Final answer:
The technology with the electromagnetic radiation having the shortest wavelength is the ultraviolet disinfecting wand, as ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths than light used in microwaves, radio-controlled devices, and halogen bulbs. Hence, option (d) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology that uses electromagnetic radiation with the shortest wavelength among the options provided is the ultraviolet disinfecting wand. Microwaves, as used in industrial drying equipment, have longer wavelengths than ultraviolet (UV) light.
Similarly, the radio waves controlling toy airplanes and the light emitted by a halogen bulb, which is mainly in the visible spectrum, have longer wavelengths than UV radiation. The ranking for electromagnetic waves in terms of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength is: radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma rays (Compton scattering used X-rays due to their short wavelength and energizing potential).
Technologies like UV disinfecting wands take advantage of the shorter wavelengths of ultraviolet light. UV light has enough energy to cause chemical reactions, such as the formation of thymine dimers in DNA, which can disrupt the function of microorganisms, effectively sterilizing surfaces.