Who discovered x-rays in 1895?

Study for the WJEC GCSE History of Medicine Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question providing hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam effectively!

Multiple Choice

Who discovered x-rays in 1895?

Explanation:
X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, a German physicist. While experimenting with cathode rays in a sealed vacuum tube, he noticed a fluorescent screen glow even when the tube was shielded from direct light. This indicated a new kind of ray traveling through matter. He named these rays X-rays for “unknown,” and he soon produced the first radiographs, famously capturing an image of his wife’s hand to show the bones beneath the skin. This discovery opened the door to medical imaging and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The other figures are known for different contributions—radioactivity with Marie Curie, and various electrical innovations with Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison—rather than for discovering X-rays.

X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, a German physicist. While experimenting with cathode rays in a sealed vacuum tube, he noticed a fluorescent screen glow even when the tube was shielded from direct light. This indicated a new kind of ray traveling through matter. He named these rays X-rays for “unknown,” and he soon produced the first radiographs, famously capturing an image of his wife’s hand to show the bones beneath the skin. This discovery opened the door to medical imaging and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The other figures are known for different contributions—radioactivity with Marie Curie, and various electrical innovations with Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison—rather than for discovering X-rays.

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