what X-rays of my teeth at the dentist show and why it has to be radioactive and what the heavy apron does

Question

what X-rays of my teeth at the dentist show and why it has to be radioactive and what the heavy apron does

In: Physics

Answer 1

X rays pass through tissue easily, but they do not pass through bony stuff, like teeth. So, you can use them to make images of bony structures embedded in tissues, like teeth.

X rays do not “need” to be radioactive. Indeed, they are not radioactive. X rays are radiation. They are produced my radioactive source material. Saying X rays are radioactive is kind of like saying water is wet.