What is the quality factor for X-rays and gamma rays?

The quality factor for X-rays and gamma rays is defined as 1. This means that the biological effectiveness of these types of ionizing radiation, when delivering a given dose, is considered equivalent to that of an equal dose of photons.

The quality factor is used in radiation protection to indicate the relative biological effectiveness of different types of radiation in causing tissue damage. X-rays and gamma rays are both forms of electromagnetic radiation and are considered relatively uniform in their interaction with biological tissues, hence they share the same quality factor.

The other choices, although numerical values associated with different types of radiation, do not apply to X-rays and gamma rays in this context. Knowing the correct quality factor is essential for adequately assessing radiation exposure and ensuring safety in environments where these types of radiation are present.