Final answer:
The incorrect statements about x-ray characteristics are that x-rays are focused using collimators, are monoenergetic, are negatively charged, and travel at the speed of sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four statements that are NOT correct regarding x-ray characteristics are:
- X-rays are focused using collimators (Statement 4) - Collimators are used to shape or restrict the beam of x-rays, not to focus them.
- The x-ray beam is monoenergetic (Statement 6) - X-ray beams typically consist of a range of energies, not just one.
- X-rays are negatively charged (Statement 8) - X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation and do not have a charge.
- X-rays travel at the speed of sound (Statement 9) - X-rays travel at the speed of light, not the speed of sound.
X-rays have several properties and applications: they can cause fluorescence in some materials, have a photographic effect on film, an ionizing effect on air, and can penetrate various materials, although not all matter equally. They also have a physiological effect on living tissue and travel in straight lines. X-rays cannot be perceived by the human senses, making them invisible and undetectable without the use of specialized equipment.