# Intensity-wavelength graph for X-ray

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## Main Question or Discussion Point

The cut-off wavelength is the minimum wavelength of the X-ray emitted. But doesn't minimum wavelength correspond to maximum energy? Why is intensity zero at minimum wavelength? Shouldn't it be maximum when wavelength is minimum since ##\lambda=\frac{hc}{E}##

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Simon Bridge
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The cut-off wavelength is the minimum wavelength of the X-ray emitted. But doesn't minimum wavelength correspond to maximum energy?
Yes it does.
Why is intensity zero at minimum wavelength?
Because there are no x-rays emitted at that wavelength.
Shouldn't it be maximum when wavelength is minimum since ##\lambda=\frac{hc}{E}##
Unless you have a special reason to think that more light will be emitted at high energies than low energies.

I think you may be getting confused between wave a particle models for light - ##E=hc/\lambda## is the energy of an individual photon - the intensity is the number of photons per unit area per unit time. The relation means that it takes fewer short-wavelength photons to produce a high intensity light.

Titan97