X: The shortest segment of the dictionary with only one and one-half pages and 88 words.
x-ray
Xanadu
xantho-
xanthic
xanthochromic
xeno-
xenophobe
xenophile
xenon
xeric
xerox
xerography
xi
xiphoid
xylo-
xylophone
xylographer
Favorite x word: Xanadu
x-ray: This term was coined by the discoverer of these rays, William Rontgen (or Roentgen) in 1895. X was used due to his familiarity with mathematics and Cartesian theory (x and y on the Cartesian plane) and also since x was the unknown factor in mathematical formulae.
Some interesting facts:
His contemporaries called these rays "Rontgen Rays" or "Roentgen Rays" but he discouraged this use of his name. Despite his wishes, they are still called Roentgen Rays is many countries, such as Japan, Germany and Norway. An x-ray is a roentgenogram.
Similarly, he did not take a patent out on his discovery (just as Marie Curie didn't). He wanted this knowledge to be of benefit to the world and available to all scientists.
He was the first person ever awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics (for this discovery), in 1901.
He donated the money that he received for this Nobel prize.
After his death, he had all his personal and scientific notes destroyed per his will.
When he first made this fortuitous discovery in his lab, he was so excited that he ate and slept in his lab for several weeks while investigating this phenomenon.
How fast does the wave of an x-ray beat (the frequency or waves per second)?
One Herz (Hz) is one wave per second. X-rays have 10 to the 16th or 10 to the 18th (10 followed by 18 zeroes) waves per second (about a million x a million x a million).
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