Which type of radiation has a quality factor of 1?

The type of radiation that has a quality factor of 1 is gamma rays. The quality factor, also known as the radiation weighting factor, is a measure that reflects the effectiveness of different types of radiation in producing biological damage. A quality factor of 1 indicates that the radiation is considered to have a standard level of effectiveness in causing biological effects relative to a comparable amount of X-rays or gamma rays.

Gamma rays are highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation, and their biological effects are well understood. They have a less direct interaction with matter compared to heavier charged particles, which is why they are assigned a quality factor of 1. This means that for the purposes of radiation protection and dosage calculations, the biological impact of gamma radiation is considered equivalent to that of an equal amount of X-rays.

In contrast, alpha particles, beta particles, and neutrons have higher quality factors because they are more effective at causing biological damage due to their mass and charge. Alpha particles, for example, have a quality factor of 20 because they are highly ionizing and can cause significant damage when they interact with biological tissues. Understanding these quality factors is crucial for appropriate radiation safety measures and dosage calculations in medical and industrial settings.