimes it behaves as a particle
Characteristics of EM Radiation
EM energy travels through space in the forms of waves and these waves create a disturbance
3 characteristics of the wave
Wavelength
Frequency
Amplitude (energy)
Wavelength
The distance between any 2 identical points on a wave within a cycle.
Measured from crest to crest or trough to trough
Crest: top of wave
Trough: bottom of wave
Represented by greek letter (symbol) Lambda
Frequency
The number of times a wave passes a particular point in a given time frame or the number of cycles per second
Unit of frequency is hertz
Represented by greek letter (symbol) is nu
Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional
That means that short wavelengths will have high frequency and long wavelengths will have low frequency
Amplitude (energy)
The intensity or energy (amplitude) Celoof the wave is defined by its maximum height
No greek letter (symbol)
Velocity, Wavelength, and Frequency
A relationship exists between velocity, wavelength, and frequency
Velocity: in m/s
Wavelength: in m
Frequency: in Hz or 1/s
Expressed with the formula: V= Wavelength X Frequency (the picture)
Important thing to know
it is important to know the inverse relationship between wavelength and frequency (inversely proportional) and to know that low frequency wavelengths are at the bottom of the spectrum (radio-waves & microwaves) and high frequency wavelengths are at the top of the spectrum (x-rays)
Particle Theory states
High frequency, high energy EM radiation
Behaves more like particle when contacting matter
Photons energy and frequency directly related (directly proportional)
If frequency doubles, energy doubles
If one goes up, the other goes up
Discovery of x-rays
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered x-rays by accident
Awarded first noble prize for physics due to discovery
Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen is the “RAD FATHER”
X-ray properties
X-rays are highly penetrating, invisible rays that are a form of EM radiation
X-rays are electrically neutral, therefore cannot be affected by electric or magnetic fields
X-rays produce over a wide variety of energies & wavelengths
X-rays release very small amount of heat upon passing through matter
X-rays travels in straight lines
X-rays travel at speed of light (3X10^8 m/s in a vacuum)
X-ray properties continued
X-rays can ionize matter
X-rays can cause fluorescence in certain crystals
X-rays cannot be focused by lens
X-rays can affect photographic film
X-rays can produce chemical and biological changes in matter through ionization and excitation
X-rays can produce secondary and scatter radiation
Atomic Nature of electricity
Electricity concerns the distribution and movement of electrons
Protons - confined to nucleus
Smallest unit of positive charge
Locked within the nucleus
Electrons - Free to move between orbital shells within atom or even more to another atom
Smallest unit of negative charge
Free to move between orbitals and atoms
Electrostatics
The study of the distribution of fixed charges
Defined as fixed charges or electrons at rest
When we study electrostatics, we study the distribution & redistribution of charged electrons
Electrification - electron charge being added or subtracted from another object (negative or positive)
When one object has more electrons than another object, its said to be negatively electrified
Positive electrification is in reference to something with a weak or negative charge or fewer electrons than the object its being compared too
When discussing electricity, the terms negative and positive refer to the relationship between two objects, not their true atomic charges
Laws of electrostatics
Law of repulsion-attraction
Inverse square law
Law of distribution
Law of concentration
Law of movement
Law of repulsion-attraction
This law states that opposite charges attract and like charges repel
Inverse square law
The force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of distance between them
In other words…. as a charges object gets further away the influencing charge decreases because of the increased area it affects
Good ex: Turn flashlight on and stand 6 in from a wall, the area that the light covers is small and the light is bright. Slowly walk backwards, as the flashlight gets further away from the wall, the small dot grows, the area gets larger and light gets dimmer
Law of distribution
Charges reside on external surface of solid conductors
This is the result of the repulsion attraction law
Electrons all negatively charges attempt to repel each other as much as possible and the result is that they spread out creating equal distribution
Charges attempt to repel each other due to negative charges resulting in equal distribution
In non-conductors charges are equally distributed throughout the entire object
Law of concentration
Greater concentration of charge will gather at sharpest area of curvature
On a cylindrical wire, charges are equidistant from each other
The goal is to have equal distribution among the electrons, if too many electrons gather together, they can start to ionize the error around them and things can become unstable
To avoid out-of-control electrons the inferior components of the x-ray tube have parts that are rounded and polished to avoid sharp curves therefore avoiding the gathering of too many electrons
Law of movement
This law states that only negative charges can move along solid conductors. This is because protons are confined to the nucleus and not able to move
Three methods of electrification
Friction
Abrasion of two conductive materials creates a transfer of charges between. the materials
Contact
Physically touching a charged body to a neutral body, creates a transfer of charge
Induction
Bring a charged body in close proximity to a neutral object, without physical contact, creates a charge in the neutral object
Electrification is the
Process of electron charges being added or subtracted from an object
Friction
the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another
Friction occurs when object is rubbed against another and electrons from one object transfer to the other object
This transfer will only take place if each of the objects have a different number of electrons
The object have to move against one another
This principal is better understood when thinking about balloons and hair (opposites attract)
Contact
Electrification by contact occurs when 2 objects touch, permitting electrons to move from one object to another. This process equalizes the charges leaving both objects w/ similar charges after contact
When you drag your feet across the floor, you’re gathering electrons and objects that are neutral like another person or door handle, the contact will cause the electrons to try to transfer to equally distribute themselves. When electrons do transfer its known as static discharge
Induction
the process of electrical fields acting on one another w/o contact
when a strongly charged object and a weakly charged object came close to one another their electrical fields will begin to act on one another before they even touch
When objects are removed from one another before contact, the charges in the weaker charged object redistribute themselves, this temporarily induced movement of charges is what provide energy to electronic devices
Induction is the method used in the operation of electronic devices
Lighting is produced through electrification induction
An electrical field is essentially a force field that surrounds an electrically charges particle and exerts force on all other charged particles that come into its field either attracting or repelling them.
Electrodynamics
Movement of electricity
Electric current is defined as electrons that are predominantly in the same direction, there are certain things that can encourage electrons to move together
a vacuum - space from which air has been removed
When electrons are not bumping into air molecules, they reach high speeds. this is very important in x-ray production
Gases and ionic solutions can cause electrons to migrate
conductors
Conductors
Materials that easily permit electrons to flow
EX: copper and aluminum
Insulators
Materials that inhibit electrons from moving
EX: Plastic, rubber, glass
semiconductors
Materials that have the ability to conduct under some conditions and insulate under others
Electrical circuits
Must have a high charge @ one end and a lower change @ the other end to allow the electrons to move
A basic electrical circuit is a pathway that permits electrons to move in a complete circle from their source through a resisting electrical device and back to the OG source
There are several sources that can assist electrons in moving such as batteries and generators
X-ray tubes get their power from generators
Factors of flow
electrons move from the highest concentration of charge to the lowest
Conventional electric current is described as going from positive to negatives poles
Electron flow is the movement from negative poles to positive poles
Quantity of electrons flowing
Also known as current
Force with which they travel
Potential difference
Opposition to current flow
Impedance or resistance
Direction of travel
Alternating current/Direct current
4 things that influence how electrons flow
Direction of travel
Current
potential difference
resistance
Directions
the direction of travel for electrons will either be direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC)
DC - electrons move in one direction
AC - electrons move in one directions then reverse that direction and move in opposite direction
Current
the quantity or # of electrons flowing
Current is measured in amperage
X-ray machines use milliampered units tp regulate the # of electrons available to produce x-ray photons
Current is measured in
amperage
Potential difference
force or strength of electron flow
unit of potential difference is volt
Electrons move from highest concentration to lowest to keep balance
this means there is excess of electrons at one end and a deficiency at the other end
unit of potential difference is
volt
Resistance
the amount of opposition to the current within the circuit
Unit of resistance is ohm
resistance and conductors go hand in hand
3 important things when choosing a conductor
length
diameter
temperature
The unit of resistance is
ohm
Properties of conductors
temperature - heat creates resistance meaning if the conductor gets hot, there will be a lot of resistance, if the conductor stays cool there will be less resistance
For x-ray purposes, we want less resistance, max # of electrons to flow to create as many x-ray photons we need to make an image
The length of the conductor is directly proportional to the resistance
If the length of conductor doubles, the resistance doubles, same for cutting in half
The diameter of a conductor is inversely related to resistance
If diameter doubles, resistance is cut in half
Ohms law
George ohm discovered the mathematical relationship between current measured in amperes, potential difference measured in voltage, and resistance measured in ohms
V= I X R
V= potential difference (volts)
I= current (amperes)
R= resistance (ohms)
Caluclating power
P=IV
P= power (watts)
I= current (amperes)
V= potential difference (volts)
Math reminders
Multiply mA by .001 because 1 mA= .001 ampere
Multiply kV by 1000 because 1 kV= 1000 volts
Divide watts by 1000 to reduce to kV
Series circuit
A series circuit sends electrons through various resistance devices by linking them one after another in a series
All their components connected end to end
If one fails, the entire circuit fails
Provides constant current
Parallel circuits
a parallel circuit gives each component a individual branch
each component is connected to power source
failure in one does not disturb the entire circuit
Total current
Series circuit
Same in each element, each element same as total circuit
It=I1=I2=I3
Parallel circuit
Sum of all elements equals total circuit
It=I1+I2+I3
Total voltage
series circuit
sum of all elements equals total circuits
Vt=V1+V2+V3
parallel circuit
same in each element, each element same as total circuit
Vt=V1=V2=V3
Total resistance
series circuit
Sum of all elements equals total circuit
Rt=R1+R2+R3
parallel circuit
Sum of reciprocal of each element is inversely proportional to the total
1/Rt= 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
magnetism (moving of atoms)
magnetism (moving of atoms) - when a charged particle is in motion a magnetic force field perpendicular to that motion will be created
Electromagnetism is the study of electricity and magnetism
Magnets have moments and they are classified as orbital or spin
Orbital magnetic moment - atoms move perpendicularly
Spin magnetic moment - atoms spin on their axis
Its a fundamental force and results from the motion of a charged atomic particle
The magnetic field
Magnetic dipoles also referred to as magnetic domain are groups of atoms that have their magnetic moments all in the same direction
Lines of force (aka lines of flux or magnetic fiend) - created when this happens
The more lines of force a magnet has, the stronger it is
Magnets has North and south poles and lines of force always flow from south to north within magnet and north to south outside the magnet (they will never intersect)
Classifications of magnets
Natural
Lodestone - natural magnet that are created when iron oxide remains in the earths magnetic fields for ages and the magnetic dipoles orient themselves in same direction
Artificial permanent
Alnico - Manufactured from still alloy and subjected to strong commercial magnets while its still hot. This allows the magnetic dipoles to orient themselves and when the materials cool, the magnetism stays relatively permanent
Electromagnets
Temporary due to moving electric current
can make a simple electromagnetic from a battery, nail and copper wire
Three laws of magnetism
repulsion-attraction
inverse square law
magnetic poles
Repulsion-attraction
like poles repel; unlike poles attract
like poles repel, opposites attract
Like lines of force repel, unliked lines of force attract
Inverse square law
the force between 2 magnetic fields is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
In other words… the closer an object is to a magnetic field the more influence that magnetic field will have on the object and as objects get further away from the magnetic field. The influence decreases because of the greater area between the magnetic field and the object
Magnetic poles
you cannot have a magnet w/ only one pole
if you continue to cut magnets in half, each piece will have both a north and south poles
Magnetic classification of materials (how certain materials react to magnets)
Permeable - if a material easily becomes magnetized
The ease with which material can be magnetized
Retentivity
The ability of a material to stay magnetized
Four classifications - classified by permeability
Ferromagnetic - highly permeable and attracted to magnetic fields
EX: iron, cobalt, and nickel
Paramagnetic - low permeability and weak attraction to magnetic fields
EX: aluminum
Diamagnetic - repelled by magnetic fields and weakly repelled by ll magnetic fields
EX: beryllium and lead
Nonmagnetic - not affected by magnetic fields and cannot be magnetized
most materials fall under nonmagnetic category
EX: wood, glass, rubber and plastic
The study of magnetism
Hans Orsted
His experiment led to the discovery that any moving charge produces a magnetic field and that magnetic field is always perpendicular to the direction of the moving charge
1820 - orsted discovered the relationship between moving electric charge and magnetism
Flemings hand rules
four categories - these rules are important to knowing how a generator and motor work
hand thumb rules along conductor
Hand thumb rules for solenoid and electromagnet poles
Right hand generator rule
Left hand motor rule
Right hand thumb rule (for a straight conductor)
Applies to conventional current flow
Conventional electrical current flows positive to negative
Left hand thumb rule
applies to electron current flow
electron current flow goes from negative to positive