In radiation, which of the following has the strongest photons?

Radiation is the transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles. In the electromagnetic spectrum, different types of waves exist, ranging from radio waves with the lowest energy to gamma rays with the highest energy. The energy of each photon is determined by the equation:

$$E=hf$$

where:

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  $E$ = energy of a photon

  
  


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  $h$ = Planck’s constant (6.626×10−34 Js6.626 \times 10^{-34} \, Js6.626×10−34Js)

  
  


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  $f$ = frequency of the wave

  
  

This means that the higher the frequency of the wave, the greater the energy of its photons.

Let us examine the options:

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  X-rays: These have high-energy photons, used in medical imaging, but their frequency is lower than gamma rays.

  
  


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  Gamma rays (Correct Answer): These originate from nuclear reactions and radioactive decay. They have the shortest wavelength, highest frequency, and therefore the strongest photon energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. Gamma rays can penetrate most materials and are used in cancer treatment and sterilization processes.

  
  


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  Microwaves: Their frequency is much lower compared to X-rays and gamma rays. They are mainly used in communication and cooking.

  
  


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  Electromagnetic waves: This is a general term covering all wave types (radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays). Not all of them have strong photons.

  
  

Therefore, gamma rays have the highest photon energy because they occupy the extreme end of the electromagnetic spectrum with frequencies exceeding 101910^{19}1019 Hz and wavelengths shorter than 0.01 nanometers. This high energy makes gamma rays extremely penetrating and biologically dangerous, but also useful in medical and industrial applications.

In conclusion, the strongest photons in radiation are those of gamma rays, making option B the correct choice.