Question

An X-ray technician will place a lead cloth over parts of your body when taking an X-ray to protect your cells from being damaged. Why do X-rays have the potential to harm your body but radio waves do not?

Answer 1

Radio waves have a lower frequency than x rays.

Answer 2

Answer: X-rays have shorter wavelength and high energy, therefore they affect more than radio waves.

Explanation:

Radio waves and X-rays are a type of electromagnetic waves which have both electrical and magnetic components associated with them.

X-rays have shorter wavelength than radio waves.

Relationship between the energy of the waves and the wavelength is given by Planck's equation, which is:

$E=\frac{hc}{\lambda}$

Where,

E = energy of the wave

h = Planck's constant

c = speed of light

$\lambda$ = wavelength of the wave

From the above relation, energy is inversely related to the wavelength. As, the wavelength decreases, energy of the wave increases and vice-versa.

As, energy of the X-rays is more, they have high penetration power and hence, will harm the body more.