Test Bank for Essentials of Radiographic Physics and Imaging, 3rd Edition, James Johnston,

Test Bank for Essentials of Radiographic Physics

and Imaging, 3rd Edition, James Johnston,

To download the complete and accurate content document, go to:

https://testbankbell.com/download/test-bank-for-essentials-of-radiographic-physics-an
d-imaging-3rd-edition-james-johnston/

Visit TestBankBell.com to get complete for all chapters

Chapter 06: X-Ray Production
Johnston/Fauber: Essentials of Radiographic Physics and Imaging, 3rd Edition

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. During x-ray production the electrons penetrate the target approximately

a. 0.2 mm
b. 0.5 mm
c. 2 mm
d. 5 mm
ANS: B
Electrons travel approximately 0.5 mm into the target during x-ray production.

2. X-rays are produced by

a. characteristic interactions
b. uncharacteristic interactions
c. bremsstrahlung interactions
d. characteristic and bremsstrahlung interactions
ANS: D
X-rays are produced by both characteristic and bremsstrahlung interactions between the
filament electron and the tungsten atom.

3. When filament electrons enter the anode target, they interact with
a. outer shell electrons of tungsten atoms
b. inner shell electrons of tungsten atoms
c. outer shell electrons of copper atoms
d. inner shell electrons of copper atoms
ANS: A
When filament electrons enter the anode target, they interact with the outer shell electrons of
tungsten atoms.

4. At the anode target, how much of the energy from filament electrons is lost as heat and how
much will result in x-ray production.
a. 1% energy lost as heat ; 99% result in x-rays
b. 99% energy lost as heat; 1% result in x-rays
c. 0% energy lost as heat; 100% result in x-rays
d. 100% energy lost as heat; 0% result in x-rays
ANS: B
At the anode target, 99% of the energy from filament electrons is lost as heat and 1% will
result in x-ray production.

5. When a filament electron knocks out a K shell electron from the tungsten atom, it leads to
a. a brems x-ray photon
b. a 39.5 keV energy x-ray photon
c. a characteristic x-ray photon
d. none of these
 ANS: C
Characteristic x-ray photons are the result of a filament electron knocking out a K shell
electron.

6. Characteristic x-ray photons result

a. when an outer-shell electron is knocked out
b. when an inner-shell electron is knocked out
c. when outer-shell electrons fill the vacancy in an inner shell
d. when an outer-shell electron is knocked out and when outer-shell electrons fill the
vacancy in an inner shell
e. when an inner-shell electron is knocked out and when outer-shell electrons fill the
vacancy in an inner shell
ANS: E
To produce characteristic radiation, outer-shell electrons must drop into an inner-shell
vacancy created by the filament electron knocking out the orbital electron.

7. The energy of the characteristic x-ray photon depends on

a. the binding energy of the inner-shell electron
b. the energy level of the filament electron
c. the shell of the electron that is dropping into the vacancy
d. all of these
ANS: D
Characteristic radiation depends on the energy level of the incoming electron, the binding
energy of the electron that is knocked out and the shell of the orbital electron that drops into
the vacancy.

8. A filament electron removes a K shell electron and an M shell electron fills the vacancy.
The K shell binding energy is 69.5 keV and the M shell binding energy is 2.8 keV. What is
the energy of the K-characteristic photon produced?
a. 2.8 keV.
b. 57.4 keV.
c. 66.7 keV.
d. 69.5 keV.
ANS: C
The energy of the photon produced is determined by subtracting the binding energy of the
outer shell electron from the binding energy of the inner shell electron (69.5 – 2.8 = 66.7).

9. The process of a series of outer-shell electrons filling inner-shell vacancies right after the
other is called
a. characteristic tumble
b. characteristic x-rays
c. characteristic sequence
d. characteristic cascade
ANS: D
The process of a series of outer-shell electrons filling inner-shell vacancies right after the
other is called characteristic cascade.
10. Bremsstrahlung means
a. electron
b. x-ray production
c. braking radiation
d. all of these
ANS: C
Bremsstrahlung is the German word for “braking” or “slowing down” radiation.

11. During the bremsstrahlung interaction, the filament electron

a. knocks out an inner-shell electron
b. knocks out an outer-shell electron
c. is absorbed by the nucleus
d. is attracted to the nucleus but not absorbed
ANS: D
During the bremsstrahlung interaction, the filament electron is attracted to the nucleus,
causing it to slow down and change direction.

12. The energy of the brems photon depends on

a. the original energy of the filament electron
b. the strength of the attraction between the electron and the nucleus
c. the energy of the filament electron as it leaves the tungsten atom
d. all of these
ANS: D
The energy of the brems photon depends on the energy of the filament electron as it enters
and exits the tungsten atom. The energy level as it exits depends on the strength of the
attraction between the electron and the nucleus.

13. If a filament electron enters the tungsten atom with 80 keV of energy and leaves the atom
with 75 keV of energy:
a. the brems photon will be 75 keV
b. the brems photon will be 80 keV
c. the filament electron traveled very close to the nucleus
d. the filament electron traveled very far from the nucleus
ANS: D
In that the filament electron lost only 5 keV of energy (which is a 5-keV brems photon) this
means that it has lost almost no energy, and it must have traveled far from the nucleus.

14. If a filament electron leaves the tungsten atom with 15 keV of energy and the brems photon
produced was 65 keV, how much energy did the incoming filament electron have?
a. 15 keV.
b. 50 keV.
c. 65 keV.
d. 80 keV.
ANS: D
 The incoming electron had 80 keV of energy because it only had 15 keV when it left the
atom and the brems photon was 65 keV.

15. The average energy of a brems photon is ______ of the kVp selected at the control panel.
a. 1/3
b. 1/2
c. 2/3
d. the same as that
ANS: A
The average energy of a brems photon is one third of the kVp selected at the control panel.

16. The majority of the x-ray photons produced are

a. characteristic photons
b. brems photons
c. photons with energy higher than 70 keV
d. photons with energy higher than 80 keV
ANS: B
The majority of the x-ray photons produced are the result of brems interactions.

17. The total number of x-ray photons in a beam is referred to as the

a. x-ray quality
b. x-ray number
c. x-ray quantity
d. x-ray beam
ANS: C
X-ray quantity refers to the total number of photons in the beam.

18. Which of the following factors affect beam quantity?

a. kVp.
b. Distance.
c. Filtration.
d. All of these.
ANS: D
Distance, tube filtration, and kVp affect the quantity of the x-ray beam.

19. Which of the following is the primary factor controlling quantity?

a. kVp.
b. mAs.
c. Distance.
d. Filtration.
ANS: B
mAs are the primary controlling factor for beam quantity.

20. To double the beam quantity

a. halve the mAs
b. leave the mAs as is and reduce the kVp
 c. double the mAs
d. increase the mAs by a factor of 4 (22)
ANS: C
To double the beam quantity, double the mAs.

21. If kVp is doubled, the quantity of radiation increases by a factor of

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 8
ANS: C
Doubling the kVp increases beam quantity by a factor of 4 (the square of the ratio of the
change).

22. If the kVp is changed from 30 kVp to 90 kVp, the quantity of radiation in the beam
increases by a factor of
a. 2
b. 3
c. 6
d. 9
ANS: D
Tripling the kVp increases beam quantity by a factor of 9 (the square of the ratio of the
change).

23. To increase the quantity of radiation by adjusting the kVp to the same level as doubling the
mAs, increase kVp by a factor of
a. 2%
b. 5%
c. 15%
d. 25%
ANS: C
Increasing the kVp by 15% is equivalent to doubling the mAs, which results in doubling the
quantity of radiation.

24. Which of the following results in the equivalent of doubling the mAs if the original kVp is
80?
a. 85 kVp.
b. 92 kVp.
c. 120 kVp.
d. 160 kVp.
ANS: B
Because 15% of 80 is 12, changing from 80 kVp to 92 kVp results in the equivalent of
doubling the mAs.

25. It is recommended that kVp not be used to control beam quantity because
a. it affects scatter production
 b. it affects penetrability of the beam
c. it is less predictable in how changing the kVp affects the image
d. all of these
ANS: D
kVp is not recommended as the primary method to control beam quantity because it affects
so many other factors in image production.

26. As the distance increases, the beam quantity reaching a specific area
a. increases
b. decreases
c. stays the same
d. doubles
ANS: B
Increasing the distance results in the number of photons in a specific area being decreased.

27. If the distance from the source is doubled, the quantity of radiation reaching a specific area
is _________ the original.
a. double
b. quadruple
c. half
d. one fourth
ANS: D
Doubling the distance from the source reduces the beam intensity to one-fourth the original
(half squared = one fourth), as specified in the inverse square law.

28. The inverse square law describes the relationship between ____________ and beam
intensity.
a. kVp
b. distance
c. exposure time
d. kVp
ANS: B
The inverse square law describes the relationship between distance and beam intensity.

29. If the distance from the source is changed from 72 inches to 36 inches and the original beam
intensity was 200 mR, what is the new intensity?
a. 50 mR.
b. 100 mR.
c. 400 mR.
d. 800 mR.
ANS: D
Based on the inverse square law, halving the distance from the source results in four times
the intensity. I1/I2 = d22/d21 ; 200/I2 = 362/722 ; 1296 I2 = 1036800 ; I2 = 800 mR.

30. If the intensity of the beam is 900 mR at a distance of 21 inches, what does the distance
need to be for the intensity to measure 100 mR?
 a. 7 inches.
b. 10.5 inches.
c. 42 inches.
d. 63 inches.
ANS: D
Based on the inverse square law, because the intensity is reduced by a factor of 9, the
distance must be three times the original. I1/I2 = d22/d21; 900/100 = d22/212; 100 d22 =
396900; d22 = 3969; d2 = 63 inches.

31. Filtration placed in the path of the x-ray beam

a. absorbs low-energy photons
b. absorbs high-energy photons
c. increases patient dose
d. reduces the quantity of radiation by a factor of 2
ANS: A
Beam filtration reduces beam quantity by absorbing low-energy photons.

32. The purpose of beam filtration is to

a. control beam quantity
b. reduce patient dose
c. reduce the wear and tear on the tube
d. all of these
ANS: B
Although it does reduce beam quantity, filtration serves only to reduce patient dose by
absorbing low-energy photons that do not contribute to image formation.

33. To produce a radiographic image, which of the following conditions should NOT occur?
a. some photons penetrate the body
b. some photons do not penetrate the body
c. all photons penetrate the body
d. some photons, but not all, penetrate the body
ANS: C
To produce a radiographic image, there must be x-ray photons that do and do not penetrate
the body. If all the x-rays penetrated, the image would be black.

34. Beam quality refers to

a. the energy level of the radiation
b. the amount of radiation
c. how useful the radiation is
d. all of these
ANS: A
Beam quality refers to the energy level or penetrability of the x-ray beam.

35. The primary controlling factor for beam quality is

a. mAs
b. kVp
 c. distance
d. filtration
ANS: B
Although affected by filtration, kVp is the controlling factor for beam quality.

36. As the kVp increases

a. beam energy decreases
b. beam energy increases
c. beam penetrability increases
d. beam energy and beam penetrability increases
ANS: D
As the kVp increases, the beam energy and penetrability increases.

37. A higher energy beam is said to be a ______ beam.

a. soft
b. hard
c. weak
d. powerful
ANS: B
A higher energy beam is said to be a hard beam.

38. Placing filtration in the path of the beam results in

a. a harder beam
b. a softer beam
c. more x-ray photons
d. a sharper image
ANS: A
Adding filtration removes lower energy photons, resulting in a higher energy, or harder
beam.

39. Half-value layer (HVL) is used to measure

a. beam intensity
b. beam quantity
c. beam quality
d. all of these
ANS: C
HVL is a measure of beam quality.

40. One HVL reduces the intensity of the x-ray beam to _______ of its original.
a. one fourth
b. one third
c. one half
d. two thirds
ANS: C
One HVL reduces the beam intensity to one half of the original.
41. Normal HVL of diagnostic x-ray beams is
a. 1–2 mm Al
b. 3–5 mm Al
c. 6–10 mm Al
d. 15–25 mm Al
ANS: C
The normal HVL of diagnostic beams is 3–5 mm Al.

42. How many HVLs are needed to reduce beam intensity from 600 mR to 300 mR?
a. One.
b. Two.
c. Three.
d. Four.
ANS: A
One HVL reduces the intensity by half.

43. The beam that is found leaving the collimator and exposes the patient is called the
a. collimator beam
b. remnant beam
c. primary beam
d. transmitted beam
ANS: C
The primary beam is found leaving the collimator and exposes the patient.

44. The x-ray beam that leaves the patient to expose the IR is called the
a. remnant beam
b. primary beam
c. patient beam
d. none of these
ANS: A
The remnant beam is that portion of the primary beam that exits the patient to expose the IR.

45. The remnant radiation that did not interact with any anatomic structures is
a. primary radiation
b. secondary radiation
c. transmitted radiation
d. scattered radiation
ANS: C
Radiation that passes through the patient without any interactions is called transmitted
radiation.

46. The remnant radiation that have an interaction with an anatomic structure is
a. primary radiation
b. filtered radiation
c. transmitted radiation
d. scattered radiation
 ANS: D
Scattered radiation is the part of the remnant radiation that interacts with the part.

47. A discrete emission spectrum is a graphic representation of

a. characteristic radiation
b. bremsstrahlung radiation
c. remnant radiation
d. characteristic radiation and bremsstrahlung radiation
e. bremsstrahlung radiation and remnant radiation
ANS: A
A discrete emission spectrum illustrates characteristic radiation.

48. A continuous emission spectrum is a graphic representation of

a. characteristic radiation
b. bremsstrahlung radiation
c. remnant radiation
d. characteristic radiation and bremsstrahlung radiation
e. bremsstrahlung radiation and remnant radiation
ANS: B
A continuous emission spectrum illustrates bremsstrahlung radiation.

49. The x-ray emission spectrum is a graphic illustration of

a. characteristic radiation
b. bremsstrahlung radiation
c. remnant radiation
d. characteristic radiation and bremsstrahlung radiation
e. bremsstrahlung radiation and remnant radiation
ANS: D
The x-ray emission spectrum combines both the discrete and continuous spectra.

50. The x-axis for all emission spectra represents the

a. energy level of the photons
b. number of photons
c. HVL of the photons
d. amount of transmitted radiation
ANS: A
The x-axis measures the energy level of the x-ray photons.

51. The y-axis for all emission spectra represents the

a. energy level of the photons
b. number of photons
c. HVL of the photons
d. penetrability of the radiation
ANS: B
The y-axis provides information regarding the number of photons.
52. The discrete emission spectrum typically displays
a. K-characteristic photon energies
b. L-characteristic photon energies
c. both of these
d. neither of these
ANS: C
The discrete emission spectrum typically displays K- and L-characteristic photon energies.

53. L-characteristic and higher photon energies are not usually displayed on a discrete emission
spectrum because
a. there are no photons produced at those levels
b. the energies of the photons produced are too high for image production
c. the energies of the photons produced are too low for image formation
d. none of these; these photon energies are displayed
ANS: C
The L-characteristic and higher photons produced have such low energies that they do not
contribute to image formation.

54. With a 75-kVp exposure, the energy of the photons displayed on the continuous emission
spectrum can range from just above 0 to
a. 25 keV
b. 50 keV
c. 75 keV
d. 150 keV
ANS: C
Brems radiation photon energy can range from just above 0 to the kVp set at the control
panel up to 75 keV.

55. With a 75-kVp exposure, the peak of the curve on the continuous emission spectrum is
approximately
a. 25 keV
b. 50 keV
c. 75 keV
d. 150 keV
ANS: A
The highest number (peak of the curve) of brems photons produced has an energy level one
third of the kVp set at the control panel (1/3 of 75 = 25 keV).

56. With the x-ray emission spectrum, the discrete line is the highest energy
___________________ bar.
a. J-characteristic
b. K-characteristic
c. L-characteristic
d. M-characteristic
ANS: B
 Combining both the discrete and continuous emission spectra, the only part of the discrete
spectra displayed is the highest-energy K-characteristic photons.

57. For a tungsten target, the discrete line on the x-ray emission spectrum is approximately
a. 59 keV
b. 69 keV
c. 79 keV
d. 89 keV
ANS: B
The discrete line is at 69 keV, based on a tungsten target.

58. Changes along the x-axis of the x-ray emission spectrum reflect changes in the
_________________ of the x-ray beam.
a. quality
b. velocity
c. quantity
d. size
ANS: A
Changes along the x-axis of the x-ray emission spectrum reflect changes in the quality of the
x-ray beam

59. If all other factors remain constant, a decrease in the mA results in

a. a shift to the right along the x-axis
b. a shift to the left along the x-axis
c. an increase along the y-axis
d. a decrease along the y-axis
ANS: D
Decreasing the mA results in fewer photons, decreasing the levels along the y-axis.

60. Increasing the kVp results in

a. an increase along the y-axis
b. a shift to the right along the x-axis
c. a shift to the left along the x-axis
d. an increase along the y-axis and a shift to the right along the x-axis
ANS: D
Increasing the kVp affects both the quantity (y-axis) and quality (x-axis) of the spectrum.
The spectrum shifts to the right because higher-energy photons are produced.

61. Adding filtration in the path of the beam results in the x-ray emission spectrum
a. changing along the x-axis
b. changing along the y-axis
c. both of these
d. neither of these
ANS: C
Increasing filtration will result in fewer photons (y-axis) and higher-energy photons (x-axis).
 62. Changing from a high-frequency generator to a single-phase generator results in the x-ray
emission spectrum
a. changing along the x-axis
b. changing along the y-axis
c. both of these
d. neither of these
ANS: C
Changing from a high-frequency to a single-phase unit results in fewer x-ray photons
(y-axis) and lower-energy photons (x-axis).

63. Changing the ___________________ results in changes to the x-axis, y-axis, and location of
the discrete line of the x-ray emission spectrum.
a. kVp
b. mAs
c. target material
d. distance
ANS: C
The only variable that changes the discrete line of the spectrum along with the quantity and
quality of the beam is changing target material.

TRUE/FALSE

1. As filament electrons enter the anode target, most interact with inner shell electrons of the
tungsten atoms.

ANS: F
As filament electrons enter the anode target, most interact with outer shell electrons of the
tungsten atoms.

2. At the anode target, 1% of the energy from filament electrons is lost as heat and 99% will
result in x-ray production.

ANS: F
At the anode target, 99% of the energy from filament electrons is lost as heat and 1% will
result in x-ray production.

3. A 65-keV filament electron is not able to produce characteristic radiation.

ANS: T
To produce characteristic radiation, the electron’s energy must be greater than the orbital
electron’s binding energy.

4. When 65 kVp is set on the operating console, no K-characteristic radiation is produced.

ANS: T
To knock out a K shell electron, a minimum of 69.5 keV is required.
Test Bank for Essentials of Radiographic Physics and Imaging, 3rd Edition, James Johnston,

5. The stronger the attraction between the filament electron and the nucleus, the less energy the
brems photon has.

ANS: F
The stronger the attraction between the filament electron and the nucleus, the more energy
the filament electron loses, producing a higher energy brems photon.

6. Generally speaking, an increase in the quantity of radiation results in decreased patient dose.

ANS: F
An increase in x-ray quantity results in an increase in patient dose.

7. HVL is described as a certain amount of tungsten or its equivalent that will reduce beam
intensity by one half.

ANS: F
HVL is described in terms of the amount of aluminum or its equivalent.

8. The discrete emission spectrum is limited to a few specific values.

ANS: T
The discrete emission spectrum is limited to a few specific values based on the different
energy levels of the shells of the tungsten atom.

9. When the kVp is changed from 60 to 120, the discrete line on the x-ray emission spectrum
shifts to the right.

ANS: F
The discrete line does not move because it is determined by the target material.

Visit TestBankBell.com to get complete for all chapters