How are X-Rays produced?

X-Rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation similar to gamma radiation except X-Rays are produced when an electron is slowed down from a high velocity and gamma waves are produced from radioactive materials decaying.

In an X-Ray machine, a filament wire heats up and releases electrons through the photoelectric effect. The electron then passes through a vacuum towards an attractive anode plate, usually made of tungsten, and decelerate as they pass through the material.

The electrons are slowed as they move through the plate’s electric field but occasionally they rearrange the electrons in the atom so that when they go down an energy level they release an X-Ray. These are known as breaking radiation and characteristic radiation respectively.

LS
Answered by Lewis S. Physics tutor

20577 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Define Simple Harmonic Motion


Two balls of mass 3kg and 7 kg respectively move towards one another with speeds 5ms^-1 and 2ms^-1 respectively on a smooth table. If they collide and join, what velocity do they move off with?


If a vehicle A, 1000kg moving at 5m/s collides with vehicle B, 750kg, moving in the opposite direction at 8m/s assuming no rebound what is the velocity of the vehicles after collision.


Steel has a density of 8030kg/m^3. Show that a steel ball with a diameter of 5cm weighs approximately 5N


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences