What is the electrical charge of the anode in an X-ray tube?

What is the electrical charge of the anode in an X-ray tube?

• A. Positive
• B. Watts
• C. Negative
• D. Ohms

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the anode in an X-ray tube must be positively charged to attract the electrons emitted by the cathode and serve as the target where X-rays are produced. The tube operates by a high voltage that pulls electrons from the negatively charged cathode toward the positively charged anode; when those electrons slam into the anode’s target material, X-rays are generated. If the anode weren’t positive, electrons wouldn’t be efficiently accelerated to it, so X-ray production would be poor. Watts and Ohms aren’t charges—they’re units of power and resistance, respectively. So the anode is positively charged.

The key idea is that the anode in an X-ray tube must be positively charged to attract the electrons emitted by the cathode and serve as the target where X-rays are produced. The tube operates by a high voltage that pulls electrons from the negatively charged cathode toward the positively charged anode; when those electrons slam into the anode’s target material, X-rays are generated. If the anode weren’t positive, electrons wouldn’t be efficiently accelerated to it, so X-ray production would be poor. Watts and Ohms aren’t charges—they’re units of power and resistance, respectively. So the anode is positively charged.