X-rays cannot be deflected by electric or magnetic fields because they are electromagnetic waves composed of uncharged photons. Since only charged particles are affected by electric and magnetic fields, X-rays travel in straight lines through such fields without deflection. However, X-rays can be diffracted (change direction) when they interact with materials like crystals due to scattering processes, but this is different from deflection by fields.
Key Points:
- X-rays are electromagnetic radiation and have no electric charge.
- They do not get deflected by electric or magnetic fields.
- They can be diffracted by crystals, which changes their direction, but this is due to wave interaction with matter, not field deflection.
- X-rays can be steered in special waveguides using physical boundaries but not by magnetic or electric fields.
Therefore, the correct answer to "X-ray beams can be deflected by" is:
Neither by electric nor magnetic fields.
