Medical Physics for GCSE: X-rays & Ultrasound Uses

Physics Quiz - Medical Physics - Medical Applications (Questions)

In GCSE Physics you explore medical imaging and treatments that use waves and radiation to look inside the body and help diagnose illness.

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Fascinating Fact:

Ultrasound scanners use high frequency sound waves that reflect off tissues; the echoes are processed to form real time images, for example of a developing baby.

In GCSE Physics, you learn how techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound and radioactive tracers help doctors see inside the body and monitor how organs are working.

Key Terms

Ultrasound: Sound waves with a frequency above human hearing, used for medical imaging and other applications.
X-ray: A form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that can pass through the body to produce images of bones and tissues.
Radioactive tracer: A small amount of radioactive substance used to show how a part of the body is working.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What medical imaging methods do we study in GCSE Physics?

In GCSE Physics you usually study X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound and sometimes gamma-ray imaging. These methods use waves or radiation to create images of bones, organs and other internal structures.

How does ultrasound imaging work in GCSE medical physics?

Ultrasound imaging works by sending high-frequency sound waves into the body. The waves reflect off boundaries between tissues, and a computer uses the echoes to build a moving image on the screen.

What are the main risks and benefits of X-rays in medicine?

X-rays can damage cells because they are ionising radiation, so doses must be kept low. However, they are very useful for detecting broken bones, chest problems and some types of cancer.

Try These Related Quizzes

Which of the following radiation used in medical physics is non-ionising?

[ ]	Ultrasound
[ ]	X-ray
[ ]	Both
[ ]	Neither

Which of the following radiation used in medical physics is ionising?

[ ]	Ultrasound
[ ]	X-ray
[ ]	Both
[ ]	Neither

Which type of lens would be used to correct short-sightedness?

[ ]	Convex
[ ]	Concave
[ ]	Converging
[ ]	Plano-concave

Which type of lens would be used to correct long-sightedness?

[ ]	Diverging
[ ]	Plano-convex
[ ]	Concave
[ ]	Convex

Radioisotopes are used in medical imaging to view how the body is functioning, but how are radioisotopes selected to be used in this kind of imaging process?

[ ]	Have a short half-life (hours)
[ ]	Not emit alpha radiation
[ ]	Emit gamma radiation
[ ]	All of the above

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of a CT scanner over an X-ray?

[ ]	It provides a highly detailed image
[ ]	It gives a higher dose of radiation
[ ]	Can distinguish between bone and soft tissue
[ ]	It gives a 3D image

Which of the following would be used to obtain an image of a person's bone structure?

[ ]	Ultrasound
[ ]	X-ray
[ ]	Gamma ray
[ ]	Beta radiation

Which type of radiation is used to sterilise foods and medical equipment?

[ ]	Alpha
[ ]	Beta
[ ]	Gamma
[ ]	None of the above

What does a CT scanner usually consist of?

[ ]	An x-ray tube which continually rotates around your body
[ ]	An x-fluorescent tube which continually rotates around your body
[ ]	A gamma ray tube which continually rotates around your body
[ ]	An x-ray tube which is placed above your body

10.

What are possible dangers of using X-rays in medical physics?

[ ]	Tissue damage
[ ]	Mutations
[ ]	Both
[ ]	Neither

Physics Quiz - Medical Physics - Medical Applications (Answers)

Which of the following radiation used in medical physics is non-ionising?

[x]	Ultrasound
[ ]	X-ray
[ ]	Both
[ ]	Neither

It can be used to examine a foetus as it will not harm its cells

Which of the following radiation used in medical physics is ionising?

[ ]	Ultrasound
[x]	X-ray
[ ]	Both
[ ]	Neither

Ionising radiation can damage the DNA within cells

Which type of lens would be used to correct short-sightedness?

[ ]	Convex
[x]	Concave
[ ]	Converging
[ ]	Plano-concave

In short sight, the lens of the eye bends the light too much so the focal point is in front of the retina. The use of a concave lens moves the focal point so that it is exactly on the retina and therefore the image is in focus

Which type of lens would be used to correct long-sightedness?

[ ]	Diverging
[ ]	Plano-convex
[ ]	Concave
[x]	Convex

The focal point in long-sightedness is behind the retina, using a convex lens in front of the eye's own lens shortens the focal length, bringing the light to a focus exactly on the retina

Radioisotopes are used in medical imaging to view how the body is functioning, but how are radioisotopes selected to be used in this kind of imaging process?

[ ]	Have a short half-life (hours)
[ ]	Not emit alpha radiation
[ ]	Emit gamma radiation
[x]	All of the above

When radioisotopes emit their radiation, we can detect the radiation with accurate detectors allowing us to track the path of the substance in the body

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of a CT scanner over an X-ray?

[ ]	It provides a highly detailed image
[x]	It gives a higher dose of radiation
[ ]	Can distinguish between bone and soft tissue
[ ]	It gives a 3D image

A CT scan involves taking many images using X-rays so a greater dose of radiation passes through the patient

Which of the following would be used to obtain an image of a person's bone structure?

[ ]	Ultrasound
[x]	X-ray
[ ]	Gamma ray
[ ]	Beta radiation

X-rays do not pass through solids as easily as soft tissue

Which type of radiation is used to sterilise foods and medical equipment?

[ ]	Alpha
[ ]	Beta
[x]	Gamma
[ ]	None of the above

The high energy of gamma rays is able to kill off bacteria which could cause illness or reduce the time a product stays fresh