Use the image of the electromagnetic spectrum to answer the question.

Question

The illustration describes the different wavelengths in decreasing order and the frequency in increasing order from left to right. The radiations shown are as follows: the radio waves (AM, FM, TV, and radar), wavelength from 100 m to 1 cm. Infrared (TV remote), wavelength from 1 cm to 1000 nm. Visible spectrum (light bulb) wavelength from 1000 nm to 10 nm. X-rays (X-ray machine) wavelength from 10 nm to 0.01 nm. Gamma rays (radioactive elements) wavelength from 0.01 nm to 0.0001 nm.

Lightning contains gamma rays. Based on the position of gamma rays in the electromagnetic spectrum, does lightning have more or less energy than a radio?

(1 point)
Responses

Lightning has more energy than the radio because gamma rays have a shorter wavelength.
Lightning has more energy than the radio because gamma rays have a shorter wavelength.

Lightning has less energy than the radio because gamma rays have a longer wavelength.
Lightning has less energy than the radio because gamma rays have a longer wavelength.

Lightning has less energy than the radio because gamma rays have a shorter wavelength.
Lightning has less energy than the radio because gamma rays have a shorter wavelength.

Lightning has more energy than the radio because gamma rays have a longer wavelength.
Lightning has more energy than the radio because gamma rays have a longer wavelength.
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

The correct response is:

"Lightning has more energy than the radio because gamma rays have a shorter wavelength."

Gamma rays are at the high-energy end of the electromagnetic spectrum, with much shorter wavelengths than radio waves, which are at the low-energy end. According to the relationship between energy and wavelength (energy is inversely proportional to wavelength), shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy. Therefore, gamma rays, which are emitted during lightning, have significantly more energy than radio waves.