Which type has the shortest wavelength?

Which type has the shortest wavelength?

• A. X-rays
• B. Gamma rays
• C. Visible light
• D. Microwaves

Answer: (B)

Short wavelength corresponds to higher energy per photon. In the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelengths get shorter as you move from microwaves to visible light to X-rays and then to gamma rays. Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths, typically well under 0.01 nanometers, making their photons the most energetic among these options. X-rays are short but longer than gamma rays, visible light is longer still, and microwaves are the longest in this group. This high energy per photon explains why gamma rays are highly penetrating and capable of ionizing matter.

Short wavelength corresponds to higher energy per photon. In the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelengths get shorter as you move from microwaves to visible light to X-rays and then to gamma rays. Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths, typically well under 0.01 nanometers, making their photons the most energetic among these options. X-rays are short but longer than gamma rays, visible light is longer still, and microwaves are the longest in this group. This high energy per photon explains why gamma rays are highly penetrating and capable of ionizing matter.