X-Rays (2)

Question 1

X-Rays

Answer 1

The product of an energy transfer between a high-speed electron and a dense test material.

Question 2

How are X-Rays controlled?

Answer 2

A Generating Machine (X-Ray tube) which is controlled electrically.

Question 3

How do we generate X-Rays?

Answer 3

Acceleration of an electron and decelerated rapidly, due to an interaction with other atomic particles.

• Source of electrons (heated wire filament)
• Way to accelerate electrons (voltage)
• Target to receive electron impact

Question 4

Why do we need a cooling system in an X-Ray Tube?

Answer 4

Only 2% of the energy generated produces X-Ray radiation the remaining 98% is in the form of heat.
- Without cooling the tube would “burn-out”

Question 5

Atomic Processes/Types of X-Rays

Answer 5

• Characteristic X-Rays

- Bremsstrahlung X-Rays

Question 6

Characteristic X-Rays

Answer 6

Where the “striking electron” dislodges an electron in the K-shell, causing an electron from the M-shell to replace it releasing energy or a “secondary X-Ray photons” and so on through the shells.
- Energy produced from movement is the difference between energies within shells

Question 7

Bremsstrahlung X-Rays

Answer 7

• German word means braking
  When an electron strikes an atom and is slowed down by the binding forces as it passes, giving off some of its energy (an X-Ray photon and heat)
• Amount of energy produced is random, depending on difference between energy from the original velocity and slowed velocity.
• Most X-Rays are produced this way