X-RAYS

WHAT ARE X-RAYS?
The so-called X-rays are an electromagnetic radiation which has a wave length similar to an atom and has the capacity to cross the solid bodies.
They are currently used in hospitals, airports, museum, car's factories, customs and observation satellites.

WHEN WERE THEY DISCOVERED?
They were discovered un the late 19th century and it was a success to the scientific community. They revolutionized the medical world because thanks to this discovering, the internal human bodies could be examined without using any surgery.

WHO WAS THE DISCOVERER?
The German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered some X-rays similar to the light's rays, but they were invisible and for this reason he called them X-rays.
As a result, he was awarded the first Nobel's Prize for Physics in 1901.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Roentgen carried out many experiments in wood and carton with X-rays. But in the end, he took the first X-ray to his wife's hand. In it, the hand's bones were seen perfectly!

HOW DO X-RAYS MACHINES WORK?
A thin wire, the same as the one of light bulb, gets hot and it sends a constant electron current. Afterwards, these electrons are accelerated to a metal iron placed opposite. When they crash with it, they liberate electromagnetic energy, what we call X-rays.

DANGERS OF X-RAYS
X-rays can cause damages in the eyes, in the skin, genetic modification and even cancer.
Nowadays, the majority of the countries organize Nuclear Security Cabinet to watch the good work of X-rays machines.

APPLICATIONS
They are used in the field of medicine (for radiotherapy and electronic microscopes), security (to detect arms) and industry (to correct material).