X-rays

X-rays are a type of radiation. Radiation is a general term that refers to any sort of energy that can travel through space as either a wave or a particle. Examples of other types of radiation include:

• Light
• Radio waves
• Microwaves.

X-rays are similar to light, except that they have a much higher frequency, which makes them invisible to the naked eye. Due to their high frequency, x-rays can pass through the human body. This makes x-rays ideal for looking inside the body.

X-rays consist of a type of radiation known as ionising radiation. Ionising radiation is high-energy radiation. It can damage the cells of the body and cause mutations in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which can trigger cancer in later life. DNA is a type of acid that contains all human genetic material.

However, ionising radiation is only a threat to health when a person is exposed to a significantly high dose, such as after the disaster that occurred in the nuclear plant at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union in 1986.

The doses that are used in medical x-rays are very low and are thought to be very safe. They are similar in strength to other sources of natural radiation that people are exposed to every day.