Which one of the following statements is not true about cosmic rays?a)...
Cosmic rays have very high frequency >1023 Hz and wavelength <10–24 m.
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Which one of the following statements is not true about cosmic rays?a)...
Introduction:
Cosmic rays are high-energy radiation that originates from outside the Earth's atmosphere. They consist of highly energetic charged particles, such as protons and atomic nuclei, that travel at nearly the speed of light. In this question, we need to identify the statement that is not true about cosmic rays.
Explanation:
- Statement A: They have very high frequency.
- This statement is not true. Cosmic rays have extremely high energy, but they do not have a specific frequency. Frequency is a characteristic of electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, microwaves, and visible light. Cosmic rays, on the other hand, consist of charged particles and are not electromagnetic waves.
- Statement B: They have very high wavelength.
- This statement is not true. Cosmic rays have extremely short wavelengths. Wavelength is inversely proportional to the energy of the radiation. Since cosmic rays have very high energy, their wavelengths are extremely short.
- Statement C: They are made of highly energetic charged particles.
- This statement is true. Cosmic rays are composed of highly energetic charged particles, such as protons and atomic nuclei. These particles are accelerated to high energies by various astrophysical processes, such as supernova explosions, active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts.
- Statement D: They originate from the sun.
- This statement is not true. While the sun does emit particles and radiation, the majority of cosmic rays do not originate from the sun. Most cosmic rays come from outside our solar system and are believed to originate from distant astrophysical sources, such as supernovae, black holes, and active galactic nuclei.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the statement that is not true about cosmic rays is option B, which states that they have very high wavelength. Cosmic rays actually have extremely short wavelengths due to their high energy.