Question

Typing The Answer Is Mandatory

X-rays penetrate the flesh but are reflected by bone. Use their positions on the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the penetrating power of ultraviolet light and gamma rays.

Answer 1

Before discussing the penetration abilities of Ultraviolet light, X-rays nd Gamma rays it is required to understand the electromagnetic spectrum and the position of these rays in it.

The classification of electromagnetic waves according to the frequency is the electromagnetic spectrum.

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​​​​​​Penetrating power of electromagnetic waves depends on the frequency of the radiation and the matter that they are travelling through ( that is the atomic number, density and thickness of the material).

Electromagnetic radiation with higher frequency have higher degree of penetration when compared to those of lower frequency.

In the increasing order of frequency Ultraviolet rays come first,then X-rays and the last are the Gamma rays with higher frequency. These radiations are very dangerous and are called ionisation radiations.

Ultraviolet light:

UV rays are produced by high temperature surfaces like Sun as continuous spectrum and by atomic excitation in a gaseous discharge tube as discrete spectrum.

They have frequency range of (10^15 to 10^17) Hz and wavelength ranges of (400nm to 1nm) Hence,they have lesser power of penetration which is limited to the surface of the skin. And their direct effect include sunburns, pigmentation development etc.

X-Rays:

X-rays are produced by accelerating electrons. Their frequency range is ( 10^16 to 10^20)Hz and wavelength is in the range of (1nm to 10^-3nm),which is in between that of UV radiation and Gamma rays.

Their power of penetration is more when compared to that of UV rays and less when compared to that of Gamma rays.

Soft tissues like skin and muscles allow X-rays to pass through it, but hard materials like bones and teeth absorb X-rays. Hence,they are extremely useful for all types of medical diagnosis.

Gamma Rays:

Gamma rays are produced by atomic nuclei (of radioactive atoms).

They have highest frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum (10^20 to 10^23)Hz and hence have highest penetrating power. And they also have least wavelength of the order of (less than 10^-3nm).

They have very high energy and are able to cause severe damages to the living cells. They cannot be stopped by the skin and also include DNA alteration by interfering with the genetic material of the cell which can cause cancer by damaging the living cells.