Principles of Imaging Science I (RAD119)

Physics Fundamentals &

Atomic Structure

Goals
Understand the structure of matter and the
fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation.
Understand the concept of x-ray production, how
x-rays interact with matter, the quantity and
quality of the x-ray beam, and demonstration of
anatomic structures in the radiographic image
(radiograph)

An Art and a Science

Radiography as art
Scientific method
Natural science
o Physical science: non-living matter
Physics
o Biological science: living matter
Anatomy and Physiology

Matter and Energy

Physics studies relationships between matter
and energy
Matter
o Mass and occupies space

Energy is force used to do work

Matter
Matter
Anything that occupies space, has shape or form, and has mass
States of matter: Solid, liquid, gas

Mass
Amount or quantity of matter in an object.
Does not change with a change in the form
Does not change with gravitational force

Air has mass, but much less than a rock that has the
same volume because the particles of matter in air are
more widely spaced.

Fundamental Unit - Atom

Composed of smaller units protons,
neutrons, and electrons

Atomic Theory
Basic building blocks of matter
Atom is unique and characteristic of a
certain type of matter
o Hydrogen atom is different from an atom
of Barium or Calcium
Atoms cannot be seen
o Scientists theorized about its structure and function based
on experimentation

Atomic Structure
Nucleus
Small, dense center
Contains nucleons
protons and
neutrons

Electrons
Orbit nucleus

Bohr Atom
Basic structure of atoms is comparable to
our solar system
An atom is mostly empty space the
space between the electrons and the
nucleus is like the space between the
earth and sun
Atom is comprised of a small, dense,
positive nucleus and negative electrons
revolving in orbit around the nucleus

Bohr Atom

Basic Atomic Particles

Proton
Positive charge
Represents the Atomic Z#
Distinguishes elements by number of protons
in the nucleus
Change the Z#, change the element!

Basic Atomic Particles

Neutron
Neutral charge
Stability of nucleus
Serve in the role in radioactive atoms (isotopes)

Electron
Negative charge
Electrical stability maintained through equal
number of protons and electrons

Atomic Mass Unit (amu)

Unit used to measure atomic mass.

It is not a metric unit, based on the standard of
the carbon-12 atom.
The equivalent mass in kilograms notes the small
size of an atomic mass unit

Electrons
Electrons (-) charge
Subatomic particle
Small quantity of mass
Located outside nucleus in
orbital shells
Stable atoms have equal
electrons as protons

Electron shells
Ordered from the first shell (K) to
the last shell (Q)

Electron Shells
Represent the energy levels
Maximum number of electrons in each shell
based upon 2n2
K shell: Shell #1 = 2 electrons (innermost)
L shell: Shell #2 = 8 electrons (2)(2)2
M shell: Shell #3 = 18 electrons (2)(3)2
Q shell: Shell # 7 = 98 electrons (2)(7)2
A maximum of 8 electrons may comprise the
outermost shell of any atom (valence shell)

Electron Shell Maximum

Shell
Number
Number of
Shell Symbol
Electrons
Principle
Quantum #
1

18

32

50

72

98

Factoid: The largest naturally occurring atom, uranium, has a total of 92 electrons in its
seven shells. Even in this atom, shells 5, 6, and 7 are not completely filled.

Forces
Nuclear Binding Energy

Holds protons and neutrons together in the

nucleus
Sum of the strong nuclear forces that attract
and pull the protons and neutrons together in
the nucleus
Measure of the amount of energy needed to
split the atom

If a particle shot at the atom strikes the nucleus with

the energy equal to the nucleus's binding energy,
the atom could break up or "split."

Forces

Centripetal force
Maintains electron in orbit preventing it from
flying away from the nucleus
Center seeking force
Balances the force created by the electron
velocity

Forces
Centrifugal force
Maintains electron at a distance from the
nucleus while moving around the nucleus
Out from center force

Forces

Electron Binding Energy (BE)

Maintains electrons in their shells
Dependent upon:
Proximity to nucleus
Higher BE closer to nucleus
Total # electrons in the atom
Higher BE in larger atoms
Most of the BE comes from the force of
attraction between the electrons and
protons

Electron Binding Energy

(Eb)
Energy needed to eject
electron from atom

TUNGSTEN

(Eb)Comparison

Electron Binding Energy

CHARGE & IONS

Neutral atoms: equal # of electrons and
protons
Balanced or stable
If an electron is added or removed the atom
is no longer neutral: it becomes electrically
charged.
Negative ion - An atom with an extra
electron
Positive ion - - An atom that has one fewer
electrons than protons

IONS

IONS

Ionization
Adding or removing an electron from its
shell
An atom in which this has occurred is
called an ion.
If an electron is added, termed a negative ion
(-1 charge)
If an electron is removed, termed a positive ion
(+1 charge)

Ionization

Positive or Negative Ion??

ATOMIC NUMBER & ATOMIC MASS NUMBER

ATOMIC NUMBER

ATOMIC MASS NUMBER

Definition: Equal to the

number of protons in
the nucleus of an atom
Elements Z number

Definition: Equal to the

number of protons and
neutrons in an atom
Elements A number
May be measured
using amu (atomic
mass unit)

ATOMIC MASS NUMBER &

ATOMIC NUMBER
Both the A number (atomic mass number)
and Z number (atomic number) are often
given to represent an element Y as follows:

Y
Z

Periodic Table of Elements

Arranged based on increasing atomic #
Groups are vertical columns
Represent same # electrons in outermost shell
Similar chemical characteristics
Group I, II: Light metals
Groups III VI: Non-metals
Group VII: Halogens
Group VIII: Noble gases
Periods are horizontal rows
Represent the total number of electron shells
Interpretation of Table

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Periodic Table of Elements

Non-Metals

Periodic Table of Elements

http://www.periodicvideos.com/#

Periodic Table of Elements

No set ratio of neutrons to protons in atoms

Larger and more stable the atom, the higher

its ratio of neutrons to protons.
Many stable atoms with a low atomic number
have about the same number of neutrons
and protons.
Heavier elements may have almost twice as
many neutrons as protons.
greater strong nuclear force is needed
to help stabilize such atoms to keep the
nucleus from breaking up.

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Nuclear arrangements
Isotope
Atoms with same atomic number
Unstable isotopes often have a deficient or excess
number of neutrons. This causes them to spontaneously
change from one element to another.
Considered radioactive, referred as radioisotopes

Isobar
Atoms with same atomic mass
Isotone
Atoms with same neutron number

Nuclear Arrangements

Nuclear Arrangements

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Combination of Atoms
Atoms of different
elements may combine to
form molecules
Ionic Bonding occurs when
an electron from one atom
transfers to another atom
Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Combination of Atoms
Covalent Bonding occurs when two atoms share
some of the same electrons which revolve around
both nuclei
Water (H2O)

Video

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