Safety Orientation for Supervisors Practice Exam

Which of these is NOT a type of non-ionizing radiation?

1. Infrared radiation

2. Ultraviolet radiation

3. X-rays

4. Gamma rays

The correct answer is: Gamma rays

Non-ionizing radiation refers to types of radiation that do not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules, meaning they cannot remove tightly bound electrons. Examples of non-ionizing radiation include infrared radiation and ultraviolet radiation. These types of radiation have lower energy and can be found in various everyday applications, like heating, communication technologies, and sun exposure. On the other hand, both X-rays and gamma rays are forms of ionizing radiation. They have enough energy to ionize atoms, which can lead to chemical reactions and potentially harmful effects in living tissues. This intrinsic property of X-rays and gamma rays makes them fundamentally different from non-ionizing types. In the context of the question, identifying gamma rays as not being a type of non-ionizing radiation stems from understanding these differences in energy levels and their effects on matter. Thus, gamma rays are a correct example of ionizing radiation, distinguishing them from non-ionizing types such as infrared and ultraviolet radiation.