Final answer:
Radio waves are produced by currents in wires and have long wavelengths, while gamma rays are generated by high-energy cosmic events and have extremely short wavelengths. Both are types of electromagnetic radiation that travel at the speed of light, but with vastly different energies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Radio waves and gamma rays represent two extreme ends of the electromagnetic spectrum, which encompasses all electromagnetic radiation, varying in wavelengths, frequencies, and energies. Electromagnetic waves, including both radio waves and gamma rays, travel at the speed of light, which is roughly 300 million meters per second.
Radio waves are the lowest energy form of electromagnetic waves and have the longest wavelengths, up to hundreds of meters. They are typically produced by alternating currents in wires and are divided into many types based on their applications, with microwaves being the highest frequencies of radio waves. Radio waves are commonly used for communication such as broadcasting, cell phones, and Wi-Fi.
On the other hand, gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths, no longer than 0.01 nanometers, and are the highest energy electromagnetic waves, carrying enough energy to potentially be dangerous for living tissues. Gamma rays are produced by various high-energy processes in the universe, including those occurring deep within stars, during star deaths, and when stellar remnants merge. These rays are absorbed by our atmosphere, which shields us from their harmful effects.