Electromagnetic Spectrum (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Physics): Exam Questions

Exam code: 0625 & 0972

3 hours43 questions

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1
1 mark

The table below shows the entire electromagnetic spectrum. It runs in order of increasing frequency.

Three parts of the spectrum are missing.

radio waves

X

infrared 

visible light

Y

x-rays

Z

What are parts X, Y and Z?

 

X

Y

Z

A

ultraviolet

microwaves

gamma rays

B

microwaves

gamma rays

microwaves

C

gamma rays

ultraviolet

microwaves

D

microwaves

ultraviolet

gamma rays

    2
    1 mark

    The table below shows the entire electromagnetic spectrum. It runs in order of increasing wavelength.

    Which region is microwaves?

    γ-rays

    A

    B

    C

    infrared

    D

    radio waves

      3
      1 mark

      The electromagnetic spectrum is shown in the table below.

      γ-rays

      x-rays

      ultraviolet

      visible light

      infrared

      microwaves

      radio waves

      q3-easy-mcq-3-3-electromagnetics-spectrum-cie-igcse-physics

      Which word is missing from the box below the electromagnetic spectrum?

      • Wavelength

      • Speed

      • Frequency

      • Amplitude

      4
      1 mark

      Which list shows the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength?

      • γ-rays, X-rays, infrared

      • Radio waves, ultraviolet, microwaves

      • Microwaves, infrared, visible light

      • Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared

      5
      1 mark

      Which of the following groups contains only electromagnetic waves?

      • Sound waves, γ-rays, X-rays.

      • γ-rays, microwaves, sound waves.

      • Radio waves, infrared waves, γ-rays.

      • Radio waves, sound waves, microwaves.

      6
      1 mark

      Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum is used by a remote controller for a television?

      • infrared waves

      • microwaves

      • radio waves

      • visible light

      7
      1 mark

       Which statement correctly compares radio waves and X-rays?

      • Radio waves have a longer wavelength and a greater speed in a vacuum.

      • Radio waves have a longer wavelength and the same speed in a vacuum.

      • Radio waves have a shorter wavelength and a greater speed in a vacuum.

      • Radio waves have a shorter wavelength and the same speed in a vacuum.

      8
      1 mark

      Which statement is correct?

      • A remote controller emits microwave radiation.

      • A remote controller emits infrared radiation.

      • A remote controller emits ultrasound.

      • A remote controller emits ultraviolet radiation.

      9
      1 mark

      Which row correctly matches a region of the electromagnetic spectrum to its application?

      region

      application

      A

      microwaves

      medical scanning of bones

      B

      radio waves

      security marking

      C

      ultraviolet

      sterilising water

      D

      X-rays

      satellite television

        1
        1 mark

        Which of the following sentences about infrared waves is true?

        • They can be used to treat cancerous tumours.

        • They can be used to make images of bones, through the skin.

        • They can be used for cooking.

        • They are used to send communication signals to satellites.

        2
        1 mark

        Which type of electromagnetic wave is used in remote controls?

        • Microwaves

        • Visible light

        • Ultraviolet

        • Infrared

        3
        1 mark

        A forgery detector is used to check whether bank notes are genuine or counterfeit. A type of electromagnetic radiation is shone onto the banknote which makes special ink in the note glow.

        Which type of electromagnetic radiation is shone onto the banknote?

        • Ultraviolet

        • Infrared

        • Visible light

        • X-rays

        4
        1 mark

        The table gives common uses of electromagnetic radiation.

        Which row correctly matches the type of electromagnetic radiation with its use?

         

        Detecting banknote forgery

        TV remote controllers

        Sterilising medical instruments

        A

        microwaves

        visible light

        microwaves

        B

        infrared

        infrared

        γ-rays

        C

        ultraviolet

        radio waves

        infrared

        D

        ultraviolet

        infrared

        γ-rays

          5
          1 mark

          Visible, red light has a wavelength of around 700 x 10-7 m.

          Two other types of electromagnetic radiation, X and Y, have different wavelengths to the visible, red light.

          Wavelength of X = 400 x 10-7 m Wavelength of Y = 3.0 x 10-2 m

          Which types of radiation could X and Y be?

           

          X

          Y

          A

          visible blue light

          microwaves

          B

          x-rays

          ultraviolet

          C

          infrared

          radio waves

          D

          microwaves

          ultraviolet

            6
            1 mark

            In what way are microwaves different from ultraviolet waves?

            • Ultraviolet waves travel faster than microwaves in a vacuum.

            • Microwaves have a longer wavelength than ultraviolet waves.

            • Microwaves have a higher frequency than ultraviolet waves.

            • Microwaves are longitudinal while ultraviolet waves are transverse.

            7
            1 mark

            Extended tier only

            Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the highest speed in a vacuum?

            • Microwaves

            • Radio waves

            • Visible light

            • None of the above

            8
            1 mark

            Which statement is correct?

            •   Infrared radiation is used in medical scanning of bones.

            • Microwaves are used in telecommunications.

            • Ultraviolet light is used in night vision photography.

            • X-rays are used in thermal imaging.

            9
            1 mark

            Extended Tier Only

            What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

            • 3.0 cross times 104  cm/s

            • 3.0 cross times 105  km/s

            • 3.0 cross times 106  cm/s

            • 3.0 cross times1011  km/s

            10
            Sme Calculator
            1 mark

            Visible light has wavelengths in the range 4.0 cross times 10 to the power of negative 7 space space end exponent straight m space to space 7.0 space cross times space 10 to the power of negative 7 space end exponent straight m.What is the range of the frequencies of visible light?

            • 0.12 space Hz space to space 0.21 space Hz

            • 120 space Hz space to space 210 space Hz

            • 4.3 space cross times space 10 to the power of 11 space Hz space to space 7.5 space cross times space 10 to the power of 11 Hz

            • 4.3 space cross times space 10 to the power of 14 space Hz space to space 7.5 space cross times space 10 to the power of 14 space Hz

            11
            1 mark

            Which row correctly compares the wavelength, frequency and speed of ultraviolet radiation and infrared radiation in a vacuum?

            wavelength of ultraviolet compared to infrared

            frequency of ultraviolet compared to infrared

            speed of ultraviolet compared to infrared

            A

            longer

            lower

            same

            B

            shorter

            higher

            same

            C

            shorter

            lower

            higher

            D

            longer

            higher

            lower

              1
              1 mark

              Extended tier only

              Which of the following options shows the correct speed for electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

              • 3.0 × 104 cm / s

              • 3.0 × 108 cm / s

              • 3.0 × 1010 cm / s

              • 3.0 × 108 km / s

              2
              1 mark

              Extended tier only

              Mobile phone networks rely on electromagnetic radiation to transmit signals.

              Which of the following statements is correct?

              • Radio waves are used for mobile networks because they travel over long distances and easily penetrate walls

              • Microwaves are used for mobile networks because they can operate with a short aerial and easily penetrate walls

              • Infrared waves are used for mobile networks because they travel over long distances and are not damaging to soft tissue

              • Ultrasound waves are used for mobile networks because they can travel to the satellites in space

              3
              1 mark

              Extended tier only

              Bluetooth devices rely on electromagnetic radiation to transmit signals.

              Which of the following statements is correct?

              • Visible light is used by Bluetooth-enabled devices because it undergoes total internal reflection in optical fibres

              • Gamma waves are used by Bluetooth-enabled devices because they penetrate easily through walls

              • Microwaves are used by Bluetooth-enabled devices because they can reach satellites in orbit as they are not absorbed by the ionosphere

              • Radio waves are used by Bluetooth-enabled devices because they transmit very well over short distances

              4
              1 mark

              Which line in the table correctly identifies a use and a danger of the electromagnetic wave given in the first column?

               

              EM wave

              Uses

              Dangers

              A.

              gamma

              detection of cancers

              internal heating of body cells

              B.

              x-rays

              detecting false bank notes

              mutation or damage to body cells

              C.

              visible

              photography

              mutation or damage to body cells

              D.

              infrared

              thermal imaging

              skin burns

                5
                1 mark

                Extended tier only

                Communications engineers need to choose whether to send signals as either digital or analogue.

                What is the main benefit of using digital signals?

                • The sound is heard more loudly

                • The signal may not always be clean

                • Signals do not need to be converted, saving time

                • Signals are clearer and travel more quickly