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What are the main properties of X-rays and γ-rays?
In this article:
- X-rays and gamma rays (γ-rays) are invisible forms of electromagnetic radiation that cannot be detected by human senses and travel in straight lines at the speed of light.
- Both types of radiation are highly penetrating, capable of passing through matter while being partially absorbed, making them ideal for non-destructive testing (NDT).
- They cannot be focused using lenses or prisms, but their paths can be diffracted using crystalline structures, which is useful in advanced imaging techniques.
- X-rays and γ-rays are ionizing, meaning they can liberate electrons from atoms, which is essential for imaging but also requires strict safety protocols.
- Exposure to these rays can damage or destroy living cells, highlighting the importance of shielding and controlled usage in industrial and medical applications.
X-rays and γ-rays have the following properties in common:
1. invisibility; they cannot be perceived by the senses
2. they travel in straight lines and at the speed of light
3. they cannot be deflected by means of a lens or prism, although their path can be bent
(diffracted) by a crystalline grid
4. they can pass through matter and are partly absorbed in transmission.
5. they are ionising, that is, they liberate electrons in matter
6. they can impair or destroy living cells