Chapter 5: Radiation Characteristics

5. regulates the temperature of the cathode filament
6. the product of the quantity (number of photons) and quality (energy of each photon) per unit of area per unit of time of exposure
7. (kV)the maximum voltage, or peak voltage of an alternating current
8. (mA) equal to 1/1000 of an ampere
9. determines the amount of electrons passing through the cathode filament
10. the overall darkness or blackness of an image
15. the unit of measurement used to describe the potential that drives an electrical current through a circuit
17. describes the mean energy or penetrating ability of the xray beam; Controlled by kilovoltage
18. the unit of measure used to describe the number of electrons, or current, flowing through the cathode filament
19. the interval of time during which x-rays are produced

1. determines the energy and penetrating power of radiation
2. the thickness of aluminum placed in the path of the xray beam that reduces the intensity by half
3. refers to the number of xrays produced in the dental xray unit
4. (kV)equals 1000 volts
11. a term of measurement that refers to the fact that xrays are created in a series of bursts or pulses rather than in a continuous stream
12. how sharply dark and light areas are differentiated or separated on an image
13. square law the intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of radiation
14. a measurement of force that refers to the potential difference between two electrical charges
16. (wavelength and energy) of the xray beam is controlled by the kilovoltage