Brief Review of Sherer Chapter 1 (Radiation Protection)
The transfer of kinetic energy, or energy of motion, from one location to another is called... - (correct
Answer) - Radiation
When passing through normal matter, x-rays were observed to produce electrically charged particles
along their path; the altered atoms or molecules comprising these charged particles are called ________.
Because of this effect the x-rays are classified as ________ radiation. - (correct Answer) - - Ions
- Ionizing radiation
Briefly describe the fundamental properties of x-rays: - (correct Answer) - - X-rays are invisible
- X-rays can have varying degrees of penetration in normal tissue, ranging from very superficial (skin
surface) to much deeper (5 cm or greater) depending on their energy
- X-rays are not deflected from their paths by either electric or magnetic fields and so are classified as
electrically neutral
- Although visible light may be focused with a lens, x-rays cannot be
- X-rays travel in straight lines and at the speed of light (300 million meters per second) until they interact
with atoms
- When passing through matter, x-rays will produce charges particles by interaction with atoms
composing that matter, as well as cause an emission of light known as fluorescence in certain crystals
- X-rays will darken photographic film, with the degree of darkening in portions of the film being
associated with the intensity (amount or quantity) of the x-rays striking those portions
- X-rays generally have with it them a wide range of energies; that is, x-ray beams are normally
heterogenous instead of monoenergetic
The amount of ionization produced in air when ionizing radiation is present is referred to as: - (correct
, Answer) - Exposure
What are ionization chambers? - (correct Answer) - A device located in front of the cassette, between the
patient and the IR that measures radiation exposure and terminates the exposure when the optimal
amount of exposure has been reached
What is exposure measured in? - (correct Answer) - Coulomb per kilogram (C/kg) or milliroentgen (mR)
A milliroentgen (mR) is a subunit of the roentgen, which is a non-metric unit likewise used for measuring
the ionizing capability of radiation. A milliroentgen is equal to ________ of a roentgen. - (correct Answer)
- 1/1000
________ dose is the amount of energy that is deposited in a material per unit mass of the material.
More energy deposited is usually related to more disruption of biomolecules in living tissue; less energy
is related to less disruption - (correct Answer) - Absorbed
Absorbed dose is measured in ______, a subunit of the _______ in the SI. The milligray is equal to
_________ of a gray. - (correct Answer) - Milligray (mGy); Gray (Gy); 1/1000
_________ dose is an attempt to provide a quantity that is a measure of general harm in humans.
It takes into account the _____ dose that is received by a human, the exact type of radiation), and the
specific organs or organ systems irradiated - (correct Answer) - Effective; absorbed
Effective dose is intended to be the best... - (correct Answer) - Overall measure of the biological effects of
ionizing radiation
Effective dose is specified in ____________, a subunit of the ______ in the SI. The _________ is equal to
1/1000 of a _______. - (correct Answer) - Millisievert (mSv); sievert (Sv); millisievert; sievert
__________ efficacy is the degree to which the diagnostic study accurately reveals the presence or
absence of disease in the patient while adhering to radiation safety guidelines.
It is ________ when essential images are produced with the least radiation exposure to the patient. -
(correct Answer) - - Diagnostic
- Maximized
ALARA is an acronym for "_____ _____ _____ _____ ______." This term is synonymous with the term
_________ _____ _______ _______ (ORP). - (correct Answer) - - As Low As Reasonably Achievable
The transfer of kinetic energy, or energy of motion, from one location to another is called... - (correct
Answer) - Radiation
When passing through normal matter, x-rays were observed to produce electrically charged particles
along their path; the altered atoms or molecules comprising these charged particles are called ________.
Because of this effect the x-rays are classified as ________ radiation. - (correct Answer) - - Ions
- Ionizing radiation
Briefly describe the fundamental properties of x-rays: - (correct Answer) - - X-rays are invisible
- X-rays can have varying degrees of penetration in normal tissue, ranging from very superficial (skin
surface) to much deeper (5 cm or greater) depending on their energy
- X-rays are not deflected from their paths by either electric or magnetic fields and so are classified as
electrically neutral
- Although visible light may be focused with a lens, x-rays cannot be
- X-rays travel in straight lines and at the speed of light (300 million meters per second) until they interact
with atoms
- When passing through matter, x-rays will produce charges particles by interaction with atoms
composing that matter, as well as cause an emission of light known as fluorescence in certain crystals
- X-rays will darken photographic film, with the degree of darkening in portions of the film being
associated with the intensity (amount or quantity) of the x-rays striking those portions
- X-rays generally have with it them a wide range of energies; that is, x-ray beams are normally
heterogenous instead of monoenergetic
The amount of ionization produced in air when ionizing radiation is present is referred to as: - (correct
, Answer) - Exposure
What are ionization chambers? - (correct Answer) - A device located in front of the cassette, between the
patient and the IR that measures radiation exposure and terminates the exposure when the optimal
amount of exposure has been reached
What is exposure measured in? - (correct Answer) - Coulomb per kilogram (C/kg) or milliroentgen (mR)
A milliroentgen (mR) is a subunit of the roentgen, which is a non-metric unit likewise used for measuring
the ionizing capability of radiation. A milliroentgen is equal to ________ of a roentgen. - (correct Answer)
- 1/1000
________ dose is the amount of energy that is deposited in a material per unit mass of the material.
More energy deposited is usually related to more disruption of biomolecules in living tissue; less energy
is related to less disruption - (correct Answer) - Absorbed
Absorbed dose is measured in ______, a subunit of the _______ in the SI. The milligray is equal to
_________ of a gray. - (correct Answer) - Milligray (mGy); Gray (Gy); 1/1000
_________ dose is an attempt to provide a quantity that is a measure of general harm in humans.
It takes into account the _____ dose that is received by a human, the exact type of radiation), and the
specific organs or organ systems irradiated - (correct Answer) - Effective; absorbed
Effective dose is intended to be the best... - (correct Answer) - Overall measure of the biological effects of
ionizing radiation
Effective dose is specified in ____________, a subunit of the ______ in the SI. The _________ is equal to
1/1000 of a _______. - (correct Answer) - Millisievert (mSv); sievert (Sv); millisievert; sievert
__________ efficacy is the degree to which the diagnostic study accurately reveals the presence or
absence of disease in the patient while adhering to radiation safety guidelines.
It is ________ when essential images are produced with the least radiation exposure to the patient. -
(correct Answer) - - Diagnostic
- Maximized
ALARA is an acronym for "_____ _____ _____ _____ ______." This term is synonymous with the term
_________ _____ _______ _______ (ORP). - (correct Answer) - - As Low As Reasonably Achievable
