Ultrasound and X-rays

Ultrasound and X-rays

1. X-rays are short wavelength electromagnetic radiation.

   • X-rays are very high frequency waves.
   • X-rays are absorbed by bone, they travel through tissue and skin.
   • They are detected by photographic film in medical departments.
     • The darker the badge, the more radiation it has been exposed to.
   • You need to minimise exposure to x-rays as it is radiation and can cause cancer.
     • This is why radiographers leave the room or wear lead clothing to block x-rays.

2. Uses of x-rays include: taking images of broken bones, taking images of soft tissues using a contrast medium to show up an organ, cancer treatment.

3. Ultrasound is high frequency sounds that have a frequency above 20 000 Hz.

   • This is above the range of human hearing.
   • ultrasound is reflected when it meets a boundary between two different media and travel at different speeds through different media.
   • To work out distance ultrasound has travelled: speed/time and then divide by 2.

4. Uses of ultrasound include: medical imaging, repairing damaged tissues, cleaning things and finding faults in solid objects.

   • Ultrasound is safer than x-rays because it is not ionising radiation.