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Properties of X-rays

• have no charge
• have no mass
• travel at the speed of light
• are invisible
• cannot be felt
• travel in a straight line
• cannot be deflected by magnetic fields
• penetrate all matter to some degree
• cause certain substances to fluoresce
• can expose photographic emulsions
• can ionize atoms

Fundamentally, x-rays obey all the laws of light, but among heir special properties certain ones are of interest to Diagnostic Imaging

• their extremely short wavelength enables them to penetrate body tissues
• they cause certain substances to fluoresce, that is, to emit radiation in the longer wavelengths, visible and ultraviolet radiation
• they affect photographic film producing a record that can be made visible by development
• they cause biologic changes a fact that permits their use in therapy but also necessitates caution in using x-radiation