Notebook 13

Quality: measurement of the penetrating ability of the x-ray numerically represented as HVL (half-value
layer).
-Penetrability: describes the distance an x-ray beam travels in matter. The higher the energy
photon, the farther it travels and vice versa.
a.Highly penetrating: hard x-rays
b.Low penetrating: soft x-rays
-Half-value layer: thickness of absorbing material needed to reduce the x-ray intensity
(quantity) to half its original value.
Quantity: measurement of the number of x-ray photons in the useful beam measured in Roentgen.

Qualitative (R)
kVp (kilovoltage): affect quality because the
electrons have more energy resulting in greater
penetrability.
-primary controller of x-ray contrast
-15% rule: increase in kVP by 15% will double
mAs/exposure or if decreased by 15%, the exposure
reduced to .

Quantitative
kVp (kilovoltage): affects quantity because as kVp
increases, more electron interactions occur at
target.
-primary controller of x-ray contrast
-directly proportional to the square of the ratio of
change in kVp. kVp doubles photons increase by
4 times.

Filtration-not controlled by radiographer: affects

quality because it blocks low energy photons
creating a stronger current.

Filtration-not controlled by radiographer: affects

quantity because less photons being emitted.
Distance: affects quantity because the farther the
source is the less intense the x-ray beam is.
-inversely proportional to intensity of the beam and
IR exposure.
-Exposure maintenance formula: formula used to
compensate for IR exposure changes when distance
is changed. Direct square law
-I1/I2 = (D1)2 /(D2)2
mAs (milliamperage-second): affect quantity
because the more mAs there are, the more
current/exposure time.
-primary controller for x-ray quantity, film density.
-mA X s = mAs
-directly proportional to x-ray exposure.
-Reciprocity law: density/IR exposure is unchanged
if intensity/duration of exposure remain the same.

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References
1. Carlton, R. R., Adler, A. M., & Frank, E. D. (2006). Principles of radiographic imaging: An art and a
science. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.

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