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What is the ratio of the speed of gamma rays to that of radio waves in vacuum?

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Last updated date: 25th Apr 2024
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Answer
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Hint: Gamma rays and radio waves are electromagnetic waves. Vacuum is a space where no particles are present. Only electromagnetic waves can travel through vacuum. Properties of electromagnetic waves provide us a direct answer to the question.

Complete step by step answer:
Gamma rays are a type of electromagnetic wave which has the shortest wavelength but at the same time possesses highest energy amongst all other electromagnetic waves. It is denoted by the symbol $\gamma $. Gamma rays are formed as a by-product of the disintegration of the nucleus of radioactive atoms.
Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic wave that can have wavelengths in the order of several kilometres. Radio waves could occur naturally as well as can be made artificially. Lightening is a natural phenomenon which generates radio waves while these radio waves are also generated artificially with the help of various transmitters.
Both radio waves and gamma rays can move in the vacuum owing to the fact that they both are electromagnetic waves. Only electromagnetic waves could travel through vacuum as they do not need any material medium to transfer. No other type of waves could move through vacuum.
All the electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in vacuum irrespective of the type of electromagnetic wave. They all travel at the speed of light which is $3\times {{10}^{8}}m/s$.
It is also because of this fact only, that both gamma rays and radio waves are electromagnetic waves, that these two have the same speed in vacuum.
Hence, as both the gamma rays and radio waves have the same speed in the vacuum, the ratio of their speed is equals to 1.

Note:
The Speed of electromagnetic waves remain unaffected by their type or the properties they possess. All the electromagnetic waves, be it radio waves, gamma rays, infrared rays or any other electromagnetic wave, they all travel at the speed of light. They are the only waves that could travel through vacuum.
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