Difference Between X-Rays and Gamma Rays

X-Rays vs Gamma Rays
 

Electromagnetic spectrum is a very useful concept used in the study of physics. X-rays are a type of electromagnetic rays, which are used for medical purposes, and gamma rays are widely used in observational astronomy. Both of these electromagnetic rays are high-energy electromagnetic rays. This article will address what X-rays and gamma rays are, their definitions, the similarities between X-rays and gamma rays, the application of these two, the production of gamma rays and x-rays, and finally the difference between gamma rays and X-rays.

X-Rays

X-rays are type electromagnetic rays. Electromagnetic waves are classified into several regions according to their energy. X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, visible, and radio waves are few of them. Everything we see is due to the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. A spectrum is the plot of intensity versus energy of the electromagnetic rays. The energy can also be represented in wavelength or frequency. The wavelength of X-rays has a range from 0.01 nanometers to 10 nanometers. By applying the equation C = f λ, where C is the speed of light in a vacuum, f is the frequency of the electromagnetic wave, and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, we get a frequency range for X-rays from 30 petahertz (3 x 10¹⁶ Hz) to 30 exahertz (3 x 10¹⁹ Hz). X rays are widely used in medical applications. The X-rays are used to map the interior of the human body using the diffraction of X-rays. X-rays are produced by collision of a high-energy electron beam with a metal. The rapid deceleration of the electrons causes high-energy photons to be emitted. This is called the braking radiation. The high-energy electrons also knock out-bound electrons from inner energy levels. The electrons at outer energy levels transit to the lower level to stabilize the atom. This causes a characteristic emission with peaks at specific wavelengths.

Gamma Rays

Gamma rays are a type of ultra-high energy electromagnetic radiation. The frequency of gamma rays is in the range of exaherts (10¹⁹ Hz) or above. Gamma rays have the photons with the highest energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. Natural sources of gamma rays are sub atomic particle interaction and high-energy lightning strikes. Gamma rays are artificially produced by particle antiparticle annihilation, braking radiation and neutral p ion decay. Since gamma rays have very high energies, these are capable of breaking bonds of several molecules thus creating a biological hazard.