Which of the following best describes the difference between visible light and X-rays in the electromagnetic spectrum?

• A. X-rays have a shorter wavelength and higher energy than visible light.
• B. Visible light and X-rays have identical energies but different colors.
• C. X-rays and visible light have the same wavelength but different frequencies.
• D. Visible light has a shorter wavelength and higher energy than X-rays.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that electromagnetic radiation can be characterized by its wavelength (\( \lambda \)), frequency (\( \nu \)), and energy (\( E \)). These properties are related by the equations \( c = \lambda \nu \) and \( E = h \nu \), where \( c \) is the speed of light and \( h \) is Planck's constant.
2. Understand that in the electromagnetic spectrum, different types of radiation are distinguished primarily by their wavelengths and energies. Visible light has wavelengths roughly between 400 nm and 700 nm, while X-rays have much shorter wavelengths, typically on the order of 0.01 to 10 nm.
3. Since wavelength and frequency are inversely related (\( \nu = \frac{c}{\lambda} \)), a shorter wavelength corresponds to a higher frequency. Therefore, X-rays have a higher frequency than visible light.
4. Energy of electromagnetic radiation is directly proportional to frequency (\( E = h \nu \)), so higher frequency means higher energy. Thus, X-rays have higher energy than visible light.
5. Compare the given options with these facts: X-rays have shorter wavelengths and higher energies than visible light, so the correct description is that X-rays have a shorter wavelength and higher energy than visible light.