Characteristic X-rays and Accelerating Potential – Rankers Physics
Topic: Modern Physics
Subtopic: Atomic Structure

Characteristic X-rays and Accelerating Potential

Assertion (A): If the accelerating potential in an X-ray tube is increased, the wavelength of the characteristic X-rays does not change.
Reason (R): When an electron beam strikes the target in an X-ray tube, part of the kinetic energy is converted into X-ray energy.
 
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

Characteristic X-rays depend on the target material's atomic structure, not the accelerating potential. So (A) is true. X-rays are produced when electron kinetic energy is converted to electromagnetic radiation.

So (R) is true. However, (R) describes the general process of X-ray production, not why characteristic wavelengths are independent of accelerating potential. Hence, (R) is not the correct explanation for (A).

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