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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

RadTech Quiz: Radiologic Technologist Exam Practice

15 radiologic technologist exam questions with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Gavin Joseph CruzUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art illustrating a quiz on Radiologic Technology Knowledge Assessment

This radtech quiz helps you check your radiography basics and exam readiness with 15 multiple-choice questions and instant feedback. If you want more practice, try our radiology mock exam, explore the computed tomography practice test, or challenge yourself with an mri quiz. Cover positioning, safety, and image quality.

Which unit measures the absorbed radiation dose in tissue?
Curie
Sievert
Roentgen
Gray
The gray (Gy) is the SI unit of absorbed dose, defined as one joule of energy deposited per kilogram of tissue. Sievert measures equivalent dose, Roentgen measures exposure in air, and curie measures radioactivity.
Which x-ray generator setting directly controls the number of electrons produced at the cathode per second?
Milliampere (mA)
Source-to-image distance (SID)
Exposure time
Kilovoltage peak (kVp)
Milliampere (mA) represents tube current, controlling the number of electrons emitted per second. kVp controls beam energy, exposure time influences total mAs, and SID affects beam intensity.
Which parameter primarily affects x-ray beam penetration?
Milliampere (mA)
Grid ratio
Focal spot size
Kilovoltage peak (kVp)
kVp determines the potential difference across the tube, which sets the energy and thus penetration ability of the x-ray photons. mA affects beam quantity, not photon energy.
According to the inverse square law, if the source-to-image distance is doubled, the x-ray intensity at the image receptor becomes what fraction?
One-quarter
One-half
Twice as much
Four times as much
The inverse square law states intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance (I ∝ 1/d²). Doubling the distance reduces intensity to 1/(2²) = 1/4.
What does the acronym ALARA represent in radiation safety?
Always Limit At Radiation Application
As Long As Radiation Allowed
Average Level And Radiation Allowed
As Low As Reasonably Achievable
ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable, guiding radiologic technologists to minimize radiation exposure while obtaining diagnostic images.
In a standard PA chest radiograph, which body surface is positioned closest to the image receptor?
Left lateral surface
Right lateral surface
Posterior surface
Anterior surface
In a PA chest radiograph, the patient faces the image receptor so the anterior chest wall is closest to the IR. The beam enters posteriorly and exits anteriorly.
Which artifact is characterized by a moiré pattern caused by interference between the grid lines and the scanning frequency?
Quantum mottle
Image lag
Moire effect
Beam hardening
The moiré effect is a wavy or rippled artifact seen when grid line frequency interferes with the digital scanning frequency. It is most common in high-speed digital systems.
The half-value layer (HVL) in radiography measures what characteristic of the x-ray beam?
Field size
Beam quality (hardness)
Scatter radiation level
Beam quantity (intensity)
The HVL is the thickness of material required to reduce the beam intensity by half, indicating beam quality or hardness. It does not directly measure intensity or scatter.
Which technique is most effective at reducing patient dose while improving image contrast by limiting scatter?
Decreasing kVp
Using a compensating filter
Proper collimation
Increasing mA
Proper collimation restricts the x-ray field, reducing the volume of tissue irradiated and the amount of scatter produced, which lowers dose and improves contrast.
During fluoroscopy, which practice most effectively reduces operator radiation exposure?
Operating without a grid
Increasing distance from the source
Removing the lead apron
Decreasing SID
According to the inverse square law, increasing the distance from the source significantly reduces exposure. Lead aprons and shielding are also important, but distance is most effective.
The primary function of the x-ray collimator in radiographic equipment is to:
Restrict the x-ray beam field size
Filter out high-energy photons
Automatically adjust kVp
Increase tube current
The collimator uses adjustable shutters to limit the x-ray field, reducing patient dose and scatter. It does not change current or energy.
Which type of x-ray generator provides the most consistent waveform and highest output efficiency?
Capacitor-discharge generator
High-frequency generator
Three-phase generator
Single-phase generator
High-frequency generators produce near-constant potential with minimal voltage ripple, resulting in efficient x-ray production and consistent output.
A limitation of automatic exposure control (AEC) systems is:
Inability to adjust exposure time
Always increasing patient dose
Automatic kVp selection only
Dependence on proper chamber placement
AEC systems rely on correctly positioned ionization chambers under the area of interest; misplacement can cause over- or underexposure.
Increasing the kilovoltage peak (kVp) on an x-ray machine will generally have what effect on image contrast?
Decrease contrast
No change in contrast
Increase contrast
Increase spatial resolution
Raising kVp increases beam penetration and scatter, which reduces differential absorption and lowers image contrast.
Which carpal bone articulates directly with the distal radius at the wrist joint?
Scaphoid
Lunate
Trapezium
Pisiform
The scaphoid sits between the radius and the proximal row of carpals, articulating directly with the distal radius. The lunate also artults but sits adjacent to the scaphoid.
A technologist doubles the source-to-image distance (SID) from 40 inches to 80 inches for an exam. To maintain the original receptor exposure, the mAs must be adjusted to what value if the initial mAs was 10?
10 mAs
80 mAs
20 mAs
40 mAs
By the inverse square law, intensity ∝ 1/d². Doubling SID reduces intensity by 4, so mAs must increase fourfold: 10 mAs - 4 = 40 mAs.
What radiation dose metric quantifies the total energy delivered by the x-ray beam to the patient by combining dose and exposed area?
Effective dose
Entrance skin dose
CT dose index (CTDI)
Dose area product (DAP)
Dose area product multiplies dose by the cross-sectional area irradiated, reflecting the total energy imparted and correlating with stochastic risk.
How many half-value layers (HVLs) are required to reduce the x-ray beam intensity to 12.5% of its original value?
4 HVLs
2 HVLs
1 HVL
3 HVLs
Each HVL reduces intensity by half: after one HVL ' 50%, two ' 25%, three ' 12.5% of the original intensity.
In digital radiography, low photon flux results in an image artifact known as:
Motion blur
Quantum mottle
Ghosting
Edge enhancement
Quantum mottle (noise) appears when too few x-ray photons reach the detector, producing a grainy or speckled appearance in the image.
In computed tomography (CT), the primary factor that determines slice thickness is:
Table speed
Reconstruction algorithm
kVp setting
Prepatient and postpatient collimation
CT slice thickness is set by the width of the x-ray beam defined by collimators at the source and at the detector. Reconstruction algorithms affect image quality but not actual slice thickness.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify core radiation physics principles in imaging
  2. Apply patient positioning techniques for clear radiographs
  3. Analyse image quality factors and common artifacts
  4. Evaluate radiation safety protocols and dose management
  5. Demonstrate proper equipment operation and maintenance
  6. Master anatomy identification on radiologic images

Cheat Sheet

  1. Atomic Structure & X-ray Generation - Dive into the world of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and explore how electrons occupy shells with various binding energies. This key knowledge demystifies how x-ray beams are generated and how they interact with different materials.
  2. Patient Positioning Mastery - Perfect your skills in positioning to capture crystal-clear radiographs. Nailing the right angles and alignments reduces retakes, lowers radiation dose, and turns you into a radiology rockstar.
  3. Artifact Detective - Become a sleuth for spotting and fixing common image artifacts like motion blur, double exposures, or pesky grid lines. With these tricks, you'll ensure every image tells the right story.
  4. Radiation Safety & ALARA - Embrace the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) to shield patients and yourself from unnecessary exposure. Learn smart techniques like proper shielding and time-distance strategies to stay safe.
  5. Equipment Operation & Maintenance - Get hands-on with the x-ray tube, collimators, and grids to keep your gear humming smoothly. Regular checks and timely maintenance ensure top performance and patient safety in every shot.
  6. Anatomy Recognition on Radiographs - Train your eye to identify bones, organs, and soft tissues with pinpoint accuracy. This vital skill improves diagnostic confidence and helps you communicate findings clearly to the care team.
  7. Image Quality Factors - Explore how contrast, density, and resolution shape your radiographs and learn to tweak technical parameters like kVp and mAs. Balancing these elements is your secret to crisp, detailed images.
  8. Photon Interactions - Uncover the mysteries of the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering, two superstar interactions that define x-ray behavior. Understanding these phenomena helps you predict image contrast and patient dose effectively.
  9. Beam Restriction & Filtration - Master techniques to limit scatter radiation using collimation and filters, improving image clarity while protecting patients. It's like giving your x-rays a VIP pass to travel straight to the detector.
  10. Ethics & Legal Responsibilities - Navigate confidentiality, informed consent, and professional conduct to uphold trust and integrity in radiology. Knowing the rules ensures patient rights are respected and your practice stays above board.
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