Ionizing radiation
By Iesa Majeed
,What is ionizing
radiation?
Ionizing radiation is a form of
electromagnetic radiation which
can knock off electrons from an
atom or molecule. Ionizing
radiation also passes through all
types of mediums and can travel
unseen.
,The production of X-Rays
X-Rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation which are
made when electrons are slowed down from a high
velocity, compared to that of gamma waves which are
made from the decay of radioactive materials.
A filament wire heats up in an X-Ray machine and then
discharges electrons through the photoelectric effect. The
electron then travels through a vacuum in the direction of
the anode plate (made from Tungsten), it then
decelerates as it passes through the material.
As the electrons are slowed, they move through the
plate’s electric field but occasionally they rearrange the
electrons in the atom so that when they go down an
energy level, they release an X-Ray. These are known as
breaking radiation and characteristic radiation,
respectively.
, The principles of X-Rays
Since X-Ray beams have a high penetration power and can pass
through less dense mediums such as muscles as these do not absorb
much X-Rays and as a result will be much darker and less visible on
the X-Ray. However the high penetrable power is stopped by more
dense mediums such as bones. These leave and image which is more
apparent on the X-Ray and are lighter in imaging.
As X-Rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, meaning they
move apart as they travel. The more distance the X-Ray travels, the
lower the intensity. The intensity drops by ¼ of the its original value
as the distance doubles.
The X-Rays penetrability can be changed to let different parts of the
body by altering the amount of energy it has. For instance, X-Rays
can be easily absorbed by body tissue if the energy in the X-Rays are
lower (longer wavelength). In opposition, X-Rays can be easily
absorbed by bone if the energy in the X-Rays are higher (shorter
wavelength). This enables the X-Ray to concentrate on a certain part
of a person’s body., to show the clearest image for medical staff to
examine.
X-Rays can also be purified through a slim metal plate prior to the X-
Ray reaching the patient. This is to lessen the amount of absorption
of lower energy X-Ray photons by healthy tissue. If this didn’t occur,
the patient’s healthy tissue would overheat and get damaged.
By Iesa Majeed
,What is ionizing
radiation?
Ionizing radiation is a form of
electromagnetic radiation which
can knock off electrons from an
atom or molecule. Ionizing
radiation also passes through all
types of mediums and can travel
unseen.
,The production of X-Rays
X-Rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation which are
made when electrons are slowed down from a high
velocity, compared to that of gamma waves which are
made from the decay of radioactive materials.
A filament wire heats up in an X-Ray machine and then
discharges electrons through the photoelectric effect. The
electron then travels through a vacuum in the direction of
the anode plate (made from Tungsten), it then
decelerates as it passes through the material.
As the electrons are slowed, they move through the
plate’s electric field but occasionally they rearrange the
electrons in the atom so that when they go down an
energy level, they release an X-Ray. These are known as
breaking radiation and characteristic radiation,
respectively.
, The principles of X-Rays
Since X-Ray beams have a high penetration power and can pass
through less dense mediums such as muscles as these do not absorb
much X-Rays and as a result will be much darker and less visible on
the X-Ray. However the high penetrable power is stopped by more
dense mediums such as bones. These leave and image which is more
apparent on the X-Ray and are lighter in imaging.
As X-Rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, meaning they
move apart as they travel. The more distance the X-Ray travels, the
lower the intensity. The intensity drops by ¼ of the its original value
as the distance doubles.
The X-Rays penetrability can be changed to let different parts of the
body by altering the amount of energy it has. For instance, X-Rays
can be easily absorbed by body tissue if the energy in the X-Rays are
lower (longer wavelength). In opposition, X-Rays can be easily
absorbed by bone if the energy in the X-Rays are higher (shorter
wavelength). This enables the X-Ray to concentrate on a certain part
of a person’s body., to show the clearest image for medical staff to
examine.
X-Rays can also be purified through a slim metal plate prior to the X-
Ray reaching the patient. This is to lessen the amount of absorption
of lower energy X-Ray photons by healthy tissue. If this didn’t occur,
the patient’s healthy tissue would overheat and get damaged.
