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
'Natural science does not simply describe and explain nature, it is part of the interplay between nature and ourselves.'