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Q60
(NDA-II/2015)
Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Atomic and nuclear physics
Answer Verified
X-rays are electromagnetic radiation whose wavelengths are of the order of:
Result
Your answer:
—
·
Correct:
D
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4 (10-10 metre).
X-rays are high-energy electromagnetic waves discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen. In the electromagnetic spectrum, X-rays occupy the region between ultraviolet light and gamma rays. Their characteristic wavelengths typically range from 0.01 to 10 nanometres (10-11 to 10-8 metres).
The significance of 10-10 metre (also known as 1 Angstrom) is twofold:
- It represents the typical interatomic spacing in crystalline solids, which allows X-rays to be used in crystallography/diffraction studies.
- It corresponds to the scale of the electron cloud of an atom.
Other options are incorrect because:
- 1 metre falls in the Radio wave spectrum.
- 10-1 metre (10 cm) belongs to Microwaves.
- 10-5 metre (10 microns) is in the Infrared region.
Therefore, 10-10 metre is the most accurate order of magnitude for X-ray wavelengths.
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