Which radiations are harmful to living organisms due to their extremely high frequencies?

Which radiations are harmful to living organisms due to their extremely high frequencies?

• A. Infrared rays, microwaves, and radio waves
• B. The visible spectrum
• C. Ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays
• D. Sound waves

Answer: (C)

High-frequency electromagnetic radiation carries a lot of energy per photon, enough to ionize atoms in living cells. Ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays have frequencies high enough to knock electrons off atoms, which can damage DNA and lead to mutations or cancer. In contrast, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves have lower energies and mostly interact with matter by heating rather than ionizing. Sound waves aren’t electromagnetic at all, so their effects come from pressure changes, not photon energy. So the radiations that are harmful due to their extremely high frequencies are ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays.

High-frequency electromagnetic radiation carries a lot of energy per photon, enough to ionize atoms in living cells. Ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays have frequencies high enough to knock electrons off atoms, which can damage DNA and lead to mutations or cancer. In contrast, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves have lower energies and mostly interact with matter by heating rather than ionizing. Sound waves aren’t electromagnetic at all, so their effects come from pressure changes, not photon energy. So the radiations that are harmful due to their extremely high frequencies are ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays.