How the x-ray machine works

Homerding 1
Dana Homerding
Mr. N. Meier
Invention essay
15 September 2003
The X-ray machine
The x-ray was discovered by accident. Wilhelm Roentgen was the person that made the discovery when he was experimenting with electron beams in a gas discharge tube. When the electron beam was on a fluorescent screen in his lab it started to glow. He placed various objects between the screen and tube to try and block the radiation, however the screen still glowed. When he finally placed his hand in front of the tube, he saw a silhouette of his bones.
His discovery participated in one of the most important medical advancements in the human history. The x-ray machine allows doctors to see straight through human tissue to examine broken bones, cavities, and swallowed objects with great ease. Before the x-ray machine a doctor had to do surgery to find out if the bone was broken. Hospitals can also use x-ray technology to examine softer tissue like the lungs, blood vessels, or ...