X-RAY MACHINE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A+)
Who discovered X-rays?
✔✔ Answer: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
When were X-rays discovered?
✔✔ Answer: 1895
What is the basic definition of X-ray production?
✔✔ Answer: Negatively charged electrons move from the cathode (negative) to
the anode (positive) inside the X-ray tube. Their collision at the anode produces X-
ray radiation and heat.
What percentage of energy becomes X-rays versus heat?
✔✔ Answer: Approximately 1% becomes X-rays and 99% becomes heat
What does the X-ray tube consist of?
✔✔ Answer: A negative cathode and positive anode enclosed in a glass vacuum
tube
Where are negatively charged electrons produced and where do they travel?
✔✔ Answer: Electrons are produced at the cathode and travel through the vacuum
tube toward the positively charged anode target, where collision produces X-rays
that exit through the tube window
coiled filament within the cathode that emits electrons once heated -ANSWER
✔✔tungsten
, filaments measure between ____cm - ____cm in length -ANSWER ✔✔0.2 - 1
most xray machines are (single/double) filament, while portable xray machines are
usually (single/double) filament -ANSWER ✔✔double; single
can tungsten withstand high heat? -ANSWER ✔✔yes
the filament is heated by a low energy circuit referred to as what? -ANSWER
✔✔milliamperage (mA)
What is milliamperage (mA)? -ANSWER ✔✔the amount of electrical energy
being applied to the filament, meaning the amount of x-rays being produced
the energy of the X-ray being accelerated between the anode and cathode -
ANSWER ✔✔kilovoltage (kVp)
What is the 'penetration power' referred to as? -ANSWER ✔✔kVp
increasing the kVp (increases/decreases) the voltage difference between the anode
and cathode -ANSWER ✔✔increases
positive target composed of tungsten with a target base of copper that conducts and
draws heat away from the target -ANSWER ✔✔anode
2 types of anodes -ANSWER ✔✔-stationary anode
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A+)
Who discovered X-rays?
✔✔ Answer: Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
When were X-rays discovered?
✔✔ Answer: 1895
What is the basic definition of X-ray production?
✔✔ Answer: Negatively charged electrons move from the cathode (negative) to
the anode (positive) inside the X-ray tube. Their collision at the anode produces X-
ray radiation and heat.
What percentage of energy becomes X-rays versus heat?
✔✔ Answer: Approximately 1% becomes X-rays and 99% becomes heat
What does the X-ray tube consist of?
✔✔ Answer: A negative cathode and positive anode enclosed in a glass vacuum
tube
Where are negatively charged electrons produced and where do they travel?
✔✔ Answer: Electrons are produced at the cathode and travel through the vacuum
tube toward the positively charged anode target, where collision produces X-rays
that exit through the tube window
coiled filament within the cathode that emits electrons once heated -ANSWER
✔✔tungsten
, filaments measure between ____cm - ____cm in length -ANSWER ✔✔0.2 - 1
most xray machines are (single/double) filament, while portable xray machines are
usually (single/double) filament -ANSWER ✔✔double; single
can tungsten withstand high heat? -ANSWER ✔✔yes
the filament is heated by a low energy circuit referred to as what? -ANSWER
✔✔milliamperage (mA)
What is milliamperage (mA)? -ANSWER ✔✔the amount of electrical energy
being applied to the filament, meaning the amount of x-rays being produced
the energy of the X-ray being accelerated between the anode and cathode -
ANSWER ✔✔kilovoltage (kVp)
What is the 'penetration power' referred to as? -ANSWER ✔✔kVp
increasing the kVp (increases/decreases) the voltage difference between the anode
and cathode -ANSWER ✔✔increases
positive target composed of tungsten with a target base of copper that conducts and
draws heat away from the target -ANSWER ✔✔anode
2 types of anodes -ANSWER ✔✔-stationary anode
