Final answer:
X-rays and gamma rays have the energy to potentially impact the nucleus due to their shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies, unlike lower energy waves like visible and UV light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combinations of electromagnetic waves that impact the nucleus are X-rays and gamma rays. Both of these types of electromagnetic radiation have shorter wavelengths, higher frequency, and thus, more energy than other types of electromagnetic waves such as radio waves, microwaves, IR radiation, visible light, or UV rays. This high energy allows X-rays and gamma rays to penetrate materials and potentially impact the atomic nucleus; in contrast, lower energy radiation like visible light and UV are not typically capable of affecting the nucleus directly.
Gamma rays are the highest energy waves in the electromagnetic spectrum and have the ability to penetrate tissues and damage cells and DNA, while X-rays also have the penetration abilities to affect living systems and potentially the nucleus.