What is a characteristic of gamma rays?

Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with very high energy. One of their defining characteristics is that they have the highest frequency compared to other types of electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet light, and X-rays.

The relationship between frequency and wavelength in electromagnetic radiation is inversely proportional; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases. Since gamma rays possess the highest frequency, they inherently have the shortest wavelength among all electromagnetic waves. This high frequency is also indicative of their high energy levels, which allows them to penetrate through materials more effectively than other types of radiation.

Understanding gamma rays as a high-frequency radiation type is crucial, particularly in fields such as nuclear physics and medical imaging, where their properties are applied for various beneficial uses, including cancer treatment and imaging techniques.