What type of radiation has the highest penetrating power?

Gamma radiation is known for having the highest penetrating power among various types of radiation. This is due to its nature as electromagnetic waves, which possess no mass and no charge, allowing them to traverse matter more easily than particles. Gamma rays can pass through human tissue and several centimeters of lead, making them particularly dangerous and requiring dense materials like lead or several centimeters of concrete for effective shielding.

In comparison, alpha radiation consists of heavy particles that are positively charged and have significant mass. These particles can be stopped by a sheet of paper or even the outer layer of human skin, indicating low penetrating power. Beta radiation is made up of lighter particles that are negatively charged and can penetrate more than alpha particles, but they can still be blocked by materials like plastic or glass. X-ray radiation is also a form of electromagnetic radiation similar to gamma rays, but it typically has lower energy and thus less penetrating power than gamma rays.

Understanding these differences in penetrating power is crucial for applications in medical imaging, radiation therapy, and radiation safety.