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Canned food manufacturers use X-ray machines.

Medical Physics - X-rays

In GCSE Physics you study X-rays, learning how these high-energy waves produce images of bones and how hospitals keep patients and staff safe.

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Fascinating Fact:

Radiographers wear protective clothing and may stand behind screens to reduce their own exposure during imaging.

In GCSE Physics, you learn how X-rays are produced, how they pass more easily through soft tissue than bone, and how detectors turn this pattern into clear medical images.

Key Terms

X-ray: A form of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation that can pass through the body.
Attenuation: The gradual weakening of an X-ray beam as it passes through different tissues.
Detector: The device that records X-rays after they pass through the patient to form an image.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are X-rays used for in GCSE medical physics?

In GCSE medical physics, X-rays are mainly used to detect broken bones, dental problems and chest issues. They show where bones or tissues absorb more or fewer X-rays than the surrounding areas.

How does an X-ray machine produce an image?

An X-ray tube produces a beam of X-rays that is aimed through the patient. Different tissues absorb the beam by different amounts, and a detector on the other side records this pattern as a picture.

How are patients kept safe when having an X-ray?

Patients are kept safe by using the lowest possible dose, shielding parts of the body not being imaged, and carefully limiting the time and area exposed to the X-ray beam.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Why do precautions need to be taken when X-ray machines are in use?

X-rays can cause cancer

X-rays can stop the growth of cells and even destroy them

X-rays can double cell growth causing internal issues

All of the above

X-rays are an example of ionising radiation

2 .

X-rays affect photographic film in the same way as which other wave in the electromagnetic spectrum?

Gamma rays

Microwaves

Infrared waves

Light

X-ray photographs look very different to photographs taken using visible light

3 .

The wavelength of an X-ray is of the same order of magnitude as what?

A hair

A stone

An atom

An electron

They have very short wavelengths and therefore very high frequencies

4 .

Which electromagnetic wave has the most energy?

X-rays

Light

Radio waves

Microwaves

X-rays have the most energy followed by light, then microwaves and with the least energy, radio waves

5 .

X-rays can be used to destroy which harmful cells?

Muscle cells

Cancer cells

Animal cells

Nerves

They need to be carefully targeted in order to avoid damaging surrounding cells

6 .

In which place would you most likely find an X-ray machine?

Airport

Hospital

Baked bean factory

All of the above

Yes! - You would find an X-ray machine in all of those places. Canned food manufacturers use X-ray machines to check to make sure there are no foreign items packaged within their cans and airports use them to check inside bags for security

7 .

Which of the following absorbs the most X-rays?

Metal

Bone

Cloth

Both metal and bone

X-rays will travel through cloth easily

8 .

X-rays are part of which spectrum?

Electromagnetic spectrum

Chemical spectrum

ZX spectrum

Frequency spectrum

X-rays are electromagnetic waves and as such are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. As an electromagnetic wave, they are able to travel through the vacuum of space without difficulty

9 .

What can X-rays be used to diagnose?

Bone fractures

Dental problems

Bladder stones

All of the above

X-rays are used in many medical situations. Simple X-ray machines work best when hard materials like bones, teeth and hard growths like kidney or gall stones are involved. Computers have allowed the development of CAT scanners which use X-rays to look at soft tissue as well

10 .

Which electronic device allows images from X-rays to be formed electronically?

Microfilm

SD card

CCD (Charge-coupled device)

Mobile phone

CCDs are used to capture other forms of electromagnetic radiation too e.g. light in a digital camera

Author: Martin Moore