Difference between Soft and Hard X-rays:

Soft and hard X-rays are distinguished by their frequency, also known as energy. The difference between soft and hard X-rays is explained below:

Frequency:

Soft X-rays have a lower frequency (energy) than hard X-rays. The frequency of soft X-rays ranges from 0.1 to 10 kiloelectronvolts (keV), while the frequency of hard X-rays ranges from 10 to 100 keV.

Penetration Power:

Hard X-rays have higher penetration power than soft X-rays. This means that hard X-rays can penetrate through denser materials like bones, while soft X-rays are absorbed by these materials.

Medical Applications:

Soft X-rays are used in medical applications such as mammography and dental X-rays, where the aim is to image soft tissue. Hard X-rays are used in medical procedures like radiography and CT scans to image bones and other dense structures.

Astrophysical Applications:

Hard X-rays are used to study high-energy phenomena in astrophysics, such as black holes and supernovae. Soft X-rays are used to study lower-energy phenomena, such as the Sun's corona and X-ray flares.

Conclusion:

In summary, the main difference between soft and hard X-rays is their frequency, with soft X-rays having lower energy than hard X-rays. This difference in energy affects their penetration power and applications in different fields, such as medical imaging and astrophysical research.