RADIATION PROTECTION CH. #1 – 3
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When was Radiation discovered? And who discovered it? - Answer-Radiation was
discover in 1895 by Wilhelm Roentgen
How is radiation defined? - Answer-Radiation is defined as the transfer of kinetic energy
from one location to another.
What is ionization? - Answer-Ionization is defined as an atom loses an electron or adds
an electon to the orbital shell(s)
Ionization is how radiation reacts with the body
What does kinesio mean? - Answer-Means motion
What are some properties of radiation? - Answer-X-rays are invisible
Penetrates matter
Travels in a straight line
Electrically neutral
Effects photographic film (how image becomes permanent)
Heterogeneous Wavelengths
Cannot be focused by a lens
Travels at a straight line
Causes certain crystals to fluorescence (used barium cyanide glow = blue)
Generates energy when passing through matter
Creates scatter and secondary radiation
Can cause biological changes
What are some consequences of ionization in the human cells? - Answer-Creation of
unstable atoms (ionized)
Production of free electrons
Production of low energy photons
Creation of highly reactive free molecules (called free radicals) capable of producing
substances poisonous to the cell *can cause a lot of damage or mutation
Creation of new biologic molecules detrimental to the living cells
Injury to the cells that can change the normal cell function or loss of function
What are free radicals? - Answer-highly reactive free molecules capable of producing
substances poisonous to the cell. Can cause a lot of damage or mutation.
,What are some examples of how Radiation Protection works on a team concept? -
Answer-Between the healthcare workers and the patient
RT, Nurses, Radiologist, Specialty area
Between Professional organizations
ASRT, ARRT, ACR, Joint Commision
ACR = American College of Radiologist
What are four examples of how Radiographers and Radiologists can control radiant
energy? - Answer-Radiographer and Radiologist:
1. Educated in safe operations of the x-ray producing equipment
2. Use of protective devices whenever possible
3. Follow established procedures
4. Select technical factors and equipment that significantly reduce radiation exposure to
the patients and themselves
Radiation Protection is defined as:? - Answer-Effective measures employed by the
radiation workers to safe guard patients, personnel and the general public from
unnecessary radiation exposure to ionizing radiation.
What are the 3 different units that radiation can be measured? What do they measure?
What are the traditional units? What about the SI units? - Answer-Exposure (exposed):
amount of radiation produced in air
Traditional units = Roentgen {R}
SI unit = coulomb per kilogram {C/kg)} International Unit
Absorbed Dose: the amount of energy that is deposited in a material per unit of mass of
the material
Traditional units = rad (radiation absorbed dose)
SI units = gray {Gy} (milligray is 1/1000 of a gray {mGy}
Effective Dose: is an attempt to a quantity that is a measure of general harm to humans
Traditional units = rem (radiation equivalent to man
SI units = Sievert {Sv} (millisievert is equal to 1/1000 of a sievert {mSv}
To keep damage to a minimum, what is one principle that is used? - Answer-Damage
caused by exposure to radiation
To keep damage to a minimum the profession uses the following!
Principle of BENEFIT vs RISK
Does having this examination outweigh the risk of the exposure?
If the principle of Benefit vs Risk is used, and the examination outweighs the risk of the
exposure Diagnostic Efficacy is used. What does that mean? - Answer-Diagnostic
Efficacy is used:
, Is the degree to which the diagnostic study reveals the presence or absence of a
disease in the patient while following to radiation safety guidelines.
What does ALARA stand for? - Answer-As Low As Reasonably Achievable
What does ORP stand for? - Answer-optimization for radiation protection
What is the goal of ALARA? - Answer-GOAL: decrease exposure whenever possible
does not eliminate radiation exposure
provides guidelines to limit the risk of bodily injury
What are the 3 cardinal principles of radiation protection? - Answer-Three Principles
that limit exposure
TIME
DISTANCE
SHIELDING
How can radiographers use the time principle to limit exposure? - Answer-1. TIME
-- keep time spent in "active" area low
-- do not be in room during exposure unless needed
-- refers to radiographer's "working time" not time set on the control console
How can radiographers utilize the Distance principle to limit exposure? - Answer-.
DISTANCE
-- increase the distance between you & radiation source (scatter)
-- radiation divergence means radiation will cover a larger area as distance increases
-- learn & use Inverse Square Law
What is the INVERSE SQUARE LAW? And how can we use this to our advantage? -
Answer-The INTENSITY of Radiation is inversely related to the square of the distance.
Nice - but what does this mean?
If you double your distance, you will receive ¼ of the radiation exposure!
If starting distance is 20, and you take the second exposure at 40 inches. What will the
radiation intensity be? New intensity would be 20/4=5
How can radiographers utilize the shielding principle to limit exposure? -
Answer-.SHIELDNG
use absorber between yourself & radiation
wear a lead apron if you will be in the exposure room
wear lead gloves if your hands will be near the direct beam and patient
use the control console wall/window as a barrier
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
When was Radiation discovered? And who discovered it? - Answer-Radiation was
discover in 1895 by Wilhelm Roentgen
How is radiation defined? - Answer-Radiation is defined as the transfer of kinetic energy
from one location to another.
What is ionization? - Answer-Ionization is defined as an atom loses an electron or adds
an electon to the orbital shell(s)
Ionization is how radiation reacts with the body
What does kinesio mean? - Answer-Means motion
What are some properties of radiation? - Answer-X-rays are invisible
Penetrates matter
Travels in a straight line
Electrically neutral
Effects photographic film (how image becomes permanent)
Heterogeneous Wavelengths
Cannot be focused by a lens
Travels at a straight line
Causes certain crystals to fluorescence (used barium cyanide glow = blue)
Generates energy when passing through matter
Creates scatter and secondary radiation
Can cause biological changes
What are some consequences of ionization in the human cells? - Answer-Creation of
unstable atoms (ionized)
Production of free electrons
Production of low energy photons
Creation of highly reactive free molecules (called free radicals) capable of producing
substances poisonous to the cell *can cause a lot of damage or mutation
Creation of new biologic molecules detrimental to the living cells
Injury to the cells that can change the normal cell function or loss of function
What are free radicals? - Answer-highly reactive free molecules capable of producing
substances poisonous to the cell. Can cause a lot of damage or mutation.
,What are some examples of how Radiation Protection works on a team concept? -
Answer-Between the healthcare workers and the patient
RT, Nurses, Radiologist, Specialty area
Between Professional organizations
ASRT, ARRT, ACR, Joint Commision
ACR = American College of Radiologist
What are four examples of how Radiographers and Radiologists can control radiant
energy? - Answer-Radiographer and Radiologist:
1. Educated in safe operations of the x-ray producing equipment
2. Use of protective devices whenever possible
3. Follow established procedures
4. Select technical factors and equipment that significantly reduce radiation exposure to
the patients and themselves
Radiation Protection is defined as:? - Answer-Effective measures employed by the
radiation workers to safe guard patients, personnel and the general public from
unnecessary radiation exposure to ionizing radiation.
What are the 3 different units that radiation can be measured? What do they measure?
What are the traditional units? What about the SI units? - Answer-Exposure (exposed):
amount of radiation produced in air
Traditional units = Roentgen {R}
SI unit = coulomb per kilogram {C/kg)} International Unit
Absorbed Dose: the amount of energy that is deposited in a material per unit of mass of
the material
Traditional units = rad (radiation absorbed dose)
SI units = gray {Gy} (milligray is 1/1000 of a gray {mGy}
Effective Dose: is an attempt to a quantity that is a measure of general harm to humans
Traditional units = rem (radiation equivalent to man
SI units = Sievert {Sv} (millisievert is equal to 1/1000 of a sievert {mSv}
To keep damage to a minimum, what is one principle that is used? - Answer-Damage
caused by exposure to radiation
To keep damage to a minimum the profession uses the following!
Principle of BENEFIT vs RISK
Does having this examination outweigh the risk of the exposure?
If the principle of Benefit vs Risk is used, and the examination outweighs the risk of the
exposure Diagnostic Efficacy is used. What does that mean? - Answer-Diagnostic
Efficacy is used:
, Is the degree to which the diagnostic study reveals the presence or absence of a
disease in the patient while following to radiation safety guidelines.
What does ALARA stand for? - Answer-As Low As Reasonably Achievable
What does ORP stand for? - Answer-optimization for radiation protection
What is the goal of ALARA? - Answer-GOAL: decrease exposure whenever possible
does not eliminate radiation exposure
provides guidelines to limit the risk of bodily injury
What are the 3 cardinal principles of radiation protection? - Answer-Three Principles
that limit exposure
TIME
DISTANCE
SHIELDING
How can radiographers use the time principle to limit exposure? - Answer-1. TIME
-- keep time spent in "active" area low
-- do not be in room during exposure unless needed
-- refers to radiographer's "working time" not time set on the control console
How can radiographers utilize the Distance principle to limit exposure? - Answer-.
DISTANCE
-- increase the distance between you & radiation source (scatter)
-- radiation divergence means radiation will cover a larger area as distance increases
-- learn & use Inverse Square Law
What is the INVERSE SQUARE LAW? And how can we use this to our advantage? -
Answer-The INTENSITY of Radiation is inversely related to the square of the distance.
Nice - but what does this mean?
If you double your distance, you will receive ¼ of the radiation exposure!
If starting distance is 20, and you take the second exposure at 40 inches. What will the
radiation intensity be? New intensity would be 20/4=5
How can radiographers utilize the shielding principle to limit exposure? -
Answer-.SHIELDNG
use absorber between yourself & radiation
wear a lead apron if you will be in the exposure room
wear lead gloves if your hands will be near the direct beam and patient
use the control console wall/window as a barrier
