The filament circuit uses a low voltage range to heat the tungsten filament; what controls this voltage range?

Study for the Dental Radiology Foundation Chain and Physics Test. Enhance your skills with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Prepare for your success!

Multiple Choice

The filament circuit uses a low voltage range to heat the tungsten filament; what controls this voltage range?

The filament’s heating voltage is set by the step-down transformer in the filament circuit. The voltage range delivered to the tungsten filament is determined by the transformer turns ratio—more turns on the secondary give a higher low voltage, fewer turns give a lower one. The filament current (and thus how many electrons are emitted) is adjusted separately by the mA setting, while the kVp controls the high voltage across the tube for X-ray production and exposure time controls duration. So the key factor setting the low-voltage heating range is the transformer's turns ratio.

The filament’s heating voltage is set by the step-down transformer in the filament circuit. The voltage range delivered to the tungsten filament is determined by the transformer turns ratio—more turns on the secondary give a higher low voltage, fewer turns give a lower one. The filament current (and thus how many electrons are emitted) is adjusted separately by the mA setting, while the kVp controls the high voltage across the tube for X-ray production and exposure time controls duration. So the key factor setting the low-voltage heating range is the transformer's turns ratio.

More practice questions