Radiology Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

In X-ray examinations, the type of radiation used is ionizing radiation. This is because X-rays possess sufficient energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions in the process. This ionization effect is fundamental to how X-ray imaging works, as it allows for the distinction between different tissues in the body based on their density and atomic makeup. When X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed by denser structures like bones to a greater extent than softer tissues, resulting in the contrast needed to create diagnostic images.

Alpha radiation and beta radiation do not characterize X-ray examinations; rather, they are forms of radiation with distinct properties. Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei and is not suitable for imaging in medical practice due to its limited penetration ability and high mass. Beta radiation involves high-energy electrons or positrons, which also do not serve the purpose of generating images in the same way that X-rays do. Non-ionizing radiation, on the other hand, refers to lower-energy radiation (such as radio waves, microwaves, and visible light) that does not have enough energy to ionize atoms and is therefore not applicable to X-ray imaging.