Question

CT scanners do not detect details smaller than about 0.5 mm. Is this limitation due to the wavelength of x rays? Explain.

a) Yes, shorter wavelengths are necessary for higher resolution.

b) No, the limitation is due to the properties of CT scanning.

c) CT scanners are not limited by wavelength.

d) Longer wavelengths provide better detail in CT scans.

Answer 1

The limitation of CT scanners in detecting details smaller than 0.5 mm is due to the properties of CT scanning technology and not the wavelength of X-rays, which are capable of resolving much smaller details. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is: b) No, the limitation is due to the properties of CT scanning.

Step-by-step explanation:

CT scanners do not detect details smaller than about 0.5 mm, and this limitation is not primarily due to the wavelength of X-rays. Instead, the limitation is due to the properties of CT scanning technology.

While it is true that the resolution of any imaging system is influenced by the wavelength of the probing waves, CT scanners use X-rays, which have wavelengths much smaller than 0.5 mm and are therefore theoretically capable of resolving smaller details.

The actual limit to the detail detectable by a CT scanner is more a result of practical factors, such as the precision of the scanner's detection systems, computational limits, and the need to minimize radiation exposure to the patient. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is: b) No, the limitation is due to the properties of CT scanning.