Talk:Kerma (physics)

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To explain a chage i have made...Note that the only difference between gamma rays and x-rays is their source. Gamma rays are produced in the nucleus of atoms, and x-rays are produced outside. X-rays are commonly described as having lower energies (higher wavelength) than gamma rays on the electromagnetic spectrums charts, but x-rays can be produced with higher energies (shorter wavelength) than gamma rays. For example, in radiotherapy, a Cobalt-60 teletherapy machine produces gamma rays (photons originating from the nucleus) at 1.17 and 1.33 MeV (MeV=mega electron Volts, which is a unit of energy). However, a modern linear acceleratorg can produce x-rays at much higher energies, eg. 18 MeV. The photons produced are x-rays, because they are produced outside the nucleus, by bremsstrahlung radiation. A lot of people have the misconception (probably tought in secondary school physics) that there is a particular energy above which photons (or electromagnetic radiation) is a gamma ray, and below they are x-rays. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Drchessman (talk • contribs) 01:40, 11 January 2008 (UTC)