Formulas and Equations

15% Rule Increasing kVp by 15% = increasing mAs by 50%. Therefore, to maintain
radiographic density, an increase in kVp of 15% requires a 50% mAs decrease.
This rule may be applied when Reciprocity Law can no longer be applied
(unable to further reduce exposure time).
Remember: If all other variables remain constant, increasing kVp will
decrease contrast (provide more shades of gray) and decreasing kVp
will increase contrast (provide fewer shades of gray)

Alpha Decay Equation ex.

In this process, the nucleus of the decaying element emits an alpha particle; which is essentially a helium
nucleus. The decaying element loses 2 poistive charges transforming it into the element that appears on the ta
two places before it, and it also loses a mass of 4 (2 protons & 2 neutrons). Sometimes but not always, a ga
ray is also rele

Beta Minus Decay Equation

In this process, a neutron converts to a proton and emits a beta- particle, the decaying element gains a positiv
charge, moving it up the periodic table one place (i.e. trasforming it to the next element on the table), and gai
zero mass.
 Formulas and Equations

Compton Effect Ei = Es + (EB + EKE) Energy (E) of Incident(i) = E scatter(s) + E binding(B) + E kenetic energy(KE

Coulomb (C) 1 C = 6.25 x 1018 electrons

Curie (Ci) 1 Ci = 3.7×1010 decays per second (measure of radioactivity)

SI unit = Becquerel (Bq)
1 Ci = 37 Bq (1 Bq = 1 dps)

Einstein's Theory of (Special) Relativity Is a theory of the structure of spacetime.

One of the resulatant consequences of this theory is that
energy & mass are equivalent & transmutable

E= mc2 E = energy in J
m = mass in kg
c = speed of light in m/s

Electromagnetic Wave Equation c=f ｽ f= c ｽ=c

ｽ f
c= speed of light (3 x 108m/s ｽ = wavelength f = frequency (Hz)

Electron volt (eV) The electron volt (eV) is the smallest energy unit. It and its multiples, kiloelectron volt (keV)
& megaelectron volt (MeV), are used to express the energy of individual electrons & photons.
The energy of individual light photons is in the range of a few electron volts. X-ray & gamma
photons used in imaging procedures have energies ranging from approximately fifteen
to several hundred kiloelectron volts.
1 J = 6.24 x 1018 eV 1 J = 107 ergs
Erg (erg) A unit of energy and mechanical work in the centimetre-gram-second (CGS)
It is equal to one gram centimetre-squared per second squared (g·cm²/s²).
1 erg = 10−7 J 1 erg = 6.2415 ×102 GeV = 6.2415 ×1011 eV
 Formulas and Equations

Intensity (I) (see Inverse Square Law) The primary factor contrubuting to radiographic density.
I = quantity = mAs (mAs and I are directly proportional (doubling mAs doubles I and 1/2 mAs = 1/2 I).

1) to calculate a change in I if distance (d) has been changed:

I2 = (I1 x d12) / d22 or: mAs2 = (mAs1 x SID12) / SID22

I1 = d22
I2 d12
2) Exposre Maintenance Formula (to maintain I when d has changed):

I2 = (I1 x d22) / d12 or: mAs2 = (mAs1 x SID22) / SID12

I1 = d12
I2 d22
3) I is directly proportional to kVp2: The direct & exponential relationships can
be summerized as:
I1 = kVp12 or: I2 = I1 / kVp12 I1 = mAs1 = d22 = kVp12
I2 kVp22 kVp22 I2 mAs2 d12 kVp22

Inverse Square Law The intensity of a a beam at a distance from the point source is inversely
proportional to the square of the distance

I1/I2 = d22/d12 or: mAs1/mAs2 = SID22/SID12

Joule (J) J is the fundamental unit of energy in the metric International System of Units (SI). It is the
largest unit of energy encountered in radiology. 1J = 1 watt/sec
 Formulas and Equations

SI unit of energy measuring heat, electricity and mechanical work.

One joule is:
- The work done, or energy expended, by a force of one newton moving one meter
along the direction of the force. This quantity is also denoted as "newton meter (Nm)
1J - 1 Nm 1J = 1kg x m2
s2
One joule is also:
- The work required to move an electric charge of one coulomb through an
electrical potential difference of one volt; or one coulomb volt, (CV)
- The work done to produce power of one watt continuously for one second; or
one watt second (Ws). Thus a kilowatt hour is 3,600,000 joules or 3.6 megajoules
- The kinetic energy of a 2kg mass moving at a velocity of 1 m/sec. The energy is
linear in the mass but quadratic in the velocity, being given by E = ½mv².
- The potential energy of a 1 kg mass at an elevation of 1 m above a reference point
in a gravitational field of 1 m/s².

Kinetic Energy (KE) 1/2 mv2 m = mass in kg

v = velocity in m/s
KE is expressed in joules (J)

Magnification Factor image the ratio between the actual size of the image and the displayed size on the radiograph
actual

rad (Roentgen Absorbed Dose)

(measure of patient exposure, simply the actual amount of radiation absorbed)
dose causing 100 ergs of energy to be absorbed by one gram of matter or
0.01 joule of energy to be absorbed per kilogram of matter

1 rad = 100 ergs SI unit = Gray (G)

g 100 rads = 1 G
 Formulas and Equations

rem (Roentgen Equivalent Man)

(measure of radiation absorbed taking biological effects into account)
the product of rad and the biological efficiency of the radiation

Quality factors: Dx =1 SI unit = Sievert (Sv)

Neutron = 10 100 rem = 1 Sv
Alpha = 20

Reciprocity Law mA and time are reciprocal (mAs = mA x s). mAs determines radiographic density
and any combination of mA and s will procuce the same radiographic density
(as long as mAs remains constant)
ex: 10 mAs = 100 mA x .10s, = 200 mA x .05s, = 300 mA x .033s

Photoelectric Effect (Probability of)

(1/E)3
where E = Energy of x-ray
ALSO: direct proportion to Z3

Planck's Quantum Equation
Formulates a direct relationship between energy (E) and frequency (f),
that light is emitted & received in discrete amounts & can be calculated,
matter (atoms/molecules) exsist only in discrete energy states, & light is
absorbed as electrons move from one discrete energy state to another
(wave functions rather than orbits). The theory also describes the particle
wave duality of light (i.e. it behaves as a wave or a particle depending
on the experiment).

E=hf where h= Planck's constant 4.15 x 10-15 ev

or
6.63 x 10-34 J
 Formulas and Equations

E= hc describes the inverse relationship between E and

ｽ wavelength (ｽ)

Roentgen (R) (measure of expose in air)

1 R =2.08 x 109 ion pair/cm3

which results in:
2.57 x 10-4 C/kg
Speed of light (c) 3 x 108 m/s = 186,282 miles/s

Watt (W) The SI derived unit of power, equal to one joule of energy per second.
It measures a rate of energy use or production

1W = 1 J or 1 Nm or 1 kg x m2
s s s3