Meaghan Piretti’s Study Guide: Image Production
Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+ Grade
Exam Preparation Material
What is the incoming voltage coming into the circuit - ANSWER -220 volts AC
Which transformer comes first in the circuit - ANSWER -autotransformer
What is the role of the autotransformer - ANSWER -kV selector
The autotransformer works on what kind of induction? - ANSWER -Self
induction
What is the role of the step up transformer - ANSWER -changes volts to kilovolts
What is the role of the step down transformer? - ANSWER -decrease the voltage
and increase the current
Step-up and step-down transformers operate on what principle? - ANSWER -
mutual induction
What is the role of the rectifier - ANSWER -Convert AC to DC
What is the difference between AC and DC - ANSWER -The dc moves in one
direction and ac moves back and forth.
What works on AC in the x-ray circuit - ANSWER -The transformers
What works on DC in the circuit - ANSWER -The xray tube
What is a rheostat? - ANSWER -variable resistor
When a technologist increases the mA on the control panel what other factors
increase - ANSWER -Current
Heat
# of electrons
# of x-rays
,tube current - ANSWER -flow of electrons from cathode to anode
How does mA relate to the number of x-rays produced? - ANSWER -current
determines the number of X-rays produced. This is also known as X-ray quantity.
An increase in mA results in a higher production of electrons inside the X-ray tube,
which increases the quantity of X-radiation.
How does mA relate to thermionic emission? - ANSWER -The number of
electrons flowing determines the number of electrons released during thermionic
emission.
How is mAs calculated? - ANSWER -mA x time = mAs
What is reciprocity law - ANSWER -The Reciprocity Law basically states that
any combination of mA and time that equal the same mAs will create the same
density on a radiograph when all other factors are the same.
tube potential - ANSWER -Difference in charge between cathode and anode
How does kVp relate to the energy of the electron beam - ANSWER -directly
proportional
How does kVp relate to beam quality - ANSWER -directly proportional
Can kVp also change the intensity of the beam? - ANSWER -Yes. (15% rule)
How does kVp relate to patient dose - ANSWER -Directly; more photons striking
the pt
Describe the 15% rule - ANSWER -an increase in 15% of kVp will be equivalent
to doubling mAs, vice versa (double density)
What does SID stand for - ANSWER -source image distance
How does increasing distance affect the intensity - ANSWER -Increasing distance
decreases intensity (inverse square law)
What are primary exposure factors? - ANSWER -mA, exposure time, kVp, SID
, Where is the AEC located in the x-ray room? - ANSWER -Between the patient
and the IR within the table or wall bucky
How does AEC work? - ANSWER -By adjusting the exposure time to ensure the
detector reaches the proper exposure
What is the back up timer used for on AEC? - ANSWER -The backup timer is the
maximum time the exposure can be kept on. It is normally set for 150% of the
expected exposure. This is a safety precaution to protect AEC dysfunction or
operator error.
What is the minimum response time for AEC? - ANSWER -The shortest possible
exposure time. 0.001s or 1ms
When would a tech use density controls? - ANSWER -To change receptor
exposure. For very small or very large patients.
What is a disadvantage of AEC? - ANSWER -- it requires proper positioning, and
it can reduce the need to memorize proper techniques
What is considered a technologist error when using AEC? - ANSWER --
positioning outside of selected cells
-selecting the wrong cells
-placing a lead shield in a selected cell
What are the density controls used for in AEC? - ANSWER -Adjusting receptor
exposure for smaller or larger pts.
(Each factor increases or decreases exposure by 25%; +1 = a 25% increase, +2 = a
50% increase, etc.)
How will increasing kVp change the seconds during the exposure - ANSWER -It
will decrease seconds
How will increasing mA change the exposure time - ANSWER -It will decrease
seconds
How will decreasing mA change the seconds during an exposure? - ANSWER -
Increase seconds
Questions and Answers 2026/2027 | A+ Grade
Exam Preparation Material
What is the incoming voltage coming into the circuit - ANSWER -220 volts AC
Which transformer comes first in the circuit - ANSWER -autotransformer
What is the role of the autotransformer - ANSWER -kV selector
The autotransformer works on what kind of induction? - ANSWER -Self
induction
What is the role of the step up transformer - ANSWER -changes volts to kilovolts
What is the role of the step down transformer? - ANSWER -decrease the voltage
and increase the current
Step-up and step-down transformers operate on what principle? - ANSWER -
mutual induction
What is the role of the rectifier - ANSWER -Convert AC to DC
What is the difference between AC and DC - ANSWER -The dc moves in one
direction and ac moves back and forth.
What works on AC in the x-ray circuit - ANSWER -The transformers
What works on DC in the circuit - ANSWER -The xray tube
What is a rheostat? - ANSWER -variable resistor
When a technologist increases the mA on the control panel what other factors
increase - ANSWER -Current
Heat
# of electrons
# of x-rays
,tube current - ANSWER -flow of electrons from cathode to anode
How does mA relate to the number of x-rays produced? - ANSWER -current
determines the number of X-rays produced. This is also known as X-ray quantity.
An increase in mA results in a higher production of electrons inside the X-ray tube,
which increases the quantity of X-radiation.
How does mA relate to thermionic emission? - ANSWER -The number of
electrons flowing determines the number of electrons released during thermionic
emission.
How is mAs calculated? - ANSWER -mA x time = mAs
What is reciprocity law - ANSWER -The Reciprocity Law basically states that
any combination of mA and time that equal the same mAs will create the same
density on a radiograph when all other factors are the same.
tube potential - ANSWER -Difference in charge between cathode and anode
How does kVp relate to the energy of the electron beam - ANSWER -directly
proportional
How does kVp relate to beam quality - ANSWER -directly proportional
Can kVp also change the intensity of the beam? - ANSWER -Yes. (15% rule)
How does kVp relate to patient dose - ANSWER -Directly; more photons striking
the pt
Describe the 15% rule - ANSWER -an increase in 15% of kVp will be equivalent
to doubling mAs, vice versa (double density)
What does SID stand for - ANSWER -source image distance
How does increasing distance affect the intensity - ANSWER -Increasing distance
decreases intensity (inverse square law)
What are primary exposure factors? - ANSWER -mA, exposure time, kVp, SID
, Where is the AEC located in the x-ray room? - ANSWER -Between the patient
and the IR within the table or wall bucky
How does AEC work? - ANSWER -By adjusting the exposure time to ensure the
detector reaches the proper exposure
What is the back up timer used for on AEC? - ANSWER -The backup timer is the
maximum time the exposure can be kept on. It is normally set for 150% of the
expected exposure. This is a safety precaution to protect AEC dysfunction or
operator error.
What is the minimum response time for AEC? - ANSWER -The shortest possible
exposure time. 0.001s or 1ms
When would a tech use density controls? - ANSWER -To change receptor
exposure. For very small or very large patients.
What is a disadvantage of AEC? - ANSWER -- it requires proper positioning, and
it can reduce the need to memorize proper techniques
What is considered a technologist error when using AEC? - ANSWER --
positioning outside of selected cells
-selecting the wrong cells
-placing a lead shield in a selected cell
What are the density controls used for in AEC? - ANSWER -Adjusting receptor
exposure for smaller or larger pts.
(Each factor increases or decreases exposure by 25%; +1 = a 25% increase, +2 = a
50% increase, etc.)
How will increasing kVp change the seconds during the exposure - ANSWER -It
will decrease seconds
How will increasing mA change the exposure time - ANSWER -It will decrease
seconds
How will decreasing mA change the seconds during an exposure? - ANSWER -
Increase seconds
