Question

(a) An X-ray tube produces a continuous spectrum of radiation with its short wavelength end at 0.45 Å. What is the maximum energy of a photon in the radiation? (b) From your answer to (a), guess what order of accelerating voltage (for electrons) is required in such a tube?

Answer 1

Explanation:

(a) λ=0.45×10

−10

m

maximum energy is E=hc/λ=27.6×10

3

eV=27.6keV

(b) Accelerating voltage provides energy to the electrons for producing X-rays. To get a X-rays of 27.6 keV, the incident electrons must possess at least 27.6keV of kinetic electric energy. Hence, an accelerating voltage of the order of 30 keV is required for producing X-rays.