Question

Radio waves can bend around buildings. An X-ray technician stands behind a wall during the use of her machine. What does this tell you about the relative wavelengths of these two types of invisible light? Please use 2 content related sentences.

Answer 1

Answer: Radio waves have a wavelength that is comparable in size with buildings, that is why it bends (diffracts) around them. On the other hand, X-rays wavelength is so small compared with the size of a building and even a wall, that it is impossible for this invisible light to bend around a wall.

This "bending" of the waves described here is formally known as Diffraction.

In this sense, diffraction happens when a wave (mechanical or electromagnetic wave) meets an obstacle or slit. When this occurs, the wave bends around the edges of the obstacle or passes through the opening of the slit that acts as an obstacle.

In this case we are talking about two types of electromagnetic waves (light):

-Radio waves with a wavelength between $10^{-9}m$ and $10^{-12}m$

-X rays with a wavelength between $1m$ and $10km$

Now, it is important to note that the principal condition for the occurrence of diffraction is that the obstacle must be comparable in size (similar size) to the size of the wavelength.

This means:

Radio waves have a wavelength that is comparable in size with buildings, that is why it bends (diffracts) around them. On the other hand, X-rays wavelength is so small compared with the size of a building and even a wall, that it is impossible for this invisible light to bend around a wall.

Therefore, if the technician stands behind a wall during the use of the X-ray machine, she will be safe.

Answer 2

The relative wavelength tells us about the traversing capability of the radio waves and X-rays.

Explanation:

Radio waves can bend around at any corner or obstruction due to its property of being electromagnetic wave. The X-ray machine is used to build the diagram for the opaque objects in the body such as any metallic introductions or the bones which are radio-opaque.

The technician stands behind a wall as the electromagnetic waves cannot traverse the wall and hence he is safe behind it. As long exposure lead to fatal radiation injuries.

The wavelength of radio waves is comparable in size with buildings, this is the reason behind the diffraction principle of it. Alternately, the wavelength of X-rays are small compared which makes it impossible for invisible light to bend around the wall.