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Q58 (NDA-II/2018) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Atomic and nuclear physics Answer Verified

The wavelength of X-rays is of the order of

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths significantly shorter than visible light. The standard unit of measurement in the X-ray region is the angstrom (Å), which is equal to 10⁻¹⁰ meters. While the broader X-ray spectrum ranges from approximately 0.01 to 10 nanometers (0.1 to 100 Å), the wavelengths specifically used in diffraction and structural studies typically lie in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 Å. Hard X-rays used for diffraction applications are often in the range of a few angstroms down to 0.1 Å [2]. This scale is particularly useful because it corresponds to the order of magnitude of typical covalent bond lengths (1–2 Å) and atomic spacing in crystals. In contrast, micrometers (μm), millimeters (mm), and centimeters (cm) represent much longer wavelength regions such as infrared and radio waves [1]. Therefore, the wavelength of X-rays is of the order of 1 Å.

Sources

  1. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/short-wavelength-x-rays
  2. [1] https://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/education/educationalcd/RadioAstronomyTutorial/Workbook%20PDF%20Files/Chapter2.pdf
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