Which of the following electromagnetic radiation has the smallest wavelength?

Options

A. X-rays
B. Radio waves
C. Microwaves
D. UV rays

Answer

To determine which of the given electromagnetic radiations has the smallest wavelength, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is a range of all the different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. It includes various types of radiation, each with its own wavelength and frequency.

### Step 2: List the Types of Radiation
The types of electromagnetic radiation mentioned in the question are:
- X-rays
- Radio waves
- Microwaves
- Ultraviolet (UV) rays

### Step 3: Arrange the Radiation by Wavelength
From the electromagnetic spectrum, we know the order of these radiations in terms of wavelength (from longest to shortest):
1. Radio waves (largest wavelength)
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared
4. Visible light (from red to violet)
5. Ultraviolet rays
6. X-rays
7. Gamma rays (smallest wavelength)

### Step 4: Identify the Radiation with the Smallest Wavelength
From the list above, we can see that X-rays have a shorter wavelength than UV rays, microwaves, and radio waves. Therefore, among the options provided, X-rays have the smallest wavelength.

### Conclusion
The electromagnetic radiation with the smallest wavelength among the given options is **X-rays**.

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