Consider a Photon of Continuous X-ray and a Photon of Characteristic X-ray of the Same Wavelength. Which of the Following Is/Are Different for the Two Photons? - Physics

MCQ

Consider a photon of continuous X-ray and a photon of characteristic X-ray of the same wavelength. Which of the following is/are different for the two photons?

Options

• Frequency

• Energy

• Penetrating power

• Method of creation

Solution

Method of creation

Let  λ_1 and λ_2 be the wavelengths of the photons of continuous and characteristic X-rays, respectively.
Given :

λ_1 = λ_2 = λ

Now, frequency (v) is given by

v = c/λ_1 = c/λ_2

⇒ v = c/λ

Hence, the frequency of both the photons is the same.
Energy of a photon (E) is given by

E = hv

As the frequency of both the photons is the same, they will have the same energy.
The photon of the continuous X-ray and the photon of the characteristic X-ray consist of the same penetrating power.
The photon of the characteristic X-ray is created because of the transition of an electron from one shell to another. The photon of the continuous X-ray is created because of the conversion of the kinetic energy of an electron into a photon of electromagnetic radiation.

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APPEARS IN

HC Verma Class 11, Class 12 Concepts of Physics Vol. 2
Chapter 22 X-rays
MCQ | Q 8 | Page 395