DP Physics Questionbank
Option C: Imaging (Additional higher level option topics)
Description
Overview of essential ideas for this option
C.4: The body can be imaged using radiation generated from both outside and inside. Imaging has enabled medical practitioners to improve diagnosis with fewer invasive procedures.
Directly related questions
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15b.iii: Compare the use of high and low energy X-rays for medical imaging.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15b.ii: A monochromatic X-ray beam of energy 20 keV and intensity I0 penetrates 5.00 cm of fat and then...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15b.i: State what is meant by half-value thickness in X-ray imaging.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15a: Outline the formation of a B scan in medical ultrasound imaging.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14d.ii: Explain, with appropriate calculations, why a gel is used between the transducer and the skin.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14d.i: Calculate the density of skin.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14c: Suggest one reason why doctors use ultrasound rather than X-rays to monitor the development of a...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14b: Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using high frequencies ultrasound over low...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14a: Outline how ultrasound is generated for medical imaging.
- 17N.3.HL.TZ0.16b: A technician operates an X-ray machine that takes 100 images each day. Estimate the width of the...
- 17N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: Show that the attenuation coefficient of lead is 60 cm–1.
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.I2c: For X-rays of higher energy than those in (b), the half-value thickness is greater than 3.50 mm....
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.I2b: The half-value thickness in tissue for X-rays of a specific energy is 3.50 mm. Determine the...
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.I2a: Define half-value thickness.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.16: In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging radio frequency electromagnetic radiation is detected...
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15c.ii: Ultrasound of intensity 0.012 W\(\,\)cm–2 is incident on a water–muscle boundary. The acoustic...
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15c.i: Calculate the acoustic impedance Z of muscle.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15b: Describe how an ultrasound transducer produces ultrasound.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15a: State a typical frequency used in medical ultrasound imaging.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13c.iii: the non-uniform magnetic field applied to the patient.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13c.ii: the radio-frequency signal emitted towards the patient.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13c.i: the large uniform magnetic field applied to the patient.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13b: The diagram shows X-rays incident on tissue and bone. The thicknesses of bone and tissue are...
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13a: Outline why the fracture in a broken bone can be seen in a medical X-ray image.
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.20b: Explain how a gradient field and resonance are produced in NMR to allow for the formation of...
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.20a: State the property of protons used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging.
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.19c: Suggest why more energetic beams of about 150 keV would be unsuitable for imaging a bone–muscle...
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.19b: The density of muscle is 1200 kg m–3. Calculate the ratio of intensities to compare, for a beam...
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.19a: Show that the attenuation coefficient for bone of density 1800 kg m–3, for X-rays of 20 keV, is...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.16b: Explain why a gradient field is required in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging.
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.16a: State one advantage and one disadvantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to X-ray...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.15b: With reference to your answers to (a)(i) and (a)(ii), discuss the advantages of using the...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.15a: X-rays are incident on an aluminium sheet of thickness 8.0 cm. Calculate the fraction of the...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.20c: State one advantage and one disadvantage of using ultrasound of frequency 1 MHz, rather than 3...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.20b: (i) Calculate the speed of ultrasound in muscle. (ii) Determine the thickness of the...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.20a: Define acoustic impedance
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.19c: The intensity of a parallel X-ray beam is reduced to 50% of its initial intensity when it passes...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22d: X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation. To reduce the danger to a patient, the intensity of...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22c: A contrast medium containing iodine is injected into the patient. This increases the attenuation...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22b.ii: Suggest why an X-ray scan does not allow for the differentiation between muscle and blood.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22b.i: Calculate the ratio \(\frac{{{I_{{\text{blood}}}}}}{{{I_{{\text{muscle}}}}}}\) for 1 cm of tissue.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22a.ii: Calculate the half-value thickness for blood.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22a.i: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.18b: Medical practitioners select the frequency of the ultrasound depending on the diagnosis they are...
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.18a.ii: State the significance of acoustic impedance in the use of ultrasound techniques.
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.18a.i: Define acoustic impedance.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ2.21b: The acoustic impedances for various media are shown in the table. Ultrasound is incident...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ2.21a: Define acoustic impedance of a medium.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ2.20a: (i) X-rays travelling in a medium experience attenuation. State what is meant by...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.19c: In medical scanning, practitioners have the option of using A-scans or B-scans. Distinguish, with...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.19b: When ultrasound of intensity I0 travels in a medium of acoustic impedance Z1 and is incident on a...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.19a: Outline how ultrasound is generated for medical diagnostic purposes.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.20a: Two parallel beams of monochromatic X-rays of the same intensity are incident on equal...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.20b: Explain how fluorescent emitters are used to enhance the image formed on a photographic X-ray plate.
- 14M.3.HL.TZ1.21b: The graph below shows the variation of attenuation coefficient μ with photon energy E for X-rays...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ1.21a: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 13M.3.HL.TZ1.21a: The diagram below shows X-rays being used to scan a sample of bone and muscle. (i) Outline how...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ1.21b: The same sample is now investigated with an ultrasound A-scan from the side as shown. (i)...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.21a: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.21b: The graph shows how the attenuation coefficient μ of muscle varies with photon energy E. In...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.22b: State two advantages of NMR imaging over computed tomography (CT) imaging. 1. 2.
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.22a: Outline the physical principles of NMR imaging.
- 12M.3.HL.TZ1.15b: The table gives the velocity of sound in, and the densities of, the materials. (i) State the...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.19a: Use the data from the table to calculate a value for the density of bone.
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.19b: The fraction F of the intensity of an ultrasound wave reflected at the boundary between two media...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.19c: Use your answers in (b) to explain the need for a gel on the patient’s skin.
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: Outline how ultrasound is produced for use in diagnostic imaging.
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16b: In order to look for damage to the chambers of the heart, ultrasound is used to form an image of...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16c: The speed of sound in skin is about five times the speed of sound in air. Given that the density...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16d: Explain, using your answer to (c), why, in using ultrasound for imaging, a layer of gel is placed...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16e: A wide range of frequencies of ultrasound may be used to image internal body organs. The choice...
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.20d: Outline why X-rays are not suitable to image an organ such as the liver.
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.20a: Define the attenuation coefficient as applied to a beam of X-rays travelling through a medium.
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.20b: Derive the relationship between the attenuation coefficient μ and the half-value thickness...
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.16c: A complete dental record of all the teeth in a patient’s mouth requires about 20 separate X-ray...
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.16d: The table shows data about the acoustic impedance of some materials that would be involved in the...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20a: The half-value thickness of the tissue is 4.0 cm. On the axes below, sketch a graph to show the...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20b: Calculate the attenuation coefficient of X-rays for this tissue.
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.19: This question is about nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In nuclear magnetic resonance imaging,...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20c: For a different type of tissue, the ratio \(\frac{{{I_t}}}{{{I_0}}}\) is smaller for the same...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20d: Barium has an attenuation coefficient that is much larger than that for human tissue. Explain...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ1.21b: A successful ultrasound scan relies on changes of acoustic impedance around the structure being...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ1.21a: When producing the X-ray photograph, the dose is kept to a minimum by a technique called...
Sub sections and their related questions
C.4 – Medical imaging (HL only)
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.19a: Outline how ultrasound is generated for medical diagnostic purposes.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.19b: When ultrasound of intensity I0 travels in a medium of acoustic impedance Z1 and is incident on a...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.19c: In medical scanning, practitioners have the option of using A-scans or B-scans. Distinguish, with...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.20a: Two parallel beams of monochromatic X-rays of the same intensity are incident on equal...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.20b: Explain how fluorescent emitters are used to enhance the image formed on a photographic X-ray plate.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ2.20a: (i) X-rays travelling in a medium experience attenuation. State what is meant by...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ2.21a: Define acoustic impedance of a medium.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ2.21b: The acoustic impedances for various media are shown in the table. Ultrasound is incident...
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.18a.i: Define acoustic impedance.
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.18a.ii: State the significance of acoustic impedance in the use of ultrasound techniques.
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.18b: Medical practitioners select the frequency of the ultrasound depending on the diagnosis they are...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ1.21a: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 14M.3.HL.TZ1.21b: The graph below shows the variation of attenuation coefficient μ with photon energy E for X-rays...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22a.i: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22a.ii: Calculate the half-value thickness for blood.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22b.i: Calculate the ratio \(\frac{{{I_{{\text{blood}}}}}}{{{I_{{\text{muscle}}}}}}\) for 1 cm of tissue.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22b.ii: Suggest why an X-ray scan does not allow for the differentiation between muscle and blood.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22c: A contrast medium containing iodine is injected into the patient. This increases the attenuation...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.22d: X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation. To reduce the danger to a patient, the intensity of...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.19c: The intensity of a parallel X-ray beam is reduced to 50% of its initial intensity when it passes...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.20a: Define acoustic impedance
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.20b: (i) Calculate the speed of ultrasound in muscle. (ii) Determine the thickness of the...
- 14M.3.HL.TZ2.20c: State one advantage and one disadvantage of using ultrasound of frequency 1 MHz, rather than 3...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ1.21a: The diagram below shows X-rays being used to scan a sample of bone and muscle. (i) Outline how...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ1.21b: The same sample is now investigated with an ultrasound A-scan from the side as shown. (i)...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.21a: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.21b: The graph shows how the attenuation coefficient μ of muscle varies with photon energy E. In...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.22a: Outline the physical principles of NMR imaging.
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.22b: State two advantages of NMR imaging over computed tomography (CT) imaging. 1. 2.
- 12M.3.HL.TZ1.15b: The table gives the velocity of sound in, and the densities of, the materials. (i) State the...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.19a: Use the data from the table to calculate a value for the density of bone.
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.19b: The fraction F of the intensity of an ultrasound wave reflected at the boundary between two media...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.19c: Use your answers in (b) to explain the need for a gel on the patient’s skin.
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: Outline how ultrasound is produced for use in diagnostic imaging.
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16b: In order to look for damage to the chambers of the heart, ultrasound is used to form an image of...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16c: The speed of sound in skin is about five times the speed of sound in air. Given that the density...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16d: Explain, using your answer to (c), why, in using ultrasound for imaging, a layer of gel is placed...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.16e: A wide range of frequencies of ultrasound may be used to image internal body organs. The choice...
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.20a: Define the attenuation coefficient as applied to a beam of X-rays travelling through a medium.
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.20b: Derive the relationship between the attenuation coefficient μ and the half-value thickness...
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.20d: Outline why X-rays are not suitable to image an organ such as the liver.
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: Define attenuation coefficient.
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.16c: A complete dental record of all the teeth in a patient’s mouth requires about 20 separate X-ray...
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.16d: The table shows data about the acoustic impedance of some materials that would be involved in the...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.19: This question is about nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In nuclear magnetic resonance imaging,...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20a: The half-value thickness of the tissue is 4.0 cm. On the axes below, sketch a graph to show the...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20b: Calculate the attenuation coefficient of X-rays for this tissue.
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20c: For a different type of tissue, the ratio \(\frac{{{I_t}}}{{{I_0}}}\) is smaller for the same...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.20d: Barium has an attenuation coefficient that is much larger than that for human tissue. Explain...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ1.21a: When producing the X-ray photograph, the dose is kept to a minimum by a technique called...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ1.21b: A successful ultrasound scan relies on changes of acoustic impedance around the structure being...
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.I2a: Define half-value thickness.
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.I2b: The half-value thickness in tissue for X-rays of a specific energy is 3.50 mm. Determine the...
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.I2c: For X-rays of higher energy than those in (b), the half-value thickness is greater than 3.50 mm....
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.15a: X-rays are incident on an aluminium sheet of thickness 8.0 cm. Calculate the fraction of the...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.15b: With reference to your answers to (a)(i) and (a)(ii), discuss the advantages of using the...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.16a: State one advantage and one disadvantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to X-ray...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.16b: Explain why a gradient field is required in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging.
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.19a: Show that the attenuation coefficient for bone of density 1800 kg m–3, for X-rays of 20 keV, is...
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.19b: The density of muscle is 1200 kg m–3. Calculate the ratio of intensities to compare, for a beam...
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.19c: Suggest why more energetic beams of about 150 keV would be unsuitable for imaging a bone–muscle...
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.20a: State the property of protons used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging.
- 16N.3.HL.TZ0.20b: Explain how a gradient field and resonance are produced in NMR to allow for the formation of...
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13a: Outline why the fracture in a broken bone can be seen in a medical X-ray image.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13b: The diagram shows X-rays incident on tissue and bone. The thicknesses of bone and tissue are...
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13c.i: the large uniform magnetic field applied to the patient.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13c.ii: the radio-frequency signal emitted towards the patient.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ1.13c.iii: the non-uniform magnetic field applied to the patient.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15a: State a typical frequency used in medical ultrasound imaging.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15b: Describe how an ultrasound transducer produces ultrasound.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15c.i: Calculate the acoustic impedance Z of muscle.
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.15c.ii: Ultrasound of intensity 0.012 W\(\,\)cm–2 is incident on a water–muscle boundary. The acoustic...
- 17M.3.HL.TZ2.16: In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging radio frequency electromagnetic radiation is detected...
- 17N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: Show that the attenuation coefficient of lead is 60 cm–1.
- 17N.3.HL.TZ0.16b: A technician operates an X-ray machine that takes 100 images each day. Estimate the width of the...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14a: Outline how ultrasound is generated for medical imaging.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14b: Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using high frequencies ultrasound over low...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14c: Suggest one reason why doctors use ultrasound rather than X-rays to monitor the development of a...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14d.i: Calculate the density of skin.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ1.14d.ii: Explain, with appropriate calculations, why a gel is used between the transducer and the skin.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15a: Outline the formation of a B scan in medical ultrasound imaging.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15b.i: State what is meant by half-value thickness in X-ray imaging.
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15b.ii: A monochromatic X-ray beam of energy 20 keV and intensity I0 penetrates 5.00 cm of fat and then...
- 18M.3.HL.TZ2.15b.iii: Compare the use of high and low energy X-rays for medical imaging.
