Spectrum of X-rays is

Options

A. continuous
B. linear
C. continuous and linear
D. band

Explanation

To understand the spectrum of X-rays, we can break down the explanation into several steps:

### Step 1: Understanding Atomic Spectra
- Atomic spectra consist of discrete lines, known as line spectra. This occurs when electrons in an atom transition between specific energy levels. For example, when an electron transitions from the n=2 level to the n=1 level, specific wavelengths of light are emitted, resulting in a line spectrum.

**Hint:** Remember that line spectra are associated with specific transitions between energy levels in atoms.

### Step 2: Understanding X-ray Spectra
- In contrast to atomic spectra, the X-ray spectrum is primarily a continuous spectrum. This means that instead of distinct lines, X-rays cover a broad range of wavelengths without gaps.

**Hint:** Continuous spectra indicate a range of wavelengths emitted rather than specific lines.

### Step 3: Graphical Representation
- If we were to plot the X-ray spectrum, we would see a graph where the x-axis represents the wavelength and the y-axis represents the intensity of emitted X-rays. The graph would show a minimum wavelength (cut-off wavelength) and then a continuous increase in intensity for all wavelengths beyond this minimum.

**Hint:** Visualizing the graph helps in understanding how the intensity varies with wavelength in a continuous spectrum.

### Step 4: Minimum Wavelength
- The minimum wavelength (λ_min) in the X-ray spectrum represents the highest energy X-rays emitted. Beyond this point, all possible wavelengths of X-rays are produced, leading to the continuous spectrum.

**Hint:** The cut-off wavelength is crucial in defining the starting point of the continuous spectrum.

### Step 5: Conclusion
- Therefore, we conclude that the spectrum of X-rays is a continuous spectrum, which consists of radiations of all possible X-ray wavelengths within a certain range, starting from the minimum wavelength onward.

**Hint:** Summarizing the characteristics of the X-ray spectrum will help reinforce your understanding of its nature.

### Final Answer
The spectrum of X-rays is a continuous spectrum, which means it consists of a range of wavelengths without distinct lines, starting from a minimum wavelength.