Why X-rays and Gamma-rays are different in nature, though both are of eletromagnetic origin?
Asked by: Buddhadev
Mukherjee
Answer
Gamma rays refer to electromagnetic radiation from nuclear interactions while X-rays
come from atomic interactions. But they are both high energy electromagnetic radiation
and, if you didn't already know the source, you couldn't tell for sure if a particular
photon was a gamma-ray or an X-ray. Gammas tend to be higher in energy since nuclear
binding potentials are larger than atomic potentials but there is overlap in the two
spectra.
Answered by: Tom Swanson, Ph.D. Physics, Oregon State University
'In a way science is a key to the gates of heaven, and the same key opens the gates of hell, and we do not have any instructions as to which is which gate.
Shall we throw away the key and never have a way to enter the gates of heaven? Or shall we struggle with the problem of which is the best way to use the key?'