Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

• A. Microwaves
• B. Visible light
• C. Gamma rays
• D. Infrared radiation

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the electromagnetic spectrum, which orders types of electromagnetic radiation by their wavelength and frequency.
2. Understand that wavelength (\( \lambda \)) and frequency (\( \nu \)) are inversely related by the equation: \[ \lambda = \frac{c}{\nu} \] where \( c \) is the speed of light.
3. Identify the typical wavelength ranges for each type of radiation: - Microwaves: longest wavelengths among the options, usually from about 1 mm to 1 m, - Infrared radiation: shorter than microwaves but longer than visible light, roughly 700 nm to 1 mm, - Visible light: wavelengths approximately 400 nm to 700 nm, - Gamma rays: shortest wavelengths, less than about 0.01 nm.
4. Compare these ranges to determine which type has the shortest wavelength. Since gamma rays have the smallest wavelength values, they correspond to the highest energy and frequency.
5. Conclude that gamma rays have the shortest wavelength among the given options based on their position in the electromagnetic spectrum.