Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QPages 393-394: Q12: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 X-Rays Pages 393-394: Q12 Solution: 50% of the X-ray coming from a Coolidge tube is able to pass…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often treat the 50% transmission thickness as a fixed property, ignoring that the linear attenuation coefficient μ drops as X‑ray energy increases; because transmission follows $I=I_0e^{-\mu x}$, a higher‑energy beam requires a smaller $x$ to keep $I/I_0=0.5$. Remember that both μ and the exponential law, not a linear relation, determine the required foil thickness.

50% of the X-ray coming from a Coolidge tube is able to pass through a 0.1 mm thick aluminium foil. The potential difference between the target and the filament is increased. The thickness of the aluminium foil that will allow 50% of the X-ray to pass through will be

Multiple Choice Options

  • A zero
  • B < 0.1 mm
  • C 0.1 mm
  • D > 0.1 mm

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** (b) < 0.1 mm. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** More energetic X-rays are more penetrating, so a thinner foil will allow 50% to pass through.

All Questions in this Chapter

QPage 393: Q1 QPage 393: Q2 QPage 393: Q3 QPage 393: Q4 QPage 393: Q5 QPage 393: Q6 QPage 393: Q7 QPage 393: Q8 QPage 393: Q9 QPage 393: Q10 QPages 393-394: Q1 QPages 393-394: Q2 QPages 393-394: Q3 QPages 393-394: Q4 QPages 393-394: Q5 QPages 393-394: Q6 QPages 393-394: Q7 QPages 393-394: Q8 QPages 393-394: Q9 QPages 393-394: Q10 QPages 393-394: Q11 QPages 393-394: Q12 QPages 393-394: Q13 QPages 393-394: Q14 QPages 394-395: Q1 QPages 394-395: Q2 QPages 394-395: Q3 QPages 394-395: Q4 QPages 394-395: Q5 QPages 394-395: Q6 QPages 394-395: Q7 QPages 394-395: Q8 QPages 395-396: Q1 QPages 395-396: Q2 QPages 395-396: Q3 QPages 395-396: Q4 QPages 395-396: Q5 QPages 395-396: Q6 QPages 395-396: Q7 QPages 395-396: Q8 QPages 395-396: Q9 QPages 395-396: Q10 QPages 395-396: Q11 QPages 395-396: Q12 QPages 395-396: Q13 QPages 395-396: Q14 QPages 395-396: Q15 QPages 395-396: Q16 QPages 395-396: Q17 QPages 395-396: Q18 QPages 395-396: Q19 QPages 395-396: Q20 QPages 395-396: Q21 QPages 395-396: Q22 QPages 395-396: Q23 QPages 395-396: Q24 QPages 395-396: Q25 QPages 395-396: Q26 QPages 395-396: Q27

Related Learning Resources & Exam Preparation

Chapter Practice Bank
Practice all topic-wise questions from X-Rays
Reference Textbook Solutions
Explore complete chapter exercises for HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2
Competitive PYQ Question Bank
Browse year-wise authentic previous years' questions with solutions
Authentic CBT Mock Tests
Simulate official exam environment with live timer and percentile scoring