Find the maximum energy in eV of an x-ray photon produced by electrons accelerated through a potential difference of 50.0 kV in a CRT like the one in Figure 29.11.

Data from figure 29.11

Strategy

Electrons can give all of their kinetic energy to a single photon when they strike the anode of a CRT. (This is something like the photoelectric effect in reverse.) The kinetic energy of the electron comes from electrical potential energy. Thus we can simply equate the maximum photon energy to the electrical potential energy-that is, hf = qV. (We do not have to calculate each step from beginning to end if we know that all of the starting energy qV is converted to the final form hf.)

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Metal target X rays Vacuum- Electrons Heated filament Filament voltage High- voltage source