Chapter 1

Question 1

When were X-rays discovered?
a. October 8, 1985
b. November 8, 1895
c. January 23, 1896
d. August 15, 1902

Answer 1

b. November 8, 1895

X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen on November 8, 1895.

Question 2

2. What type of tube was Roentgen working with in his lab when X-rays were discovered?

a. Crookes tube
b. Fluorescent tube
c. High-vacuum tube
d. Wurzburg tube

Answer 2

a. Crookes tube

Roentgen was working with a low-vacuum tube known as a Crookes tube.

Question 3

3. Which of the following terms could be defined as the instantaneous production of light only
   during an interaction between a type of energy and some element or compound?

a. Phosphorescence
b. Afterglow
c. Glowing
d. Fluorescence

Answer 3

d. Fluorescence

Fluorescence is the instantaneous emission of light from a material due to the interaction with
some type of energy.

Question 4

4. Barium platinocyanide was the:

a. type of dark paper Roentgen used to darken his laboratory.
b. material Roentgen used to produce the first radiograph of his wife’s hand.
c. metal used to produce the low-vacuum tube.
d. fluorescent material that glowed when the tube was energized.

Answer 4

Solution: d. fluorescent material that glowed when the tube was energized

A piece of paper coated with barium platinocyanide glowed each time Roentgen energized his tube.
REF: p.2

Question 5

5. The first radiograph produced by Roentgen, of his wife’s hand, required an exposure time of:

a. 15 s.
b. 150 s.
c. 15 min.
d. 150 min.

Answer 5

Solution: c. 15 min.

It took a 15-min exposure time to produce the first radiograph.
REF: p.3

Question 6

6. The letter x in x-ray is the symbol for:

a. electricity.
b. the unknown.
c. penetrating.
d. discovery.

Answer 6

Solution: b. the unknown.

The letter x represents the mathematical symbol of the unknown.
REF: p.3

Question 7

7. The first Nobel Prize for Physics was received in 1901 by:

a. Marie Curie.
b. William Crookes.
c. Wilhelm Roentgen.
d. Albert Einstein.

Answer 7

Solution: c. Wilhelm Roentgen.

Wilhelm Roentgen received the first Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901.
REF: p.4

Question 8

8. X-rays were at one time called:

a. Becquerel rays.
b. Roentgen rays.
c. Z-rays.
d. None of the above.

Answer 8

Solution: b. Roentgen rays.

X-rays were at one time called Roentgen rays.
REF: p.4

Question 9

9. Erythema, an early sign of biologic damage due to x-ray exposure, is:

a. reddening of the skin.
b. a malignant tumor.
c. a chromosomal change.
d. one of the most serious effects of x-ray exposure.

Answer 9

Solution: a. reddening of the skin.

Erythema is reddening and burning of the skin, an early and less serious effect of exposure to large doses of x-radiation.
REF: p.5

Question 10

10. X-rays have which of the following properties?

a. Electrical
b. Magnetic
c. Chemical
d. A and B
e. A and C

Answer 10

Solution: d. A and B

X-rays, a type of electromagnetic radiation, have both electrical and magnetic properties.
REF: p.5

Question 11

11. The distance between two successive crests of a sine wave is known as:

a. an angstrom.
b. frequency.
c. the Greek letter mu.
d. wavelength

Answer 11

Solution: d. wavelength

The distance between two successive crests or troughs of a sine wave is the measure of its wavelength.
REF: p.6

Question 12

12. X-rays used in radiography have wavelengths that are measured in:

a. angstroms.
b. millimeters.
c. centimeters.
d. hertz.

Answer 12

Solution: a. angstroms

X-rays in the range used in radiography have wavelengths that are so short that they are measured in angstroms.
REF: p.6

Question 13

13. The frequency of a wave is the number of waves passing a given point per given unit of time. Frequency is measured in:

a. angstroms.
b. hertz.
c. inches.
d. eV.

Answer 13

Solution: b. hertz

The unit of frequency is hertz. The frequency of X-rays in the radiography range varies from about 3 × 10¹⁶ to 3 × 10¹⁹ Hz.
REF: p.6

Question 14

14. Which of the following is a correct description of the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of the x-ray photon?

a. Wavelength and frequency are directly proportional.
b. Wavelength and frequency are inversely related by the square root of lambda.
c. Frequency and wavelength are inversely related.
d. Wavelength and frequency have no relationship to each other.

Answer 14

Solution: c. Frequency and wavelength are inversely related.

Wavelength and frequency are inversely related; as one increases, the other decreases.
REF: p.6

Question 15

15. A ______ is a small, discrete bundle of energy.

a. phaser
b. quark
c. photon
d. mesion

Answer 15

Solution: c. photon

A photon, or quantum, is a small, discrete bundle of energy.
REF: p.7

Question 16

16. The speed of light is:

a. 3 × 10⁸ meters per second
b. 3 × 10⁸ miles per second
c. 186,000 miles per second
d. A and B
e. A and C

Answer 16

Solution: e. A and C

The speed of light can be described as either 3 × 10⁸ meters per second or 186,000 miles per second.
REF: p.8

Question 17

17. When first developed, the branch of medicine using X-rays was called:

a. radiology.
b. radiography.
c. roentgenology.
d. imaging sciences.

Answer 17

Solution: c. roentgenology

What we now call radiology was first called roentgenology.
REF: p.4

Question 18

18. The electrical energy applied to an x-ray tube will be transformed to:

a. heat.
b. light.
c. x-rays.
d. A and B.
e. A and C.

Answer 18

Solution: e. A and C

The electrical energy applied to the x-ray tube will be transformed into heat (primarily) and x-rays.
REF: p.5

Question 19

19. The Greek symbol lambda (λ) represents the x-ray’s:

a. wavelength.
b. speed.
c. frequency.
d. quantity.

Answer 19

Solution: a. wavelength

Lambda (λ) is the Greek symbol that represents wavelength.
REF: p.6

Question 20

20. An angstrom (Å) is equal to:

a. 10⁻¹ meter
b. 10⁻¹⁰ meter
c. 10⁻¹ foot
d. 10⁻¹⁰ foot

Answer 20

Solution: b. 10⁻¹⁰ meter

One angstrom is equal to 10⁻¹⁰ meter.
REF: p.6

Question 21

21. X-rays used in radiography have wavelengths ranging from 0.1 to:

a. 0.01 Å.
b. 1 Å.
c. 10 Å.
d. 100 Å.

Answer 21

Solution: b. 1 Å

X-rays used in radiography have wavelengths ranging from 0.1 to 1 Å.
REF: p.6

Question 22

22. X-rays used in radiography have wavelengths ranging from 3 × 10¹⁹ to:

a. 3 × 10⁸ Hz.
b. 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ Hz.
c. 3 × 10¹⁰ Hz.
d. 3 × 10¹⁸ Hz.

Answer 22

Solution: d. 3 × 10¹⁸ Hz

X-rays used in radiography have wavelengths ranging from 3 × 10¹⁹ to 3 × 10¹⁸ Hz.
REF: p.6

Question 23

23. In the formula c = λv, c represents:

a. frequency.
b. the speed of light.
c. wavelength.
d. kinetic energy.

Answer 23

Solution: b. the speed of light

In this formula, c represents the speed of light.
REF: p.6

Question 24

24. In the formula c = λv, v represents:

a. frequency.
b. the speed of light.
c. wavelength.
d. kinetic energy.

Answer 24

Solution: a. frequency

In this formula, v represents frequency.
REF: p.6

Question 25

25. The energy of an individual x-ray photon is measured in: a. frequency. b. wavelength. c. kilovolts peak (kVp). d. electron volts (eV).

Answer 25

Solution: d. electron volts (eV) X-ray photon energy is measured in electron volts (eV). REF: p.7

Question 26

26. An x-ray beam that has photons with many different energies is: a. homogenous. b. monoenergetic. c. heterogeneous. d. never found.

Answer 26

Solution: c. heterogeneous A heterogeneous x-ray beam consists of photons with many different energies. REF: p.8

Question 27

27. *X-rays* can: a. penetrate the human body. b. be absorbed in the human body. c. change direction in the human body. d. A and B only. e. all of the above.

Answer 27

Solution: e. all of the above *X-rays* can penetrate, be absorbed in, or change direction (due to scattering) in the human body. REF: p.9

Question 28

28. In conjunction with ALARA, *which* of the following cardinal principles help to minimize radiation exposure? I. Time—Increase time exposed to ionizing radiation II. Time—Decrease time exposed to ionizing radiation III. Distance—Increase distance from ionizing radiation IV. Distance—Decrease distance from ionizing radiation V. Shielding—Maximize use of shielding from ionizing radiation a. I, III, and V b. I, IV, and V c. II, III, and V d. II, IV, and V

Answer 28

Solution: c. II, III, and V The cardinal principles include decreasing time exposed to ionizing radiation, increasing distance from ionizing radiation, and maximizing use of shielding from ionizing radiation. REF: p.9

Question 29

1 T/F X-rays are invisible.

Answer 29

True A characteristic of X-rays is that they are invisible. REF: p.9

Question 30

2 T/F X-rays carry a negative charge that causes ionization.

Answer 30

False X-rays are electrically neutral. REF: p.9

Question 31

3 T/F X-ray photons travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.

Answer 31

True In a vacuum, X-rays will travel at the speed of light. REF: p.9

Question 32

4 T/F X-ray photons are capable of traveling around corners.

Answer 32

False X-rays travel in straight lines, so they are unable to travel around corners. REF: p.9

Question 33

5 T/F Chemical changes may occur as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation.

Answer 33

True Chemical changes, such as in radiographic or photographic film, occur as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation. REF: p.9

Question 34

6 T/F X-rays will change direction in the presence of a strong magnetic field.

Answer 34

False X-rays do not respond to a magnetic field. REF: p.8

Question 35

7 T/F X-rays produce a slight tingling sensation when they enter the body.

Answer 35

False X-rays cannot be felt. REF: p.8

Question 36

8 T/F X-rays cannot be focused with a lens.

Answer 36

True Unlike visible light, it is not possible to focus X-rays with a lens. REF: p.9

Question 37

9 T/F X-rays are able to interact with certain materials and produce light energy.

Answer 37

True Certain materials will fluoresce, or produce light energy, when stimulated by x-rays. REF: p.9

Question 38

10 T/F It is impossible for X-rays to interact with matter and produce secondary radiation.

Answer 38

False Secondary radiation is often produced as a result of X-rays interacting with matter. REF: p.9

Question 39

11 T/F X-rays can produce ionization of atoms making up cells, causing damage.

Answer 39

True A major reason that unnecessary exposure must be avoided is that X-rays can ionize atoms and cause damage. REF: p.9

Question 40

12 T/F Since Roentgen’s discovery in the late nineteenth century, we have learned an enormous amount about the properties of x-rays.

Answer 40

False Roentgen’s original work on the characteristics of X-rays was so thorough that very little has been learned about their properties since. REF: p.12

Question 41

13 T/F It is the radiographer’s responsibility to minimize the radiation dose to the patient, to themselves, and to others in accordance with the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle.

Answer 41

True It is the radiographer’s responsibility to minimize the radiation dose to the patient, to themselves, and to others in accordance with the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle. REF: p.12

Question 42

14 T/F Screening for pregnancy is an important task for minimizing unnecessary exposure to a developing fetus.

Answer 42

True Screening for pregnancy is an important task for minimizing unnecessary exposure to a developing fetus. REF: p.12