What is X-rays

X-rays electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength than ultraviolet radiation produced by bombardment of atoms by high-quantum-energy particles. They were discovered by william *roentgen in 1895. The range of wavelengths is 10~n mto 10""9m. Atoms of all the elements emit a characteristic x-ray spectrum when they are bombarded by electrons. The x-ray photons are emitted when the incident electrons knock an inner orbital electron out of an atom. When this happens an outer electron falls into the inner shell to replace it, losing potential energy (ae) in doing so. The wavelength x of the emitted photon will then be given by x = chjae, where c is the speed of light and h is the planck constant. See also