In the electromagnetic spectrum, which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength among the options given?

Introduction / Context:
The electromagnetic spectrum is a continuous range of electromagnetic waves that differ in wavelength and frequency but all travel at the speed of light in vacuum. It includes, in order of increasing wavelength, gamma rays, X rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. Many physics and general knowledge questions test your ability to place different types of radiation in the correct order. This question asks you to identify which radiation has the shortest wavelength among the listed options, which is important for understanding energy, penetration, and applications of different parts of the spectrum.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The options are gamma rays, radio waves, microwaves, and infrared rays. • We assume standard ordering of the electromagnetic spectrum taught in physics. • All these radiations are forms of electromagnetic waves. • Wavelength and frequency are inversely related for electromagnetic waves.

Concept / Approach:
In the electromagnetic spectrum, gamma rays occupy the extreme short wavelength and high frequency end. Radio waves lie at the long wavelength and low frequency end. Microwaves and infrared rays fall between radio and visible light, with microwaves having longer wavelengths than infrared. Since wavelength and energy are related by E = h * c / lambda, shorter wavelength radiation like gamma rays has higher photon energy. Among the listed options, gamma rays clearly have the shortest wavelength, followed by X rays, which are not listed here. Therefore, identifying the position of each radiation on the spectrum allows you to select gamma rays as the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the order of the electromagnetic spectrum from shortest to longest wavelength. Step 2: Note that gamma rays come first at the shortest wavelength end. Step 3: Understand that radio waves are located at the longest wavelength end. Step 4: Recognise that microwaves and infrared rays lie between radio waves and visible light, with wavelengths longer than visible but shorter than radio. Step 5: Compare the positions of gamma rays, radio waves, microwaves, and infrared rays. Step 6: Conclude that gamma rays have the shortest wavelength among the listed types.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you consult any standard chart of the electromagnetic spectrum, you will see gamma rays at the high energy, short wavelength extreme with wavelengths often less than 10^ minus 12 metres. Radio waves, by contrast, can have wavelengths ranging from metres to many kilometres. Microwaves have wavelengths on the order of centimetres, while infrared radiation typically has wavelengths slightly longer than visible red light. These numerical ranges confirm that gamma rays have much shorter wavelengths than microwaves, infrared, or radio waves, validating the choice of gamma rays as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, radio waves, have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies in the spectrum, so they are the opposite of what the question asks. Option C, microwaves, have shorter wavelengths than radio waves but are still far longer than those of gamma rays. Option D, infrared rays, lie between visible and microwaves and again do not approach the extremely short wavelengths of gamma rays. None of these other radiations matches the extreme short wavelength region that defines gamma rays.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to mix up the order of the spectrum or to think of higher frequency as always associated with visible or ultraviolet light only. Some students also confuse microwaves with gamma rays because both are used in technology and medicine in different ways. It is helpful to memorise the basic sequence gamma, X ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave, radio and to link shorter wavelength with higher energy and greater penetration. This mental picture will help you correctly answer many questions about the electromagnetic spectrum.

Final Answer:
The correct choice is Gamma rays, because gamma rays occupy the short wavelength, high frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum and therefore have the shortest wavelengths among the given options.