X-Rays and Radiation

X-Rays and Radiation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

X-Rays

Physics Connections

X-rays are used to see images inside the body. They are used by sending radiation through your body. The results are produced on another machine to show what is wrong with the patient.

X-rays are electromagnetic and require no medium to travel through. Electromagnetic waves also travel as transversal waves.

When the radiation waves are sent out the body dampens the waves and it is absorbed. It is easier for the radiation to travel through organs, tissue, and fat rather than bones. That is why you are able to see the bones so much clearer. The amount of radiation that is being emitted also has to do with how clear the image is.

Transverse Wave

Electromagnetic

Radiation therapy

The tyes of waves are effected by what is needed. If an x-ray is needed, then the waves reflect the image back to the machine. If radiation therapy is being used then the waves try to make them not reflect.

The difference between an x-ray and radiation therapy is that x-rays are meant to see the overall issue of what is going on while radiation therapy is meant to target a specific area of the body.

When the radiation waves are eing emitted, then there is no constructive or destructive interferiance.

The danger to radiotherapy is that the human body can only take so much radiation in a lifetime before there are deadly side effects. That is why doctors and scientists have developed devices to keep others near the machine and the ones in the machine safe too.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .