Final answer:
X-rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength, used in medicine to visualize internal structures like bones by creating contrast in an image.
Step-by-step explanation:
An X-ray is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that falls within a certain range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
This type of radiation has the unique ability to pass through solid objects and is capable of ionizing gases. X-rays have a relatively short wavelength, which provides the energy necessary to penetrate different materials, including human tissues, which makes them particularly useful in the field of medicine.
In a medical context, X-ray technology is used as a diagnostic tool to help visualize the internal structures of the body, especially bones.
The X-rays pass through the body, but depending on the density of the tissues they encounter, some of the radiation is absorbed.
Dense materials like bone absorb more X-rays and therefore appear white on an X-ray image, while softer tissues absorb less and appear in shades of gray to black.
This contrast allows doctors to diagnose fractures, infections, and other conditions that affect the structure of bones.