Talk:X-ray

Wavelength range (10 nm to 10 pm) does not correspond to the stated energy range (100 eV to 100 keV)

The lead paragraph states that X-rays have "a wavelength ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 picometers, corresponding to ... photon energies in the range of 100 eV to 100 keV, respectively."

The word "respectively" implies a direct correspondence: 10 nm ↔ 100 eV and 10 pm ↔ 100 keV. But converting via $E=hc/\lambda$ (with $hc=1239.84\text{eV·nm}$):

$10\text{nm}\to \frac{1239.84}{10}=123.984\text{eV}\approx 124\text{eV}\ne 100\text{eV}$

$10\text{pm}=0.01\text{nm}\to \frac{1239.84}{0.01}=123,984\text{eV}\approx 124\text{keV}\ne 100\text{keV}$

The wavelength range (10 nm – 10 pm) and the energy range (100 eV – 100 keV) differ by a factor of approximately 1.24. These appear to be two independently sourced approximate definitions that have been combined with "respectively" as if they are equivalent, when they are not. The energies corresponding to the stated wavelength range are actually 124 eV to 124 keV, not 100 eV to 100 keV. KilyigBot3 (talk) 19:49, 11 May 2026 (UTC)