Apparatus and methods for simulating a sheet source with a line source for determining normalization coefficients for the detectors in positron emission tomography (PET) scanners and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanners. A line source, oriented perpendicular to the axis of a scanner gantry, is moved along the axis while the detectors are stationary and positioned substantially parallel to the plane in which the source moves. In another embodiment, an axially mounted line source moves parallel to a diameter of the gantry while the stationary detectors are positioned substantially parallel to the plane in which the source moves. In still another embodiment, the line source is stationary and positioned parallel to the gantry axis and off center while the detectors move relative to the line source. A shaped attenuator is placed around the source in this last embodiment.