Ultrasound is used to scan unborn babies but X-rays are not used to scan unborn babies.

Ultrasound is not ionising as it is a longitudinal wave whilst X-rays are ionising as they are transverse waves and have very high frequency hence can 'knock' electrons out of their orbit. Doing this can cause mutations in the cells of the baby and potentially cause cancer.

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Answered by Saram A. Physics tutor

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