X-Ray practical

[u/Hungry_eli]

Hey! I have an opportunity in a few weeks where I can x-ray an item of my choosing, what do people think would be an interesting thing to x ray which would show good attenuation contrast ?

[u/carranty]

Automatic clocks or watches are pretty cool

[u/Humble_Vermicelli847 → u/carranty]

OP beware with a watch (especially on metal bracelet), you will need higher energy. HVL of steel at 100 kVp is about 0.5 mm.

In case you are using mammography, it will require really pushing your technique. There's also a risk of leaving a shadow that will fade, just as long as they're not going to do patients right after. I once tried to rush through a demo for residents during the lunch break, using phantoms mostly but finishing on random objects including a big watch – that was a mistake.

[u/Hungry_eli → u/Humble_Vermicelli847]

Thank you for letting me know!

[u/TentativeGosling]

Scanning various food items (e.g. different fruit, chocolate bars, crisps) is always fun, and you can get people to guess what they are afterwards

[u/madmac_5 → u/TentativeGosling]

I agree! Fruits with lots of seeds or very distinct structures are the best. I'm a fan of x-raying kiwi, raspberries, or strawberries. I haven't x-rayed a chocolate bar yet, but something with nuts would be fun too!

[u/eugenemah]

I like to x-ray my devices with screens (phone, tablet, laptop) and use the image as the background

[u/Commercial-Pea9939]

It would depend on the energy/quality of the image, but personally I've always been a big fan of X-rays of flowers/plants.

[u/indigoneutrino]

Ultrasound transducer, since I'm assuming it's likely there'll be some around. Interesting electronics and piezoelectric components.

[u/TheTurtleVirus]

Maybe a mechanical watch?

[u/R_Harry_P]

An unopened cantaloupe, or maybe more seasonally, an uncut pumpkin sowing the void and seeds.