Question
Download Solution PDFWhat is the speed of X-rays in a vacuum?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Option 1 : 300,000 km/s
Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFCorrect Answer: 300,000 km/s
Rationale:
- X-rays, like all electromagnetic waves, travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. This speed is approximately 300,000 kilometers per second (km/s).
- The speed of light in a vacuum is a fundamental constant of nature, denoted by the symbol "c". This value is crucial in the fields of physics and astronomy, as it plays a key role in the theory of relativity and the propagation of electromagnetic radiation.
Explanation of Other Options:
150,000 km/s
- Rationale: This value is incorrect as it is exactly half of the actual speed of light. The speed of electromagnetic waves, including X-rays, cannot be 150,000 km/s in a vacuum.
500,000 km/s
- Rationale: This value is incorrect as it exceeds the actual speed of light. According to our current understanding of physics, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum, which is 300,000 km/s.
1,000,000 km/s
- Rationale: This value is also incorrect as it significantly exceeds the speed of light. The speed of light in a vacuum is the maximum speed at which all energy, matter, and information in the universe can travel.
Conclusion:
- Among the given options, 300,000 km/s is the correct speed of X-rays in a vacuum. This is consistent with the fundamental constant of the speed of light, which is a critical parameter in both theoretical and applied physics.