CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Tungsten?

1. High atomic number

2. Low thermal conductivity

3. High melting point

4. Thermal conductivity

The correct answer is: Low thermal conductivity

Tungsten is known for its remarkable properties, making it a valuable material in various applications, particularly in radiography and imaging technology. Among these properties, high atomic number, high melting point, and thermal conductivity are all notable characteristics. Tungsten has a high atomic number (Z = 74), which contributes to its effectiveness as a target material in X-ray tubes; this high atomic number results in greater X-ray production efficiency due to increased interaction with incoming electrons. Additionally, tungsten has an extremely high melting point of approximately 3422°C, making it the metal with the highest melting point. This property allows tungsten components to withstand the intense heat generated during X-ray production without melting or degrading. Moreover, tungsten possesses good thermal conductivity, which is essential for dissipating the heat produced during the X-ray generation process. This characteristic prevents the overheating of the X-ray tube and helps maintain optimal operating conditions. In contrast, the assertion that tungsten has low thermal conductivity is inaccurate. Tungsten's thermal conductivity is actually considered to be relatively high compared to many other metals. Consequently, identifying it as having low thermal conductivity is misrepresentative of its properties.