X-rays are produced when high energy electrons or protons strike certain
materials.
Actually any elements will produce x-rays if the electrons or protons have
enough energy.
X-ray tubes use metalic anodes that produce the X-rays at farly at much slower
electrons than
many of the other elements. Protons are usually used for elemental analysis
Google PIXIE.
The point is there is a reason for the vacuum in an X-ray tube. That is, the
electrons must not
strike any gas molecules before they get to the anode. Otherwise they loose
energy and don't
produce the X-rays. An arc is produced becasue the mean-free path distance is
just long enough
for the electron to be accelerated to enough to strike a molecule and either
doubly ionize it or produce an extra electron and you have
a sort of chain reaction (avalanche). One electron produces two and two produce
four etc.
The energy required to do this is much less than that required to produce
X-rays.
Each time an electron strikes a molecule or atom the acceleration process
starts over again.
73
Bill wa4lav
________________________________________
From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [amps-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Ron Youvan [ka4inm@tampabay.rr.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 8:58 AM
To: amps
Subject: Re: [Amps] Risks from continuous discharge of high voltage ??
Dr. David Kirkby wrote:
> There's an ebay auction for a 100 kV transformer from an x-ray set.
> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190544288962
> I mentioned to the seller he should warn people of possible production of
> x-rays. He does not think this possible and I must admit I'm not sure if its
> possible without a vacuum. But I've also suggested that it could produce UV
> and
> ozone.
The production of X-rays requires something that does not exist in a
transformer or the
transformers would be lined with lead sheeting. Which is: "a high velocity
stream of electrons that
changes speed abruptly."
> It's clearly being sold as a fun experiment:
> "Dangerous but great fun and ideal for lots of interesting experiments."
> But at 100 kV, I'm wondering what dangers there are apart from the obvious one
> of electrocution.
Like setting the house on fire.
> Somehow I would not want to be playing around too much with 100 kV and drawing
> big arcs, but perhaps I'm over reacting.
I think a Van de Graaff generator would be at least 10,000 times safer.
> I've suggested he ads a note that there may be other dangers other than
> electrocution.
--
Ron KA4INM - Madam, there's no such thing as a tough child -- if you
parboil them
first for seven hours, they always come out tender. -- W. C.
Fields
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