Final answer:
The claim that gamma rays are the least penetrating form of ionizing radiation is false. Gamma rays are in fact the most penetrating, able to pass through human tissue and require dense materials to shield from their high energy. They are extensively used in medical treatments but also pose risks due to their tissue-damaging capabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that gamma rays are the most energetic but least penetrating form of ionizing radiation is false. In fact, gamma rays have the most energy and are the most penetrating form of ionizing radiation. These high-energy rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation and do not have mass or charge. They can pass through many materials and require inches of dense substances like lead for shielding.
On the spectrum of ionizing radiations, such as alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays, gamma rays have the greatest penetration power. While alpha particles can be stopped by paper and have a high ionizing power, they are not very penetrative. Gamma rays, however, due to their energy, are capable of passing through the human body without being absorbed, making them highly penetrative but with the least ionizing power among the three.
Therefore, gamma rays' penetration power is used both in medical applications for treating cancer, due to their ability to disrupt rapidly reproducing cells, and poses risks as exposure can lead to cancer development due to their potential to damage biological tissues.