Bushong: Radiologic Science for Technologists, 10th Edition

Chapter 13: Screen-Film Radiographic Technique

Test Bank

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. What are the four primary exposure factors?

a. kVp, mAs, filtration, and voltage ripple
b. mA, time, distance, and filtration
c. kVp, mAs, time, and SID
d. mA, time, kVp controls, and focal spot size

ANS: C
The four primary exposure factors are kVp, mAs, time, and SID.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 237 OBJ: List the four prime exposure factors.

2. Changes in kVp affect _____.

a. optical density
b. image contrast
c. image noise
d. all of the above

ANS: D
Changes in kVp affect optical density, image contrast, and image noise.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 237 OBJ: Describe how changes in kVp affect the
image.

3. An increase in mAs causes _____ in beam quality and _____ in beam quantity.
a. an increase, a decrease
b. an increase, no change
c. an increase, an increase
d. no change, an increase

ANS: D
An increase in mAs causes no change in beam quality and an increase in beam quantity.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 238

OBJ: Discuss mAs in relation to x-ray beam quantity and quality.

4. There is a direct relationship between the quantity of x-rays and the _____.
a. milliamperage
b. kilovolt peak

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c. filter thickness
d. voltage ripple

ANS: A
There is a direct relationship between the quantity of x-rays and the milliamperage.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 238 OBJ: Discuss mAs in relation to x-ray beam
quantity.

5. If mAs is increased from 20 mAs to 40 mAs, the patient dose will _____.
a. not be affected
b. increase slightly
c. be halved
d. be doubled

ANS: D
If mAs is increased from 20 mAs to 40 mAs the patient dose will be doubled.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 239 OBJ: Discuss mAs in relation to patient dose.

6. Beam penetrability is increased if _____ is/are increased.

a. mAs
b. SID
c. kVp
d. all of the above

ANS: C
Beam penetrability is increased if kVp is increased.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 237

OBJ: Discuss kVp in relation to x-ray beam penetrability.

7. A _____% increase in kVp has the same effect on optical density as doubling the mAs.
a. 5
b. 15
c. 30
d. 50

ANS: B
A 15% increase in kVp has the same effect on optical density as doubling the mAs.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 248 OBJ: Identify how changes in kVp affect
optical density.

8. A radiograph with a long scale of contrast will have _____ latitude and _____ contrast.
a. narrow, low

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b. narrow, high
c. wide, low
d. wide, high

ANS: C
A radiograph with long scale of contrast will also have wide latitude and low contrast.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 249

OBJ: Identify the relationship between degrees of contrast, scale of contrast, and image
latitude.

9. A radiograph is taken using 75 kVp @ 20 mAs. Which change in technique would

increase contrast but maintain the same density?
a. 85 kVp @ 10 mAs
b. 85 kVp @ 40 mAs
c. 65 kVp @ 20 mAs
d. 65 kVp @ 40 mAs

ANS: D
Reducing kVp by 15% and doubling the mAs will increase contrast but maintain the
same optical density.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 248 OBJ: Identify technique changes that affect
contrast.

10. At least a _____% change in mAs is necessary to produce a visible change in optical
density.
a. 10
b. 15
c. 30
d. 50

ANS: C
At least a 30% change in mAs is necessary to produce a visible change in optical density.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 248

OBJ: Describe how changes of mAs affect the visible optical density of a radiograph.

11. A radiograph taken using 65 kVp @ 10 mAs is too light. Which technique would double
the optical density while producing a wider scale of contrast?
a. 75 kVp @ 10 mAs
b. 75 kVp @ 20 mAs
c. 55 kVp @ 20 mAs
d. 55 kVp @ 40 mAs

ANS: A

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A technique of 75 kVp @ 10 mAs would double the density while also widening the
scale of contrast.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 248

OBJ: Identify technique changes that affect optical density and scale of contrast.

12. Which technique would give the highest patient dose?

a. 90 kVp/200 mA @ 0.02 sec
b. 87 kVp/400 mA @ 0.02 sec
c. 74 kVp/400 mA @ 0.04 sec
d. 65 kVp/300 mA @ 0.1 sec

ANS: D
Patient dose increases are directly related to increases in mAs.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 238 OBJ: Discuss mAs and kVp in relation to
patient dose.

13. Patient thickness should be measured with the _____.

a. caliper
b. eyes
c. hands
d. SID tape

ANS: A
Patient thickness should be measured with the caliper.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 243 OBJ: State the correct way to measure patient
thickness.

14. The small focal spot will provide a _____.

I. higher quality x-rays beam
II. greater quantity of x-rays
III. finer detail of image
a. I only
b. I & III
c. III only
d. I, II & III

ANS: C
The small focal spot is used to provide a finer detail of image when less quantity of x-
rays is needed.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 241 OBJ: Describe the use of the small focal spot.

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15. Beam quality is improved when the _____ is increased, but _____ has no effect on beam
quality.
a. kilovoltage, filtration
b. kilovoltage, milliamperage
c. milliamperage, kilovoltage
d. milliamperage, filtration

ANS: B
Beam quality is improved when the kilovoltage is increased, but milliamperage has no
effect on beam quality.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 237

OBJ: Discuss mAs and kVp in relation to x-ray beam quantity and quality.

16. Both beam quality and beam quality are increased by _____.
a. increasing kVp
b. using 3-phase voltage
c. increasing mAs
d. both A and B

ANS: D
Both voltage waveform and kVp affect beam quality and quantity.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 237-238

OBJ: Discuss the factors that affect x-ray beam quantity and quality.

17. Added filtration has the effect of _____ the beam quality and _____ patient dose.
a. reducing, increasing
b. reducing, reducing
c. increasing, reducing
d. increasing, increasing

ANS: C
Added filtration has the effect of increasing the beam quality and reducing patient dose.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 249

OBJ: Describe the effect of added filtration on beam quality and patient dose.

18. List the following tissues in order from the most radiolucent to the most radiopaque.
I. muscle
II. fat
III. lung
IV. bone
a. IV, I, II, III
b. III, I, II, IV
c. III, II, I, IV

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d. II, III, I, IV

ANS: C
Lung is the most radiolucent tissue in the body. Fat is more radiolucent than muscle and
bone is the most radiopaque.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 244

OBJ: Understand which body tissues are more radiolucent and which are more
radiopaque.

19. Which medical condition may require a lower technique?

a. atelectasis
b. emphysema
c. pneumonia
d. pleural effusion

ANS: B
Emphysema makes the lungs more radiolucent, while the other conditions listed make the
lungs more radiopaque.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 245

OBJ: Understand how some medical conditions require changes in radiographic
technique.

20. When only the optical density needs to be changed, only the _____ should be adjusted.
a. mAs
b. kVp
c. SID
d. filtration

ANS: A
When only the optical density needs to be changed, only the mAs should be adjusted.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 245

OBJ: Understand the direct relationship between mAs and optical density.

21. Sharpness of detail can be improved by increasing _____.

a. SID
b. OID
c. focal spot size
d. all of the above

ANS: A
Sharpness of detail can be improved by increasing SID.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 251

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OBJ: Identify relationship between SID and sharpness of detail.

22. Foreshortening is caused by a(n) _____.

a. angled beam when the body part is parallel the image receptor
b. angled body part when the beam is perpendicular to the image receptor
c. angled beam that is perpendicular to the body part
d. perpendicular beam and the body part parallel to the image receptor

ANS: B
Foreshortening is caused by an angled body part when the beam is perpendicular to the
image receptor.

DIF: Difficult REF: page 252 OBJ: Describe the cause of foreshortening.

23. In a variable kVp technique chart, the optimal mAs is set for each body part and there is a
_____ kVp increase for each cm of thickness.
a. 6
b. 4
c. 2
d. 1

ANS: C
In a variable kVp technique chart the optimal mAs is set for each body part and there is a
2 kVp increase for each cm of thickness.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 254 OBJ: Discuss the variable kVp technique chart.

24. A variable mAs technique chart has a set kVp and specific mAs settings for _____.
a. small, medium, and large parts
b. every 2 cm of thickness
c. every 6 cm of thickness
d. either A or B

ANS: D
A variable mAs technique chart has a set kVp and specific mAs settings either for small,
medium, and large parts or for every 2 cm of thickness.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 254 OBJ: Describe the variable mAs technique
chart.

25. With automatic exposure control the exposure is terminated when the optimum _____ is
reached.
a. OD
b. time
c. mAs
d. kVp

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ANS: A
With automatic exposure control the exposure is terminated when the optimum optical
density is reached.

DIF: Moderate REF: page 257

OBJ: Describe how automatic exposure control is designed to terminate an exposure.

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.