32 Worksheet (A2)

Data needed to answer questions can be found in the Data, formulae and relationships sheet. 1 State the nature of X-ray radiation. 2 The energy of an X-ray photon is 50 keV. a Calculate the energy of the photon in joules. b Calculate the wavelength of the X-rays. 3 One of the interaction mechanisms between X-rays and matter is the photoelectric effect. Name the two other interaction mechanisms. 4 State one main difference between the images produced by a normal X-ray machine and by a CAT scan. 5 Briefly explain what is meant by a non-invasive technique. 6 State what is meant by ultrasound. 7 The speed of ultrasound in soft tissue is 1.5 km s1. a Calculate the wavelength of ultrasound of frequency 1.8 MHz. b Use your answer to part a to explain why high-frequency ultrasound is suitable for medical scans. 8 Define acoustic impedance. 9 The table below shows useful data for biological materials. Material soft tissue muscle bone blood Density / kg m3 1060 1075 ? 1060 Speed of ultrasound / m s1 1540 1590 4000 1570 Acoustic impedance Z / 106 kg m2 s1 1.63 1.71 6.40 1.66 [2] [3] [2] [5] [1] [1] [2] [2] [1] [1] [2] [2] [2] [1] [1] [2] [2]

a Calculate the density of bone. b Calculate the percentage of intensity of ultrasound reflected at the bloodsoft tissue boundary. (Assume the waves are incident at right angles to the boundary.) c Explain why it would be difficult to distinguish between blood and soft tissue in an ultrasound scan. 10 Name the five main components of an MRI scanner. 11 Protons have a precession frequency of 40 MHz in a strong uniform magnetic field. a Describe what is meant by precession. b State the frequency of the radio frequency (RF) radiation that will cause the protons to resonate. c Use your answer to b to determine the wavelength of the RF radiation.

AS and A Level Physics

Original material Cambridge University Press 2010

32 Worksheet (A2)

12 Briefly describe the production of X-rays and explain why an X-ray spectrum may consist of a continuous spectrum and a line spectrum. 13 The intensity of a collimated X-ray beam is 250 W m2. a Define intensity. b The diameter of the X-ray beam is 4.0 mm. Calculate the power transmitted by the beam. 14 Describe what is meant by a contrast medium and state why it is used in X-ray scans. 15 The potential difference between the cathode and the anode of an X-ray tube is 80 kV. Calculate the minimum wavelength of the X-rays emitted from this tube. 16 The photoelectric effect is one of the attenuation mechanisms by which X-ray photons interact with the atoms in the body. Describe some of the characteristics of this mechanism. 17 A collimated X-ray beam is incident on a metal block. The incident intensity of the beam is I0. a Draw a sketch graph to show the variation with thickness x of the intensity I of the beam. b Write down an expression for the intensity I in terms of I0 and x. Explain any other symbol you use. c The linear absorption coefficient of a beam of 80 keV X-rays is 0.693 mm1 in copper. Calculate the thickness of copper necessary to reduce the intensity of the beam to 0.10 I0. 18 a Describe the use of a CAT scanner. b Compare the image formed in X-ray diagnosis with that produced by a CAT scanner. 19 Outline how ultrasound may be used in medical diagnosis. 20 Explain why, in medical diagnosis using ultrasound, a coupling medium is necessary between the ultrasound probe and the skin. 21 a When an ultrasound pulse reflects from the front and back edges of a bone, it produces two peaks on an A-scan. The time interval between these two peaks is 13 s. The speed of the ultrasound in bone is 4000 m s1. Calculate the thickness of the bone. b Describe how a B-scan differs from an A-scan. Outline the principles of magnetic resonance. b Outline, with the aid of a sketch diagram, the use of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to obtain diagnostic information about internal body structures. 23 X-Rays, ultrasound and MRI are all used in medical diagnosis. State one situation in which each of these techniques is preferred and give reasons, one in each case, for the choice.

[7] [1] [2] [2] [3] [3] [3] [2] [3] [5] [3] [5] [6]

[3] [2] [6] [10]

22 a

[6]

Total:

104

Score:

AS and A Level Physics

Original material Cambridge University Press 2010