When struck by x-ray, phosphor crystals do what?

When struck by x-ray, phosphor crystals do what?

• A. They heat up
• B. They become fluorescent orange
• C. They glow
• D. They vanish from the plate

Answer: (C)

When struck by x-rays, phosphor crystals emit light—their glow. The x-ray energy excites electrons in the phosphor, and as those electrons return to lower energy levels, photons are released as visible light. That light is what forms the radiographic image, whether by exposing film or being captured by a digital detector. In some systems, the crystals can also store energy and later release it when stimulated, but the immediate effect of x-ray exposure is light emission, not heating or disappearance.

When struck by x-rays, phosphor crystals emit light—their glow. The x-ray energy excites electrons in the phosphor, and as those electrons return to lower energy levels, photons are released as visible light. That light is what forms the radiographic image, whether by exposing film or being captured by a digital detector. In some systems, the crystals can also store energy and later release it when stimulated, but the immediate effect of x-ray exposure is light emission, not heating or disappearance.