The intensity of X-rays is not directly determined by their frequency alone—it depends on both the number of photons emitted and the energy of each photon.
Here’s how the connection works:
- The energy of a single X-ray photon increases with frequency (higher frequency = higher photon energy).
- If the number of photons per second stays the same, then higher frequency X-rays will carry more total energy in the beam, increasing intensity.
- However, in practice, changing the X-ray frequency (by adjusting the tube voltage) often changes both photon energy and the number of photons produced, so intensity can increase or decrease depending on settings.
- Materials also absorb lower-frequency X-rays more strongly, so the observed intensity after passing through an object depends on both frequency and absorption characteristics.
In short:
- Higher frequency → higher photon energy → potential for greater intensity (if photon count is maintained).
- Intensity = total energy delivered per second per area, which depends on both frequency and photon number.