X-rays have properties of ______.

X-rays have properties of ______.

• A. Particles
• B. Waves
• C. Both
• D. None

Answer: (C)

X-rays exhibit wave-particle duality. As waves, they have a definite wavelength and can show interference and diffraction. As particles, they exist as photons—discrete packets of energy that interact with matter through processes like the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering, transferring energy in quantized amounts. In diagnostic imaging, thinking in terms of photons helps explain attenuation and energy deposition, while the wave view accounts for phenomena related to their wavelength. Because X-rays display both aspects, the best description is that they have properties of both.

X-rays exhibit wave-particle duality. As waves, they have a definite wavelength and can show interference and diffraction. As particles, they exist as photons—discrete packets of energy that interact with matter through processes like the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering, transferring energy in quantized amounts. In diagnostic imaging, thinking in terms of photons helps explain attenuation and energy deposition, while the wave view accounts for phenomena related to their wavelength. Because X-rays display both aspects, the best description is that they have properties of both.