Home / Topics / AC Circuits & EM Waves
X-rays
Intermediate
Penetrating radiation for imaging.
Wavelengths 0.01–10 nm produced when fast electrons hit a metal target. They penetrate soft tissue but not bone; used for imaging and crystallography.
Medical 50 keV X-rays.
Ionising radiation.
In more detail
X-rays have wavelengths from about 0.01 nm to 10 nm and are produced when fast electrons hit a metal target or are decelerated. They can pass through soft tissue and are absorbed by bone.
Real-world uses
- Medical X-rays image bones and detect fractures.
- Crystallography uses X-rays to determine atomic structures.
- Hospitals use X-rays to image bones and detect fractures, because the rays pass through soft tissue more easily.
Open the interactive lesson, with simulation and quiz →
Frequently asked questions
How are X-rays produced?
When high-speed electrons slow down in a metal target, emitting bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation.
Are X-rays dangerous?
They can damage cells, so exposure is limited and shielded.
Why do X-rays pass through the body?
High-energy X-rays are only partly absorbed by soft tissue, while bone absorbs them more strongly and shows up clearly.
Related topics in AC Circuits & EM Waves
Infrared · Visible light · Ultraviolet · Gamma rays · Polarisation of EM waves · Antennas