Texas Industrial Radiography Gamma Practice Test

What term describes the capacity of radiation to displace electrons from atoms?

1. Dose

2. Radiation Absorption

3. Ionization

4. Exposure

The correct answer is: Ionization

The term that describes the capacity of radiation to displace electrons from atoms is ionization. When radiation interacts with matter, it can transfer enough energy to an atom to remove one or more of its electrons, creating charged particles (ions). This process is fundamental to understanding how different types of radiation affect biological tissues and materials. Ionization is a critical concept in radiography and radiation safety because it highlights the potential damage that radiation can cause to living cells and the importance of shielding and safety protocols in environments where radiation is present. In contrast, other terms such as dose refers to the amount of energy absorbed per unit mass, radiation absorption describes how much radiation is absorbed by a material, and exposure specifically relates to the ionization produced in air by X-rays or gamma rays, but does not encompass the full interaction of radiation with matter.