Oregon Radiologic Technologist Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2027
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf.
1. Which principle is the foundation of radiation protection for patients
undergoing diagnostic radiographic procedures?
A. Maximizing exposure time to improve image quality
B. Using the highest available tube current for every examination
C. Keeping radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable while
obtaining diagnostically adequate images
D. Eliminating all image post-processing
The ALARA principle requires radiologic technologists to minimize
unnecessary radiation exposure while maintaining sufficient image quality
for diagnosis.
2. Which three factors form the basic principles of occupational radiation
protection?
A. Voltage, current, and frequency
B. Time, distance, and shielding
C. Contrast, density, and resolution
D. Positioning, compression, and magnification
,Reducing time near a radiation source, increasing distance from the
source, and using appropriate shielding are fundamental methods of
reducing occupational exposure.
3. What is the primary purpose of collimation in diagnostic radiography?
A. Increase the size of the radiation field
B. Increase scatter production
C. Restrict the x-ray beam to the region of clinical interest
D. Eliminate the need for positioning
Collimation limits the exposed area, reduces patient dose and scatter
radiation, and can improve image contrast.
4. According to the inverse square law, what happens to radiation
intensity when the distance from a point source is doubled?
A. It doubles
B. It remains unchanged
C. It decreases by one-half
D. It decreases to one-fourth
Radiation intensity from a point source is inversely proportional to the
square of the distance, so doubling distance reduces intensity to
approximately one-fourth.
5. Which device is used to monitor an imaging professional's
occupational exposure to ionizing radiation?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. ECG monitor
C. Personal dosimeter
D. Spirometer
A personal dosimeter records an individual's occupational radiation
exposure and supports radiation-safety monitoring.
, 6. Which type of radiation is produced when a high-speed electron is
suddenly decelerated near the nucleus of a target atom?
A. Characteristic radiation
B. Alpha radiation
C. Bremsstrahlung radiation
D. Gamma radiation
Bremsstrahlung, or braking radiation, is produced when high-speed
electrons are deflected and decelerated by the electric field of atomic
nuclei.
7. Characteristic radiation is produced when:
A. An electron passes through the nucleus without interaction
B. An inner-shell electron is removed and an outer-shell electron fills the
vacancy
C. A photon passes through tissue without interaction
D. A neutron undergoes radioactive decay
Characteristic radiation results from electron-shell transitions following
removal of an inner-shell electron, producing photons with energies
characteristic of the target atom.
8. What is the primary function of the x-ray tube cathode?
A. Absorb scatter radiation
B. Produce characteristic photons directly
C. Supply and focus electrons toward the anode
D. Convert x-rays into visible light
The cathode contains the filament and focusing components that generate
and direct electrons toward the anode.
9. What is the primary function of the anode in an x-ray tube?
, A. Store the patient's radiation history
B. Provide the target material where electrons interact to produce x-rays
C. Measure patient oxygen saturation
D. Collimate the radiation field externally
Electrons accelerated from the cathode strike the anode target, producing
x-rays and substantial heat.
10. Why is tungsten commonly used as an x-ray tube target
material?
A. It has a very low melting point
B. It absorbs all visible light
C. It has a high atomic number and high melting point
D. It produces only ultrasound waves
Tungsten's high atomic number makes it efficient for x-ray production,
while its high melting point allows it to withstand substantial heat.
11. Which exposure factor primarily controls the quantity of x-rays
produced?
A. SID
B. Grid ratio
C. mAs
D. OID
Milliampere-seconds determine the quantity of electrons flowing across
the tube and therefore strongly influence x-ray photon quantity.
12. What is the principal effect of increasing kVp?
A. Decreasing photon energy
B. Increasing x-ray beam energy and penetration
C. Eliminating scatter radiation
D. Eliminating patient dose
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationale 2027
Q&A| Instant Download Pdf.
1. Which principle is the foundation of radiation protection for patients
undergoing diagnostic radiographic procedures?
A. Maximizing exposure time to improve image quality
B. Using the highest available tube current for every examination
C. Keeping radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable while
obtaining diagnostically adequate images
D. Eliminating all image post-processing
The ALARA principle requires radiologic technologists to minimize
unnecessary radiation exposure while maintaining sufficient image quality
for diagnosis.
2. Which three factors form the basic principles of occupational radiation
protection?
A. Voltage, current, and frequency
B. Time, distance, and shielding
C. Contrast, density, and resolution
D. Positioning, compression, and magnification
,Reducing time near a radiation source, increasing distance from the
source, and using appropriate shielding are fundamental methods of
reducing occupational exposure.
3. What is the primary purpose of collimation in diagnostic radiography?
A. Increase the size of the radiation field
B. Increase scatter production
C. Restrict the x-ray beam to the region of clinical interest
D. Eliminate the need for positioning
Collimation limits the exposed area, reduces patient dose and scatter
radiation, and can improve image contrast.
4. According to the inverse square law, what happens to radiation
intensity when the distance from a point source is doubled?
A. It doubles
B. It remains unchanged
C. It decreases by one-half
D. It decreases to one-fourth
Radiation intensity from a point source is inversely proportional to the
square of the distance, so doubling distance reduces intensity to
approximately one-fourth.
5. Which device is used to monitor an imaging professional's
occupational exposure to ionizing radiation?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. ECG monitor
C. Personal dosimeter
D. Spirometer
A personal dosimeter records an individual's occupational radiation
exposure and supports radiation-safety monitoring.
, 6. Which type of radiation is produced when a high-speed electron is
suddenly decelerated near the nucleus of a target atom?
A. Characteristic radiation
B. Alpha radiation
C. Bremsstrahlung radiation
D. Gamma radiation
Bremsstrahlung, or braking radiation, is produced when high-speed
electrons are deflected and decelerated by the electric field of atomic
nuclei.
7. Characteristic radiation is produced when:
A. An electron passes through the nucleus without interaction
B. An inner-shell electron is removed and an outer-shell electron fills the
vacancy
C. A photon passes through tissue without interaction
D. A neutron undergoes radioactive decay
Characteristic radiation results from electron-shell transitions following
removal of an inner-shell electron, producing photons with energies
characteristic of the target atom.
8. What is the primary function of the x-ray tube cathode?
A. Absorb scatter radiation
B. Produce characteristic photons directly
C. Supply and focus electrons toward the anode
D. Convert x-rays into visible light
The cathode contains the filament and focusing components that generate
and direct electrons toward the anode.
9. What is the primary function of the anode in an x-ray tube?
, A. Store the patient's radiation history
B. Provide the target material where electrons interact to produce x-rays
C. Measure patient oxygen saturation
D. Collimate the radiation field externally
Electrons accelerated from the cathode strike the anode target, producing
x-rays and substantial heat.
10. Why is tungsten commonly used as an x-ray tube target
material?
A. It has a very low melting point
B. It absorbs all visible light
C. It has a high atomic number and high melting point
D. It produces only ultrasound waves
Tungsten's high atomic number makes it efficient for x-ray production,
while its high melting point allows it to withstand substantial heat.
11. Which exposure factor primarily controls the quantity of x-rays
produced?
A. SID
B. Grid ratio
C. mAs
D. OID
Milliampere-seconds determine the quantity of electrons flowing across
the tube and therefore strongly influence x-ray photon quantity.
12. What is the principal effect of increasing kVp?
A. Decreasing photon energy
B. Increasing x-ray beam energy and penetration
C. Eliminating scatter radiation
D. Eliminating patient dose
