Texas Industrial Radiography Gamma Practice Test

Which type of radiation is primarily detected by photographic film in radiography?

1. X-Radiation

2. Gamma Radiation

3. Alpha Radiation

4. Beta Radiation

The correct answer is: X-Radiation

Photographic film primarily detects X-radiation in radiography due to its sensitivity to the high-energy electromagnetic waves that X-rays represent. The film consists of light-sensitive compounds that react when exposed to these types of radiation, producing a latent image. This process relies on the ability of X-rays to penetrate materials and interact with the film emulsion, causing a chemical change that can be processed into a visible image. While gamma radiation can also interact with photographic film, the key factor is that radiography commonly utilizes X-ray sources for imaging purposes in industrial applications. As a result, the equipment and processes are specifically designed for detecting and analyzing X-radiation. Alpha and beta radiation have different characteristics and are not effectively used in traditional radiographic imaging; alpha particles, for instance, have low penetration power and require special detectors, while beta particles also have different interaction profiles. Thus, in the context of radiography, the primary detection method involving photographic film is specifically oriented toward X-radiation.