Final answer:
In a vacuum, radio waves and X-rays differ in frequency and wavelength but not speed, as both travel at the speed of light. Radio waves have lower frequencies and longer wavelengths, while X-rays have higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a vacuum, the difference between radio waves and X-rays comes down to their frequency and wavelength. Both types of electromagnetic radiation travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, so their speed is not a differentiating factor. The main characteristics that distinguish radio waves from X-rays are their frequency and wavelength - radio waves have lower frequencies and longer wavelengths, while X-rays have higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths. It is important to understand that as frequency increases, wavelength decreases. Therefore, radio waves and X-rays fall into different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, with X-rays having more energy than radio waves.
The accelerating electric charge emits electromagnetic radiation. For radio waves, this could be the oscillation of electrons in an antenna, while for X-rays, this is generally the result of high-energy transitions within atoms or the deceleration of high-speed electrons upon hitting a target in an X-ray tube. Additionally, different prefixes like 'micro' in 'microwaves' indicate different wavelength ranges within the electromagnetic spectrum, where microwaves have longer wavelengths than X-rays but shorter than radio waves. It's pertinent to mention that wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional and their product is always the constant speed of light in a vacuum.