California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

X-rays are produced by:

1. Direct electron collision only

2. Heating of the cathode and the anode

3. Hot electrons bombarding a tungsten target

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

X-rays are produced by a process called bremsstrahlung, which occurs when electrons collide with a metal target. This collision can occur in two ways through direct electron collision (choice A) or by heating the cathode and anode, which creates a stream of electrons that bombard the target (choice B). These two processes alone can produce x-rays, but they are not the only methods. Hot electrons from a heated filament can also bombard a metal target, creating x-rays (choice C). Therefore, option D, "All of the above," is the most accurate answer.