Overview
This unit will provide you with the foundational science knowledge needed for future study of the safe and effective use of x-ray imaging equipment and production of diagnostic radiography images. You will learn the theoretical concepts of radiation production and control, radiation interactions in matter, and basics of digital radiographic image recording and processing. This learning will be underpinned by a study of core physics concepts. You will learn how and why to limit radiation exposure through the study of radiation bioeffects and best practices in radiation protection.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Enrolment in CB77
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Informal student feedback Unit coordinator reflection
Students found the use of illustrations in tutorial discussions valuable in understanding complex concepts.
Maintain current use of illustrations and investigate expanding the use of illustrations in tutorials when covering complex concepts.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection
Students will be able to better connect theoretical concepts with clinical applications if the virtual labs include more images and less numerical data.
Investigate the utility of increasing the number of images and reducing the amount of numerical data in the virtual labs to support student learning.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection
The Radiation Production and Imaging Report marks are skewed toward higher grades, likely due to the current rubric not clearly distinguishing between performance levels.
Review and modify the rubric to provide clearer criteria for each grade level, enabling better differentiation of student performance.
- Discuss the underlying physical principles of and the controls involved in x-ray beam production, emission, interactions in matter and capture at the image receptor
- Outline the basic construction and operation of x-ray units and digital radiographic image acquisition systems
- Discuss fundamental attributes of radiographic image appearances such as visibility, brightness, contrast, unsharpness, and distortion
- Relate the concepts of beam control, differential attenuation, and scatter control to the production and appearances of a projection radiograph
- Relate core concepts of bioeffects of low-level ionising radiation and current scientific theories of radiation risk to radiation protection practices in radiography.
This unit supports students in the attainment of the following Competency Standards of the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia:
1.1 Complies with legal and ethical requirements
- Adheres to relevant legislation, common law, codes, standards and other policy regulating chiropractic conduct and practice
1.4 Demonstrates professional integrity
- Applies principles of risk management and quality improvement to practice
3.3 Obtains the results of clinical, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures necessary to inform care
- Refers for or conducts imaging where clinically indicated
3.5 Critically analyses information available to generate a clinical impression
- Demonstrates knowledge of diagnostic imaging techniques and procedures, including indications and limitations of available imaging modalities
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Report - 30% | |||||
| 2 - Online Test - 20% | |||||
| 3 - Online Test - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Report - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Online Test - 20% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Online Test - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Radiographic Imaging and Exposure
Edition: 6th (2020)
Authors: Terri L Fauber
Elsevier
St. Louis St. Louis , Missouri , USA
ISBN: 9780323661393
Students may purchase the hard copy textbook from the University Bookshop. The eBook ISBN: 9780323673075 is not available through the publisher for distribution in Australia but may be purchased through Amazon Australia's Kindle store.
Students may purchase the hard copy textbook from the University Bookshop. The eBook ISBN: 9780323673075 is not available through the publisher for distribution in Australia but may be purchased through Amazon Australia's Kindle store.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.e.agioritis@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to the unit and underlying physics
- Introduction to radiography & overview of radiographic imaging process
- Matter, energy, work & power
- Newtons Laws
- Heat transfer
- Atomic structure & binding energy
- Electromagnetic energy & properties of radiation
- Inverse Square Law (ISL)
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 1
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 1
Module/Topic
Electricity and Intro to the x-ray machine
- Basic electrical concepts
- Basics of electrical circuits
- X-ray tube construction (Overview, Tube envelop, Anode assembly, Cathode assembly & Tube housing)
- Basic x-ray circuit
- X-ray tube operation
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 2
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 2
Module/Topic
X-ray tube technical factors and X-ray Production
- Tube voltage, Tube current & Exposure time
- Milliampere-seconds (mAs) & Focal spot settings
- Introduction to x-ray production
- Production of x-rays (Bremsstrahlung & Characteristic)
- The x-ray beam spectrum
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 2
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 3
Module/Topic
X-ray beam output and tube life
- X-ray quantity and quality
- Focal spot size and Line focus principle
- Anode heel effect
- Beam filtration
- Heat production and dissipation in x-ray tube
- Heat loading on the anode
- Technical factor selection and tube ratings
- Best practices for extending tube life
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 2
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 4
Online Test 1 Due: Week 4 Friday (8 Aug 2025) 8:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
X-ray interactions in matter
- Excitations and ionisations
- Photoelectric effect
- Compton scattering
- Probabilities of x-ray interactions with matter
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 3
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 5
Module/Topic
University break week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
X-ray Beam Attenuation and Transmission
- Stopping power of a material
- Exponential attenuation
- Ray paths and remnant beam
- Factors affecting attenuation
- Differential absorption
- Subject contrast and image contrast
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 3
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 6
Module/Topic
Visibility of image information
- Introduction to image quality
- Contrast resolution
- Image noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
- Scatter
- Distortion
- Unsharpness
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 3
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 7
Module/Topic
Control of image appearances
- Control of visibility on radiographs
- Collimation
- Grids
- Air gap technique
- Automatic exposure control
- Exposure latitude and dynamic range
- Exposure index and deviation index
- Accuracy of structural information on radiographs
Chapter
Fauber Chapters 3, 6 & 7
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 8
Module/Topic
Digital imaging technology
- Introduction to digital radiography
- Image receptor systems (structure & operation)
- Digital matrix, FOV and pixels
- Creation of digital image file
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 4
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 9
Radiation Production and Imaging Report Due: Week 9 Monday (15 Sept 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Digital image processing and viewing
- Introduction to image processing
- Image histogram
- image enhancement
- Display and viewing of radiographs
- Ensuring digital image quality (windowing, zoom, control of spatial and contrast resolution)
Chapter
Fauber Chapter 4
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 10
Module/Topic
Radiation bioeffects and protection
- Introduction to radiation bioeffects
- Effects of radiation on cells
- Categories of radiation effects
- Carcinogenesis
- Radiation during pregnancy
- Introduction to radiation protection
- Radiation protection responsibilities
- Radiation protection in clinical practice
Chapter
Fauber Chapters 1 & 8, Appendix C
- Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 11
Module/Topic
- Consolidation and assessment.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial 12
Final Online Test Due: Week 12 Tuesday (7 Oct 2025) 8:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit MEDI2008 Foundations of Radiation Science will provide you with the foundational science knowledge needed for future study of the safe and effective use of x-ray imaging equipment and production of diagnostic radiography images. You will learn the theoretical concepts of radiation production and control, radiation interactions in matter, and basics of digital radiographic image recording and processing. This learning will be underpinned by a study of core physics concepts. You will learn how and why to limit radiation exposure through the study of radiation bioeffects and best practices in radiation protection.
This unit is a 6 credit point unit, which equates to an expected student workload of approximately 150 hours for the term. On average, you should aim to spend 10-12 hours per week to engaging with unit content, completing learning activities, participating in tutorial sessions and progressing toward assessment tasks. The study workload may vary depending on the week and your individual working pace, however, consistent engagement is essential to achieve the unit learning outcomes and to prepare for the assessments.
1 Online Test
Academic integrity requirements
You must uphold the standards of academic integrity throughout this assessment.
- During the test, you may refer to your study notes, textbook and the unit Moodle site. If you use content from these sources, you must paraphrase or quote and cite appropriately. Direct copying without quotation and citation is not permitted.
- No additional research is required so do not access any external websites, databases or journals.
- You must not consult with any other person via any means, or accept any input or assistance from any other person regarding the test questions and responses.
- You must not communicate, verbally, non-verbally or digitally, with any other student during the test.
- Your question responses must be your own effort without assistance in any form.
- You must not access or use artificial intelligence (AI) resources in any way.
- You must not use any resources such as homework assistance sites or similar platforms that provide direct answers to the submitted questions.
- Both during and after the test, you must not record by any means, give access to or share any of the test questions or your test responses with any other person.
- You must not provide assistance in any way to any other student during their test, whether it is before, during or after your own test.
At the start of your test you will be required to make a declaration that you understand these rules of academic integrity and that you agree to abide by them. Any indications of possible breach of academic integrity will be investigated and formally reported.
Level of GenAI use allowed. Level 1: No AI. You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Week 4 Friday (8 Aug 2025) 8:00 pm AEST
Results will be available 2 weeks after the test date.
Question responses will be scored on the following criteria:
- factual correctness of content
- completeness in answering what was asked
- depth of explanation
- relevance of your response in addressing the question that was asked.
Marks for each question are listed on the Moodle screen.
- Outline the basic construction and operation of x-ray units and digital radiographic image acquisition systems
- Communication
2 Report
Academic integrity requirements
You must uphold the standards of academic integrity in this assessment.
- Your report must be your own original work. You must not consult with or receive assistance from any other person regarding the content or presentation of your report. Your final submission must clearly demonstrate your own critical thinking and academic writing skills.
- You may use AI tools to generate graphic representations of numerical data and/or access writing feedback tools such as Grammarly to assist with clarity and structure of your academic writing.
- You may use AI tools to find external sources that are relevant to your learning and to provide summaries of those information sources. However, you must verify the accuracy of any summarised content before using it in your work.
- All external sources, including but not limited to those identified or summarised using AI tools must be properly acknowledged using correct in-text citations and a reference list.
- If you use content generated by AI in your assignment, you must paraphrase or quote it appropriately, use quotation marks for any directly copied text and provide full citations for all AI tools and sources used.
- You must not use AI tools to write full paragraphs or complete the report on your behalf.
- You must not submit work that is not your own or that has been generated entirely or in part by AI.
- You must not use any resources such as homework assistance sites or similar platforms that provide direct answers to the assessment tasks.
Any indications of possible breach of academic integrity will be investigated and formally reported.
Week 9 Monday (15 Sept 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Results will be available 2 weeks after the due date.
Your report will be assessed on the following criteria:
- clarity and completeness of explanations and discussions in answering the required questions
- factual correctness of statements, explanations and discussions
- relevance of response content to the question asked
- correct use of terminology
- Discuss the underlying physical principles of and the controls involved in x-ray beam production, emission, interactions in matter and capture at the image receptor
- Discuss fundamental attributes of radiographic image appearances such as visibility, brightness, contrast, unsharpness, and distortion
- Relate the concepts of beam control, differential attenuation, and scatter control to the production and appearances of a projection radiograph
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Technology Competence
3 Online Test
Academic integrity requirements
You must uphold the standards of academic integrity throughout this assessment.
- During the test, you may refer to your study notes, textbook and the unit Moodle site. If you use content from these sources, you must paraphrase or quote and cite appropriately. Direct copying without quotation and citation is not permitted.
- No additional research is required so do not access any external websites, databases or journals.
- You must not consult with any other person via any means, or accept any input or assistance from any other person regarding the test questions and responses.
- You must not communicate, verbally, non-verbally or digitally, with any other student during the test.
- Your question responses must be your own effort without assistance in any form.
- You must not access or use artificial intelligence (AI) resources in any way.
- You must not use any resources such as homework assistance sites or similar platforms that provide direct answers to the submitted questions.
- Both during and after the test, you must not record by any means, give access to or share any of the test questions or your test responses with any other person.
You must not provide assistance in any way to any other student during their test, whether it is before, during or after your own test.
At the start of your test you will be required to make a declaration that you understand these rules of academic integrity and that you agree to abide by them. Any indications of possible breach of academic integrity will be investigated and formally reported.
Level of GenAI use allowed. Level 1: No AI. You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Week 12 Tuesday (7 Oct 2025) 8:00 pm AEST
Results will be available 2 weeks after the test date.
Question responses will be scored on the following criteria:
- factual correctness of content
- completeness in answering what was asked
- depth of explanation
- relevance of your response in addressing the question that was asked.
Marks for each question are listed on the Moodle screen. The number of marks are allocated based on the number of key points you are expected to make in answering the question. You should expect to make one key point of fact or logic for each mark. As a guide, a key point typically involves 1 - 2 sentences.
- Discuss the underlying physical principles of and the controls involved in x-ray beam production, emission, interactions in matter and capture at the image receptor
- Outline the basic construction and operation of x-ray units and digital radiographic image acquisition systems
- Discuss fundamental attributes of radiographic image appearances such as visibility, brightness, contrast, unsharpness, and distortion
- Relate core concepts of bioeffects of low-level ionising radiation and current scientific theories of radiation risk to radiation protection practices in radiography.
- Communication
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
