What term is used for the lower energy forms of electromagnetic radiation?

• A. Visible Light
• B. Non-ionizing Radiation
• C. Infrared
• D. Ultraviolet

Answer: (B)

Photon energy determines whether radiation can ionize atoms. Forms with insufficient energy to remove electrons are labeled non-ionizing radiation. This umbrella term covers many lower-energy waves such as visible light and infrared, which interact with matter mainly through heating or other non-ionizing processes. Ultraviolet radiation, depending on its energy, can ionize atoms, so it is not classified with the lower-energy, non-ionizing forms. Therefore, the term for the lower energy forms of electromagnetic radiation is non-ionizing radiation.