Which of the following is an example of nonionizing radiation?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of nonionizing radiation?

Nonionizing radiation refers to photons that don’t have enough energy to knock electrons completely off atoms. Visible light photons carry only about 2 to 3 eV of energy, which is typically far below the ionization energy of most atoms, so they can excite or heat but not ionize. Gamma rays and X-rays have much higher-energy photons, capable of removing electrons and creating ions, which is why they’re classified as ionizing radiation. Ultraviolet sits higher in energy than visible light and can ionize many substances, especially the shorter-wavelength UV, so it’s generally considered ionizing. So among the options, visible light is the example of nonionizing radiation.

Nonionizing radiation refers to photons that don’t have enough energy to knock electrons completely off atoms. Visible light photons carry only about 2 to 3 eV of energy, which is typically far below the ionization energy of most atoms, so they can excite or heat but not ionize. Gamma rays and X-rays have much higher-energy photons, capable of removing electrons and creating ions, which is why they’re classified as ionizing radiation. Ultraviolet sits higher in energy than visible light and can ionize many substances, especially the shorter-wavelength UV, so it’s generally considered ionizing. So among the options, visible light is the example of nonionizing radiation.

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