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?
Solution
We are given an x-ray tube.
Wavelength of the radiation, λ = 0.45 Å = 0.45 x 10–10 m
Planck's constant, h = 6.62 x 10–34 Js
speed of light, c = 3 x 108 ms–1
(a) The maximum energy of photon is given by,
i.e.,
(b) To produce electrons of 27.5 keV, accelerating potential of 27.5 kV to 30 KV is required.
