x-rays and gamma rays

• what wavelength and frequency do x-rays and gamma rays have?


  shortest wavelength and highest frequency
• what is the main use of x-rays?

  to help us view the internal structure of objects, including our own bodies
• how do the typical x-ray machine work?

  • fires x-rays through a persons body and recording ones that get through using a detector plate
  • this works because x-rays will be absorbed by dense materials (our bones) but will be able to pass straight through the parts that are mostly air (our lungs and intestines). they will only pass partial through fleshy parts (our heart)
• how are x-rays images coloured?

  • the images start off completely white and only go black if that area of the detector plate receives radiation
  • therefore its the dense areas like bone that appear white while everything else is either black or shaded grey
• why do we use x-rays?

  to detect broken bones or other diseases. it'd a very cheap and quick test.
• is the radiation a person receives during an x-ray harmful?


  generally no. its usually such a small dose that its worth taking the risk, the danger is much higher for the staff involved.
• what do x-ray staff do to keep safe from the radiation?

  • wear lead aprons to stop the x-rays
  • leave the room when the x-rays are being fired
• what do gamma rays sterilise?


  medical equipment and food
• why are gamma rays so useful for sterilisation?

  gamma rays can kill microorganisms without causing any other damage
• what would the other option of sterilisation be besides gamma rays for medical equipment?

  • to boil the equipment and kill and harmful microbes in high temperatures
  • this works quite well but it cant be used all the time because some materials like plastic might get damaged as they melt slightly
• why are gamma rays good for sterilising food?

  • kills all the microorganisms without damaging the food
  • this keeps all of our food fresh for longer because there's no microorganisms left to keep breaking it down
  • its still safe to eat
• what do we have to consider when using x-rays and gamma rays in medicine?

  • a trade-off
  • this is because they're both ionising radiation, which can damage our cells and in rare cases lead to cancer
  • however they also help us diagnose and treat diseases so its often worth the risk