The Usage of X-Rays - Essay Example

X-Rays Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy coming out from certain physical processes. It consists of both visible and nonvisible types of radiations. For example, light radiates from the sun consist of electromagnetic radiations in the visible range. At the same time, electromagnetic radiations consist of radiations in the invisible range also. X-rays is an example for the energy radiations in the invisible range of electromagnetic radiations. Wilhelm Röntgen was the discoverer of X-rays in 1895 almost by an accident While doing some experiments, he observed that the photographic plates nearby (in vacuum) began to grow fogged while electric current passing through it. After a series of experiment, he concluded that the electric current in vacuum is producing some unknown rays. Röntgen names these rays as X rays because of its unknown nature (Monk). Later, it was identified that X-rays have no charge and it has high penetrating power. Since its discovery, X-rays has brought revolutionary changes in many segments of human life, especially in medical science, industrial segment and security related areas. This paper explains what are X-rays and its advantages and disadvantages. X-rays are electromagnetic radiations having wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz (3×1016 Hz to 3×1019 Hz) and energies in the range 100 eV to 100 keV(Thorn et al.). Based on the energy level, X-rays are classified into two categories: Hard X rays and soft X rays. X rays that have energies above 5–10 keV (below 0.2–0.1 nm wavelength) are called hard X-rays, while those with lower energy are called soft X-rays (Attwood, p.2). As the name indicates, hard X rays have high penetrating power compared to soft X rays and it is used widely in in medical radiography and airport security. One of the major characteristics of X rays is its penetrating power. “X rays are used with computers in CAT (computerized axial tomography) scans to produce cross-sectional images of the inside of the body” (X rays). It can pass or penetrate through the human body and produce images of opaque objects such as bones inside the body. Since X-rays help to see the images of many parts inside the human body, it is used widely in medical science to identify the problems inside the body, especially to bones and some other opaque organs inside the body. “X-rays are widely used in medicine to reveal the architecture of the bone and other soft tissues and to find out any abnormality in the form of fracture, growth of tumor etc. It is also used in dental imaging” (MED India). Even though, ultrasound scanning and MRI scanning like modern diagnosis methods are available, doctors send a patient to X ray diagnosis first when bone fracture is suspected. Compared to various types of scanning, X ray diagnosis procedures are simple and cheap. That is why X rays are preferred over scanning even now as the initial diagnosis method in the bone fracture cases. Since X rays are electrically neutral, it causes little or no damage inside the body, if used in a proper manner. At the same time, it should be noted that high energy X rays have the ability to ionize atoms. In fact high energy X ray photons are capable of disrupting molecular bonds. Therefore, it is unadvisable to use high energy X rays for lengthy period for the diagnosis purposes. Improper doses of X rays may cause radiation sickness, such as cancer. Therefore, X ray diagnosis should be done only by an experienced person. At the same time, the power of X rays in ionizing atoms and disrupting molecular bonds is useful in the treatment of cancer. The ionization property of X rays is helpful in killing cancerous cells. X rays can either halt the growth of cells or destroy a group of cells or collection of cells altogether. As a result of that, it can be used effectively to destroy benign and malignant tumors. “X-rays reveal structural information about the material through which it passes or falls over. It can therefore be used to detect structural deficits or cracks in metal objects that are likely to be missed by the human eye. It is also used to reveal stress related changes in building materials for bridges and aircrafts” (MED India). X-rays are used in industries also for various purposes such as the identification of cracks inside heavy equipment. Moreover, it is used widely to study the crystal structures in chemical industries. X rays are used widely for identifying the defects of different types of products and equipment used in industrial units. For example, some of the industrial equipment may face internal cracks after certain period of use. Such cracks may not be visible outside. With the help of the X ray image, such cracks can be easily identified. Another use of X ray radiography is in the examination and analysis of paintings, where studies can reveal such details as the age of a painting and underlying brushstroke techniques that help to identify or verify the artist. X rays are used in several techniques that can provide enlarged images of the structure of opaque objects. These techniques, collectively referred to as X-ray microscopy or microradiography, can also be used in the quantitative analysis of many materials. One of the dangers in the use of X rays is that they can destroy living tissue and can cause severe skin burns on human flesh exposed for too long a time. This destructive power is used in X-ray therapy to destroy diseased cells (X rays). “The use of X-rays in airports to examine for the presence of dangerous weapons or bombs is a routine practice. The cargo is also examined similarly for illegal transit of goods”(MED India). In the security circles also, X rays are widely used. For example, X rays are widely used in airports to scan the items inside the baggage of passengers. It should be noted that it will be practically difficult to ask every passenger to open their baggage for the screening purposes. While baggage is passing through an X ray chamber, it is easy to identify what type of materials is inside it. “X rays are used to inspect canned goods and other packaged products. A conveyor carries the goods past a beam of X rays. If a container is improperly filled, or if it contains a foreign substance, the X rays set off an alarm or set into action a device that removes the container from the conveyor. X rays are similarly used to separate beryl from granite and to inspect airplane and automobile parts, rubber goods, plastics, metal castings, and a variety of other products”(Uses of X rays). It should be noted that terrorists and other criminals are capable of hiding dangerous weapons inside their dressings or baggage. Normal screening may not help the security personnel to detect it. On such occasions, security people make of X rays to detect the presence of dangerous weapons inside the dressing or baggage. To conclude, X rays are extremely useful for the identification of bone fracture, and abnormalities in the internal organs of human body. Its high penetrating power is used effectively by medical science in the disease diagnosis process. It can be used to kill cancerous cells also. X rays are capable of identifying the problems of industrial equipment and defects of crystals in chemical industry. Moreover, it can be used for the security purposes also. In airports and other high security areas, X rays are used for checking the items inside luggage or baggage. Works Cited Attwood, David. “Soft X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation”. Cambridge University. 1999, Print Thorn, J. J.; Neel, M. S.; Donato, V. W.; Bergreen, G. S.; Davies, R. E.; Beck, M. "Observing The Quantum Behavior Of Light In An Undergraduate Laboratory". American Journal of Physics 72 (9): 2004. Print MED India, “X Rays”. Web 13 April 2015. Monk, Paul M. S. “Physical Chemistry”. John Wiley and Sons. 2004. Print “Uses of X rays”. Web 13 April 2015. “X rays”. Web 13 April 2015. Read More