Question

Which of the following affects beam hardening?

a. types of tissues the beam passes through
b. thickness of the tissues traversed by the beam
c. energies of the photons in the beam

Answer 1

Beam hardening is affected by the types of tissues the beam passes through, the thickness of those tissues, and the energies of the photons in the beam.

Step-by-step explanation:

Beam hardening is influenced by various factors that affect the penetration of radiation. According to the information provided, factors such as the types of tissues the beam passes through, the thickness of the tissues traversed by the beam, and the energies of the photons within the beam play crucial roles. For example, radiation has a smaller range in materials with high electron density. Furthermore, as the x-ray energy increases, the Compton effect becomes more significant, which impacts beam hardening by increasing the probability for attenuation based on the material's density and thickness. Thus, it can be concluded that all the options listed affect beam hardening:

• The types of tissues the beam passes through.
• The thickness of the tissues traversed by the beam.
• The energies of the photons in the beam.