- X rays are Electromagnetic waves of short wavelength in the range of 0.5 Å to 10 Å.
- X rays were discovered by a German Scientist Wilhelm Roentgen, in 1895. Roentgen was awarded Nobel Prize in 1901 for the discovery of X rays.
- Wilhelm roentgen found that when a beam of fast moving electron strike a solid target, an invisible penetrating radiation is produced. Due to the unknown nature of radiation, Roentgen called these as X rays.
Properties of X rays radiation
- X rays are Electromagnetic waves of short wavelength.
- The travel in straight line with the speed of light. They are invisible to eyes.
- They undergo reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction and polarization.
- They are not deflected by electric and magnetic fields. This indicates that X rays do not have charged particles.
- They ionize the gas through which they pass.
- The X rays can penetrate through the substance which are opaque to ordinary light. Ex: wood, flesh, thick paper, thin sheet of metals.
- X rays cause the Photoelectric effect ( when X rays are falls on certain metals they liberate photo electrons ).
- X rays affect the Photographic plates.
- X rays are have destructive effect on living tissue. When the human body is exposed to X rays , it causes redness of the skin, sores and serious injuries to the tissue and glands. They destroy the White Corpuscles of the blood (WBC).
- X rays are do not pass through the heavy metals such as lead and bones. If such object are placed in their path, they cast their shadow.
