Radiography Exam Radiology Tech 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the annual occupational whole-body effective dose limit for radiation workers in the US?
- 1 mSv
- 5 mSv
- 50 mSv (Correct answer)
- 100 mSv
Correct answer: 50 mSv
The NRC and NCRP set the annual occupational effective dose limit at 50 mSv (5 rem) for radiation workers.
Question 2: Which property of X-rays allows them to penetrate matter?
- They carry an electrical charge
- They travel at the speed of light
- They are high-energy photons with no mass or charge (Correct answer)
- They have a very long wavelength
Correct answer: They are high-energy photons with no mass or charge
X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with no mass or charge, enabling them to penetrate matter with their interaction determined by photon energy and tissue density.
Question 3: What does the term 'attenuation' mean in radiography?
- The increase in X-ray intensity through a medium
- The reduction of X-ray beam intensity as it passes through matter (Correct answer)
- The focusing of X-rays to a point
- The production of secondary electrons
Correct answer: The reduction of X-ray beam intensity as it passes through matter
Attenuation refers to the reduction in X-ray beam intensity caused by absorption and scatter as it passes through matter.
Question 4: Which radiographic positioning term describes the patient lying face down?
- Supine
- Prone (Correct answer)
- Lateral decubitus
- Trendelenburg
Correct answer: Prone
Prone describes the patient positioned face down on the table, opposite to the supine (face up) position.
Question 5: What is the effect of increasing kVp on radiographic contrast?
- Increases contrast (more black and white)
- Decreases contrast (more gray scale) (Correct answer)
- Has no effect on contrast
- Increases spatial resolution
Correct answer: Decreases contrast (more gray scale)
Higher kVp produces a more penetrating beam with greater Compton scatter, resulting in a longer gray scale and lower (reduced) contrast.
Question 6: Which personal dosimeter provides the most accurate measure of radiation exposure for a worker?
- Film badge
- Pocket ionization chamber
- Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD)
- Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeter (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeter
OSL dosimeters offer high accuracy, wide dose range, rereadability, and energy independence, making them the most accurate personal monitoring devices.
Question 7: Which plane divides the body into anterior and posterior halves?
- Sagittal plane
- Coronal plane (Correct answer)
- Transverse plane
- Oblique plane
Correct answer: Coronal plane
The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
Radiography Exam Radiology Tech 3
What is the annual occupational whole-body effective dose limit for radiation workers in the US?