Final answer:
An x-ray tube includes two key electrodes: the cathode, which emits electrons, and the anode, which receives these accelerated electrons to produce x-rays.
Step-by-step explanation:
The x-ray tube is a special type of vacuum tube that contains two electrodes; these are the cathode and the anode. The cathode is negatively charged, and it is where electrons are emitted when a large current flows through the electron source. These electrons are then accelerated by an electric field toward the positively charged anode. Upon striking the anode, x-rays are produced as a result of the collisions with the target material. This operation of cathodes and anodes is foundational in the history of electronics, being integral to devices such as cathode ray tubes (CRTs) found in older TV sets and computer monitors, as well as in x-ray machines used in medical imaging.