Which type of radiation is considered the most active?

Gamma rays are considered the most active type of radiation among the options listed due to their high energy and penetrating power. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to X-rays, but they have much higher energy levels, which allows them to traverse materials more effectively.

This greater energy capacity means that gamma rays can ionize atoms and molecules, making them particularly effective at causing biological damage in living tissues. Because of this, they are often used in medical applications, such as cancer treatment, where their ability to target rapidly dividing cells is leveraged to destroy tumors.

In contrast, while X-rays also have the ability to penetrate materials, they are less energetic than gamma rays. Ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage and have some ionizing potential, but they are considerably less potent than gamma rays. Infrared rays, on the other hand, are primarily associated with heat and do not have the energy to ionize atoms, hence they are the least active in terms of causing potential damage.