The photoelectric effect can occur not just for metal cathodes but for any subst

Question

The photoelectric effect can occur not just for metal
cathodes but for any substance, including living tissue.
Ionization of DNA molecules can cause cancer or birth
defects. If the energy required to ionize DNA is on the same
order of magnitude as the energy required to produce the
photoelectric effect in a metal, which of these types of
electromagnetic waves might pose such a hazard? Explain.


60 Hz waves from power lines


100 MHz FM radio


microwaves from a microwave oven


visible light


ultraviolet light


x-rays

Explanation / Answer

we have E=hf the larger the frequency is the better chance it will cause the photoelectric effect. x-ray has the biggest frequency, so its x-ray http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electromagnetic-Spectrum.png

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