You might have had an x-ray in hospital if you’ve hurt a bone or in the dentist when having a check up. X-rays are incredibly useful in medicine and have lots of other uses too.
X-rays are used to view inside objects and materials. If you’ve been to an airport you’ve probably had your bag scanned. Airport security use x-rays to help find objects that can’t be detected with a metal detector.
Radiographers in hospitals use X-rays to view inside the body to diagnose broken bones. X-rays are transmitted by skin and flesh but absorbed by bones and other dense material.
An x- ray image is created when x-ray radiation is passed through the body onto a detector. Areas where less x-rays pass through ( bones ) are the brighter parts of the image.
![x-ray images of the hand, chest and shoulder](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/X-Ray-Images-1024x1024.jpg)
An x-ray is an electromagnetic wave. X-rays and Gamma rays are high energy electromagnetic waves which pass through the body with little absoption which is why they are great for viewing inside the body.
X-rays can also be used for inspecting food to look for items that shouldn’t be there and for examining fossils!!
X-Ray Activities for Kids
Find out how to keep bones healthy and make your own plaster casts for a doll.
Try this x-ray craft from Homeschool Creations.
Find out about Marie Curie who invented mobile x-ray units which saved 1000s of lives in World War 1.
![Marie Curie Fact File - information about Marie Curie's life and discoveries.](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Marie-Curie-Fact-File-Image-791x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/What-is-an-x-ray-pin-683x1024.jpg)
Don’t forget to check out my other science questions for kids!
Last Updated on June 25, 2021 by Emma Vanstone
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