Answer the following statement(s) true (T) or false (F)

Question

1. Saturation current occurs when an increase in kVp no longer has an effect on the percentage of electrons accelerated across the x-ray tube.
2. Tungsten is the most common target material used because of its ability to enhance thermal conductivity, dissipate heat, and efficiently convert high-speed electrons to x-ray photons.
3. The thermionic cloud of electrons is kept from drifting away by the negative force of the focusing cup.
4. Tomography is referred to as linear because the x-ray tube and the image receptor move in same directions during the x-ray exposure.
5. The vacuum tube creates a less-efficient means of x-ray production.

Answer 1

1. TRUE Typically saturation occurs at 100 kVp or greater.
2. TRUE The element tungsten (W), with a high atomic number of 74, has is the most common target material for basic diagnostic x-ray units.
3. TRUE The thermionic cloud will then be accelerated across to the anode target when kVp is applied.
4. FALSE In linear tomography, the x-ray tube and the image receptor move in opposite directions simultaneously along the longitudinal axis of the x-ray table.
5. FALSE X-ray tube vacuums are made to allow electrons to travel from the cathode to the anode without interruption from air or gas molecules for better efficiency.