Final answer:
X-ray tubes use electron guns to produce X-rays by accelerating electrons emitted from a hot filament towards a tungsten anode, converting kinetic energy into X-rays and thermal energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
General purpose x-ray tubes use electron guns to produce high intensity x-ray beams in a short time. These tubes work by having electrons that are ejected by thermal agitation from a hot filament inside a vacuum tube. Once these electrons are accelerated through a high voltage, they gain significant kinetic energy from the electrical potential energy. When they strike the anode, mostly made from tungsten due to its high-melting-point, the kinetic energy is converted into various forms, including X-rays and thermal energy.
This process makes use of the fact that an accelerated charge will radiate electromagnetic waves, and as the electrons act individually when they strike the anode, they produce photons, which can be in the form of X-rays. These X-rays are then used in various applications, including medical imaging and industrial inspections.