A photon of which type of electromagnetic radiation has the most energy?

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

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength. The relationship is given by the equation: \(E = h \nu = \frac{h c}{\lambda}\), where \(E\) is the photon energy, \(h\) is Planck's constant, \(\nu\) is the frequency, \(c\) is the speed of light, and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength.
2. Understand that electromagnetic radiation spans a spectrum from long wavelengths (low frequency) to short wavelengths (high frequency). Examples include microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays.
3. Compare the wavelengths and frequencies of the given types of radiation: microwaves have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies, followed by infrared light, then visible light, and finally gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths and highest frequencies.
4. Since photon energy increases with frequency, gamma rays, having the highest frequency among the options, correspond to photons with the most energy.
5. Therefore, the photon with the most energy is from the gamma ray portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.