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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Physics » Continuous x-ray spectrum

Continuous x-ray spectrum

In this article, we are going to learn about X-rays- very important and commonly used rays, we are going to learn about their type, characteristics, etc.

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X-rays have changed modern medicine since their discovery in 1901. For his discovery of electromagnetic radiation, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, a German physicist, was even awarded the Nobel Prize. An X-ray is a painless, quick examination that produces photographs of the insides of your body, particularly your bones. X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation that can look through a person’s skin to reveal the bones beneath it. More powerful and focused X-ray beams, as well as a rising number of applications for these light waves, have emerged from technological developments. X-ray beams pass through your body and are absorbed in different degrees depending on the density of the material they pass through. Dense materials like bone and metal show white on X-rays.

What is an x-ray?

Electromagnetic waves are a form of radiation that includes X-rays. X-ray imaging is a type of imaging that provides images of the inside of your body. The photos depict your body parts in various colors of black and white. Because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation, this is the case.

Properties of x-rays?

The following are the qualities of X-Rays:

  • They have a shorter electromagnetic spectrum wavelength.
  • To make X-Rays, a high voltage is required.
  • They’re utilized to capture flaws in the human skeleton.
  • They travel in a straight line without carrying an electric charge.
  • They have the ability to travel in a vacuum.

Types of x-rays 

There are two types of x-ray spectrum:1. Continuous Spectrum 2. Characteristic X-ray Spectra.

Continuous -X-rays are formed when high-speed electrons hit a target substance having a high atomic number. In the generation of X-rays, the bulk of the energy of the electrons is used to heat the target material. A few fast-moving electrons penetrate deep into the interior of the target material’s atoms and are attracted to their nuclei by the attraction forces of their nuclei. These forces cause the electrons to deviate from their original path. Electrons move slowly as a result, and their energy decreases over time. The frequency range of X-rays is continuous up to a maximum frequency max or a minimum wavelength min. Continuous X-rays are the term for this. The anode voltage determines the minimum wavelength. If V is the difference in potential between the anode and the cathode, then eV = hνmax = hc / λmin.

Characteristic radiation – When an electrically charged particle with adequate kinetic energy rapidly decelerates, continuous X-rays are produced. The continuous spectrum is caused by the electrons’ fast deceleration as they hit the target, as any decelerated charge emits energy. Continuous radiation, like white light, is also known as white radiation since it is made up of rays of various wavelengths. Because it is created by electron slowdown, white radiation is also known as Bremsstrahlung (German for “braking radiation”).

Characteristics of  x-ray radiation 

Sharp intensity maxima develops at certain wavelengths, overlaid on the continuous spectrum when the voltage on an x-ray tube is raised above a certain critical value, typical of the target metal. They’re called characteristic lines since they’re so tiny and their wavelengths are specific to the target metal. These lines are divided into numerous groups, referred to as K, L, M, and so on, in order of increasing wavelength, with all of the lines creating the characteristic spectrum of the metal used as the target. An atom is made up of a central nucleus surrounded by electrons in various shells, K, L, M, etc., each of which corresponds to the primary quantum number n = 1, 2, 3,… An electron with enough kinetic energy bombards the target, knocking an electron out of the K shell and leaving the atom in an excited, high-energy state. The energy emitted in the form of K radiation is released when the K shell is filled with an electron descending from the L shell. K radiation is produced when an electron falls out of the M shell. The L series of radiation is formed when a vacancy in the L shell is filled by electrons from higher shells.

Conclusion

Electromagnetic waves are a form of radiation that includes X-rays. X-ray imaging is a type of imaging that provides images of the inside of your body. The photos depict your body parts in various colors of black and white. Because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation, this is the case. When the target of an X-ray tube is struck by energetic electrons, two kinds of X-ray radiation are emitted by target 1. Continuous Spectrum 2. Characteristic X-ray Spectra.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

What are the main characteristics of x-rays?

Ans-:The capacity of X-rays to penetrate optically opaque materials, their atomic-scale wavelengths, and the high en...Read full

What is a continuous x-ray?

Ans-:When free moving electrons interact electromagnetically with nuclei, cont...Read full

What Are the Most Common Types of X-rays?

Ans-:Medical radiography, which takes images of bones and internal organs, is ...Read full

Who invented the x-ray ?

Ans-:Wilhelm Röntgen, a German scientist, is often credited with discovering ...Read full

In a typical X-ray machine, how are X-rays generated?

Ans-:X-rays are created in a traditional X-ray machine by blasting a radioactive substance with cathode rays. When a...Read full

Ans-:The capacity of X-rays to penetrate optically opaque materials, their atomic-scale wavelengths, and the high energy of individual X-ray photons all contribute to a variety of industrial, medical, and scientific uses.

Ans-:When free moving electrons interact electromagnetically with nuclei, continuous X-rays are produced, whereas distinctive X-rays are produced during the electron transition events that occur when an inner shell electron is liberated from an atom.

Ans-:Medical radiography, which takes images of bones and internal organs, is the most common type of X-ray. It tells doctors if someone has osteoporosis, lung disease, and other health problems.

Fluoroscopy is another type of X-ray that is commonly used. It’s intended to investigate certain disorders in the human body.

Ans-:Wilhelm Röntgen, a German scientist, is often credited with discovering X-Rays in 1895 since he was the first to examine them in-depth, albeit he is not regarded to be the first to notice and perceive their effects.

Ans-:X-rays are created in a traditional X-ray machine by blasting a radioactive substance with cathode rays. When a high-speed cathode-ray strikes a radioactive substance, electrons and energy are emitted. The X-ray machine uses this energy.

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