Exam-style question
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How does the atomic number of a tissue influence its X-ray absorption?.
- A.Higher atomic numbers lead to greater absorption of X-rays.
- B.Lower atomic numbers absorb X-rays more effectively.
- C.Atomic number has no effect on X-ray absorption.
- D.All tissues absorb X-rays equally regardless of atomic number.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Higher atomic numbers lead to greater absorption of X-rays.
Explanation
Why this works
Higher atomic numbers lead to greater absorption of X-rays because the mechanism involves increased electron density, which enhances the likelihood of X-ray interactions. The effect is that tissues with higher atomic numbers, like bone, absorb more X-rays, resulting in clearer images that differentiate between soft and hard tissues, which is essential for medical imaging.
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