Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) Practice Exam

X-ray systems primarily utilize x-ray radiation, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation. This type of radiation is generated when high-energy electrons collide with a metal target, typically made of tungsten, in the x-ray tube. The resulting photon emissions include x-rays, which are capable of penetrating various materials, making them ideal for medical imaging.

X-ray radiation operates at a much higher energy than visible light but lower than gamma radiation. This characteristic allows it to effectively pass through soft tissues, revealing the denser structures such as bones and certain tumors during imaging procedures. Because x-ray systems are explicitly designed to produce and control this form of radiation, it is the most relevant and correct choice when identifying the type of radiation used in x-ray systems.

Other forms of radiation, such as alpha and beta radiation, are not utilized in x-ray imaging. Alpha particles consist of heavy helium nuclei and are primarily emitted during radioactive decay processes. Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons that also result from radioactive decay. Gamma radiation, while it is higher in energy than x-rays and can penetrate dense substances, is typically produced in nuclear reactions rather than in standard x-ray machines, and it is not the primary radiation type used in x-ray imaging systems.