Final answer:
X-ray radiation has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies compared to infrared radiation, leading to their higher energy and ability to penetrate matter more deeply.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compared to infrared radiation, X-ray radiation has significantly shorter wavelengths. Infrared rays have lower frequencies and longer wavelengths than the visible light spectrum. On the contrary, X-rays possess a much higher frequency than both visible and infrared light, which is indicative of their shorter wavelengths. Specifically, X-ray wavelengths range from about 1 × 10-8 meters to 5 × 10-12 meters. This shorter wavelength corresponds to higher frequencies, ranging between 3 × 1016 Hz and 6 × 1019 Hz.
The high frequency of X-rays relative to infrared rays implies that they carry more energy. In fact, X-rays have enough energy to penetrate matter to greater depths, which is why they are used in medical imaging and treatments but can also pose health risks such as inducing cancer or genetic defects due to their capacity to damage living cells.