Question

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?

विकल्प

• Frequency

• Energy

• Penetrating power

• Method of creation

Answer 1

Method of creation

Let  ${\displaystyle {\lambda }_1}$ and ${\displaystyle {\lambda }_2}$ be the wavelengths of the photons of continuous and characteristic X-rays, respectively.
Given :

${\displaystyle {\lambda }_1}$ = ${\displaystyle {\lambda }_2}$ = ${\displaystyle \lambda }$

Now, frequency (${\displaystyle v}$) is given by

${\displaystyle v=\frac{c}{{\lambda }_1}=\frac{c}{{\lambda }_2}}$

⇒ ${\displaystyle v=\frac{c}{\lambda }}$

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

${\displaystyle E=hv}$

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.