CH2 Characteristics and Measurement of Radiation

long wavelength

* Low frequency* Low energy* Less penetrating x-ray

Short wavelength

*High frequency, *High energy,*More penetrating x-ray

General/bremsstrahlung radiation

produced when high-speed electrons are stopped or slowed down by the tungsten atoms of the dental x-ray tube, an x-ray photon is created. more common

General radiation

EX: A & B.

Characteristic radiation

EX: C. created when an incoming electron interacts with the K-shell electron and knocks it out of orbit. When the electron void is filled with an outer shell electron, an x-ray photon is created. Must be at or above 70KV

Primary radiation

useful beam

Secondary radiation

X-radiation that is created when the primary beam interacts with matter

Scatter radiation

A form of secondary radiation that occurs when an x-ray beam has been deflected from its path by interaction with matter

Absorption

Transferring the energy of the x-rays to the atoms of the material through which the x-ray beam passes

Basic method of absorption

Ionization

When a beam of x-rays pass through matter, four possibilities exist-

*No interaction* Coherent scattering*Photoelectric effect* Compton effect

Coherent scattering

The incoming photon interacts with the atom, causing it to become excited. Electron vibrates. The x-ray does not lose energy but changes direction. New unmodified

photoelectric effect

High speed electron (called a photoelectron) knocks other electrons from the inner orbit creating an ion pair.

Compton scattering

Interaction with matter in which a higher energy photon strikes a loosely bound outer electron, removing it from its shell, and the remaining energy is released as a scattered photon. Most common, 60% of interactions with matter

Do x-rays make material they pass through radioactive?

No

SI Units of Radiation: (3)

Couloms/kilogram (C/kg)gray (Gy)sievert (Sv)

Exposure measurement

Measurement of ionization in air produced X-rays (Coulombs)

Absorbed dose measurement

How much was deposited (Gray)

Dose equivalent measurement

compares biologic effects of different kinds of radiation (Sieverts)

Effective dose equivalent

Aids in making more accurate comparisons between different radiographic exposures. Based on size and amount. Exposure on arm vs whole body

Electron shells are also called _______________.

energy levels

_______________ are bundles of energy that travel through space at the speed of light.

Photons

All electromagnetic radiation travels at a speed of _______________.

light

Dense structures, such as bone and enamel, will appear _______________ on a radiograph.

Radiopaque

____________________ accounts for only a very small portion of the x-rays produced in a dental x-ray machine.

Characteristic radiation

Energy is produced whenever the state of matter is naturally or artificially altered.

True

Atoms have the unique ability to retain their properties once they are split.

False

Wavelength and frequency are inversely related.

True

Frequency is the measure of the distance between two points on the electromagnetic spectrum.

False

The longer the wavelength, the more penetrating the radiation.

False

Soft x-rays are the result of long wavelengths and low frequencies.

True

Less dense structures, such as the pulp chamber of the tooth, will appear dark gray or black on a radiograph.

True

The Compton effect causes x-rays to be scattered in all directions.

True

X-rays cause radioactivity when they pass through structures.

False

Exposure to radiation does not produce a measurable dose until the radiation is absorbed in the tissues.

True

A unit of measurement that describes wavelengths of certain high-frequency radiation.

Angstrom

A process through which radiation imparts some or all of its energy to any material through which it passes.

Absorption

A common form of particulate (corpuscular) radiation.

alpha Particle

The smallest particle of an element that still has the properties of that element.

Atom

Long wavelengths of x-rays.

Soft radiation

What initiates X-rays exposure

Exposure button

To decrease magnification

Increase target receptor distance