Restricted © Siemens AG 2015siemens.co.uk/curiosity-project Medical magnets The Curiosity Project

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Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 3 Siemens Siemens was established in the United Kingdom more than 170 years ago and now employs over 13,000 people in the UK. As the world’s largest engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges. The Curiosity Project by Siemens The UK needs more engineers and through our Curiosity Project, we aim to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to life, by supporting leading organisations that reach out and nurture the innate curiosity in young people and showcase the amazing and rewarding opportunities a career in engineering can provide. This workshop is part of the project and you can find more details at siemens.co.uk/curiosity-project.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 4 Learning outcomes Understand the purpose of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner and how it works. Investigate resonance using magnets and a compass, and apply this knowledge to how an MRI works.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 5 MRI vs. X-ray

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 6 Magnetic resonance images: How they work Regular bursts of radio waves make the tiny particles inside the atoms in body tissues resonate. This produces a strong radio signal. Different tissues resonate with different patterns of radio waves. So different tissues look different in the MRI scan.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 7 Magnetic resonance images: How they work In an MRI scanner, powerful magnets make the tiny particles inside atoms in body tissues line up in the same direction. Short bursts of radio waves knock the tiny particles out of line. Turning the radio waves off makes the tiny particles line up again. This releases a radio signal which can produce a picture of the body tissues.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 8 Making things resonate Small regular pushes can make objects such as swings, pendulums and bridges swing more and more strongly. When this happens it is called resonating.

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 9 Making a mini MRI What effect does the permanent magnet have on the compass needle? Can you make the compass needle move using the second magnet? How can you make the compass needle swing as strongly as possible (resonate)?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 10 Questions to consider What part of our body does the needle represent in this experiment? Why are people with metal implants unable to have MRI scans? MRI machines build up images of different types of tissue in the body. Why might that be helpful to a doctor?

Restricted © Siemens AG 2015 Page 11 Inside the human body Check out Siemens’ Inside the human body interactive, which enables you to take a peep at some of the systems within the body using images produced by some of the most advanced technology in the world. siemens.co.uk/education/en/students/interactives.htm