Question

X-rays are used in medical applications to produce images of bones, tissues, and organs. X-rays are capable of penetrating tissues such as skin, but are less capable of penetrating bone. This property of X-rays derives from which characteristic of the rays?

A.
their short wavelengths

B.
their small amplitudes

C.
their large amplitudes

D.
their long wavelengths

Answer 1

A. their short wavelengths

X-rays have very short wavelengths (high frequency), so each photon has high energy (E = hf). That high energy gives X-rays strong penetrating power; denser materials like bone absorb more of those photons, producing the contrast used in imaging. Amplitude relates to intensity, not intrinsic photon energy.