NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL IMAGING

RAD 1126 LABORATORY 8 2013
NAME ________________________________

I.

Laboratory Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.

II.

DATE ________________________

Demonstrate mastery of the controls for setting and making an exposure.

Evaluate radiographs for image quality.
Interpret the results of an experiment to demonstrate the effect of maintaining the same mAS
while changing mA and S.
Calculate changes in mA or S needed to maintain the same density.

Activities and Experiments

Complete all of the activities listed below; ask your instructor for help if you are unsure of any
procedure. The activity sheets will be checked or collected by the instructor at the end of the
period.
8A mAS changes

III.

Worksheets and Practice Calculations

mAS Worksheet 2

IV.

Quiz
RAD 1126 Discuss LAB quiz 2

V.

Assignment
Review image quality characteristics.

New York City College of Technology

Department of Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging
RAD 1126 Laboratory 8A

OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the effect of using the same mAS with different combinations of mA and S.

THEORY
Using the same mAS will provide the same radiographic density. This concept is known as mAS
reciprocity.

MATERIALS
Loaded 14 x 17 cassette (Quanta or JPI), lead blockers, small phantom object.

PROCEDURE
Radiograph the phantom object four times on the 14 x 17 cassette, blocking the other areas with lead.
Use a different combination of mA and S to produce the same mAS for each radiograph. Record the
technical factors below. Mark the film so that you will know which factors produced each image.
In room 4 set for free cassette.
1.

mA

sec

KV

2.

mA

sec

KV

SID

40

SID

40

SID

40

SID

40

(same)
3.

mA

sec

KV
(same)

4.

mA

sec

KV
(same)

Process and label the radiograph, then answer the questions below.

QUESTIONS
1.

Do all of the images have approximately the same radiographic density?

2.

If not, what could have caused the difference?

3.

Does this result support the theory above? Explain briefly.

New York City College of Technology

Department of Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging
RAD 1126 MAS Worksheet 2

1. What mAS will result from using:

1000 mA at 2 millisec (ms)?

________________ mAS

100 mA at 20 ms?

________________ mAS

200 mA at 20 ms?

________________ mAS

400 mA at 200 ms?

________________ mAS

500 mA at 100 ms?

________________ mAS

Do you think that there would be a change in radiographic density if you used each of the combinations
above on the same body part?

2. If mA X S = mAS, what exposure time would you use to obtain:

sec

ms

20 mAS at 200 mA

_______

_______

5 mAS at 400 mA

_______

_______

20 mAS at 50 mA

_______

_______

3. If mA X S = mAS, what mA would you use to obtain:

7.5 mAS at 50 ms

_______

80 mAS at 400 ms

_______

10 mAS at 20 ms

_______

Notes:
1. Lab 8A is an explanation/demonstration of the mAs reciprocity rule. This may be done
CR/DR however the images will look the same, although this is the point, often even
when parameters are changes such as different mAs settings resulting in the same

image look.
2. The creation of a lab utilizing the digital dosimeter might be a better learning experience
as one would expect the radiation exposure to remain the same.
3. A comparison of radiation output across rooms utilizing the same part and same mAs
might be of interest.