X-Rays
Published on Nov 20, 2015
An explanation on one of the Electromagnetic Spectrum's rays: X-Rays.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
X-Rays
Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of wavelengths and frequencies over which the electromagnetic radiation extends to.
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Like all E.M. Radiation, these rays travel as transverse waves and all travel at the same speed in a vacuum: 299 792 458 metres/per second.
Physical Characteristics of an X-ray
- Wavelength: 0.1 to 10 nanometres
- Frequency: 30 petahertz-30 extrahertz
- X-rays lie between the gamma rays and the ultraviolet rays.
- Because the wavelength of an x-ray is small, its energy is more than of that of ultraviolet.
- It's size is as equivalent to an atom
These are found at airports. They use a low-power x-ray that is placed over a conveyor belt where it scans whatever goes through the conveyor.
This x-ray machine has to be at an accurate frequency, so it is strong enough to penetrate through hard-shelled baggage, but low enough to stop accidental exposure of camera film.
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Crystallography is the blending of substances together. Scientists use maps of a chemical's atomic structure, which can only be drawn by using x-ray crystallography. This is also used by scientist to create a large amount of a medical chemical.
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Because metal, bones and teeth are dense and absorb more x-rays than your skin, silhouettes of bones, metal and teeth are left on the x-ray film while your skin looks transparent.
These shadows are to see if a bone is fractured or if a foreign material is inside of you.
Photo by Pandora's Perspective
The First X-ray
1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen
The first x-ray was an accidental invention- by Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist in 1895.
He found that a cathode-ray tube can emit invisible rays that can penetrate through paper.
The actual process of discovering x-rays were not really known, because Röntgen asked his records to be burnt when he died.
Medical x-rays are produced by letting a stream of fast electrons to come at a sudden stop at a metal plate. The images that these x-ray machines produced are because of the different absorbing rates of different materials and tissues.
For example, the calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white on an x-ray film or radiograph. Air absorbs the least so our lungs look black, other tissues look grey.
The First X-ray was accidentally invented in 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen who was a German physicist. Even though his lab reports were burnt in orders before his death, there are many speculations about the method he use to create the x-ray machine and what exact procedures he used to ‘accidentally’ discover this phenomenon.
Wilhelm Röntgen found that a cathode-ray tube emitted invisible rays that can go through paper and wood. These rays caused a screen of fluorescent material many metres away to glow. Wilhelm Röntgen used this to study the bone structure of the human hand.
The modern x-ray machines are just modified cathode-ray tube. These were not invented until several years after the discovery. These x-ray machines are still used the same way as it has been used years ago. They let us see what we cannot without technology. Just like Röntgen we use this device to see bone fragments and fractures. Now, they are the common use for medicinal purposes.
But however, there are many changes in the advanced x-ray machine. There are now two categories: those the create ‘hard’ X-rays and others that create ‘soft’ X-rays. Soft X-rays let us photograph bones and internal organs, with little frequency.
Hard x-rays are used in radiotherapy which treats cancer with high voltage.
For example, the calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white on an x-ray film or radiograph. Air absorbs the least so our lungs look black, other tissues look grey.
The First X-ray was accidentally invented in 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen who was a German physicist. Even though his lab reports were burnt in orders before his death, there are many speculations about the method he use to create the x-ray machine and what exact procedures he used to ‘accidentally’ discover this phenomenon.
Wilhelm Röntgen found that a cathode-ray tube emitted invisible rays that can go through paper and wood. These rays caused a screen of fluorescent material many metres away to glow. Wilhelm Röntgen used this to study the bone structure of the human hand.
The modern x-ray machines are just modified cathode-ray tube. These were not invented until several years after the discovery. These x-ray machines are still used the same way as it has been used years ago. They let us see what we cannot without technology. Just like Röntgen we use this device to see bone fragments and fractures. Now, they are the common use for medicinal purposes.
But however, there are many changes in the advanced x-ray machine. There are now two categories: those the create ‘hard’ X-rays and others that create ‘soft’ X-rays. Soft X-rays let us photograph bones and internal organs, with little frequency.
Hard x-rays are used in radiotherapy which treats cancer with high voltage.
This is the first "medical" x-ray scan conducted by Wilhelm Röntgen.
"Hand mit Ringen" (Hand with Ring).
MODIFICATION
- The modern x-ray machines are just modified cathode-ray tube. These were not invented until several years after the discovery. These x-ray machines are still used the same way as it has been used years ago. They let us see what we cannot without technology. Just like Röntgen we use this device to see bone fragments and fractures. Now, they are the common use for medicinal purposes.
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IMPROVEMENTS
- But however, there are many changes in the advanced x-ray machine. There are now two categories: those the create ‘hard’ X-rays and others that create ‘soft’ X-rays. Soft X-rays let us photograph bones and internal organs, with little frequency. Hard x-rays are used in radiotherapy which treats cancer with high voltage.
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X-rays are safe when we use it safely. Overexposure to x-rays can raise the risk for cancer. Exposure to chest x-rays may increase the risk for breast cancer in mutation carriers.
Repeated x-rays can cause overexposure.
But chances are small.
MRI has no major risks, dangers or side effects. But having an MRI scan during pregnancy is dangerous because a fetas/embryo is more vulnerable to x-rays
People with a pacemaker, hearing aid or other electrical device can be affected because of the magnet at the centre of the procedure.
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Effective dose is a calculate value that is measured in mSv that takes three factors into account:
-the absorbed dose to all organs of the body.
-the relative harm lever of the radiation
-the sensitivities of each organ to radiation
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"The dose required for an x-ray depends on what needs to be imaged. For example, a chest x-ray has the equivalent dose of a few days of normal background radiation we are continually exposed to. According to the National Health Service (NHS), UK, it increases your risk of developing cancer by about 1 in a million, a negligible increase. Bear in mind that humans have a 1 in 3 chance of developing cancer at some time during their lifetime anyway."
-Christian Nordqvist (Medical News Today)
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HOW TO BE SAFE?
- Wearing a special suit, fitted with lead stops x-rays from penetrating through you.
- A calculated dose and having a professional handle the machine, to determine the smallest amount of radiation needed for each type of procedure.
- Do not have an x-ray if you're pregnant.
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X-rays
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X-rays -The Electromagnetic Spectrum
NASA Official: Ruth Netting
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The First X-ray, 1895
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The First X-ray
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What is Radiation Dose
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