Define electromagnetic waves .

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the wave to an absorber.

Define the electromagnetic spectrum .

The electromagnetic spectrum is the continuous range of all seven types of electromagnetic wave, arranged in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength, from radio waves to gamma rays .

List the seven types of electromagnetic wave in order of increasing frequency.

Radio waves , microwaves , infrared , visible light , ultraviolet , X-rays , gamma rays

All electromagnetic waves are ______ waves that can travel through a ______ .

All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that can travel through a vacuum .

Define the term fluorescence .

Fluorescence is the process where certain substances absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light, causing them to glow.

What is the main application of radio waves?

The main application of radio waves is in wireless communications.

What are the two main applications of microwaves?

The two main applications of microwaves are: heating food wireless communications

True or False? Night vision cameras use infrared radiation.

True. One application of infrared radiation is night vision cameras.

True or False? Gamma radiation is used in fibre optic communications.

False. Infrared and visible light are used in optic fibre communications. Gamma rays are used for sterilising medical equipment and treating cancer.

True or False? Sterilising water and detecting fake bank notes are two applications of X-rays.

False. Sterilising water and detecting fake bank notes are two applications of ultraviolet radiation (UV). X-rays are used for imaging in medicine, dentistry, airport security and industry.

True or False? Visible light is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that human eyes can see.

True. Human eyes can only detect wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the visible light section of the electromagnetic spectrum.

True or False? Remote controls are one application of ultraviolet radiation.

False. Ultraviolet radiation carries too much energy and would be harmful if used for this purpose. Remote controls are one application of infrared radiation.

True or False? As the frequency of electromagnetic waves increases, so does the energy and the danger associated with them.

True. As the frequency of electromagnetic waves increases, the energy they transfer increases, and therefore so does the danger associated with them.

What is the main danger associated with ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays?

Ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays can all ionise atoms, which can damage cells and cause mutations, which can lead to cancer.

True or False? Radio waves are known to be harmful to humans.

False. There are no known harmful effects of radio waves.

True or False? Microwaves can be harmful to humans.

True. Microwaves can be harmful to humans in high levels of exposure, because higher-frequency microwaves cause internal heating.

True or False? Mobile phones emit microwave radiation.

True. Mobile phones do emit microwave radiation, but only at low energies which are not known to cause any harm.

True or False? Ultraviolet radiation can be harmful to humans.

True. Ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.

True or False? X-rays and gamma rays can be harmful to humans.

True. X-rays and gamma rays (and UV) are ionising radiation which can remove electrons from atoms, causing damage to DNA which can lead to cell and tissue damage, mutations and cancer.

True or False? Sunscreen absorbs ultraviolet light, preventing it from damaging the skin.

True. Sunscreen absorbs ultraviolet light, preventing it from damaging the skin.

True or False? Ionising forms of electromagnetic radiation have a higher frequency than visible light.

True. The ionising forms of electromagnetic radiation are ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, all of which have higher frequencies than visible light.

True or False? The longer the wavelength, the more ionising the electromagnetic radiation.

False. The shorter the wavelength (and therefore, the higher the frequency), the more ionising the electromagnetic radiation.

O LevelPhysicsCambridge (CIE)Flashcards3. Waves3.3 Electromagnetic Spectrum

3.3 Electromagnetic Spectrum (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Physics): Flashcards

Exam code: 5054

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Define electromagnetic waves.

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Cards in this collection (26)

Define electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the wave to an absorber.
Define the electromagnetic spectrum.
The electromagnetic spectrum is the continuous range of all seven types of electromagnetic wave, arranged in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength, from radio waves to gamma rays.
What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?
$3.0 \times 10^{8} m/s$
This is approximately the same speed as electromagnetic waves travelling through air.
List the seven types of electromagnetic wave in order of increasing frequency.
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays
All electromagnetic waves are ______ waves that can travel through a ______.
All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that can travel through a vacuum.
True or False?
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed as each other in a vacuum.
True.
All seven types of electromagnetic wave travel at the same speed in a vacuum, $3.0 \times 10^{8} m/s$ .
Define the term fluorescence.
Fluorescence is the process where certain substances absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light, causing them to glow.
What is the main application of radio waves?
The main application of radio waves is in wireless communications.
What are the two main applications of microwaves?
The two main applications of microwaves are:
- heating food
- wireless communications
True or False?
Night vision cameras use infrared radiation.
True.
One application of infrared radiation is night vision cameras.
True or False?
Gamma radiation is used in fibre optic communications.
False.
Infrared and visible light are used in optic fibre communications. Gamma rays are used for sterilising medical equipment and treating cancer.
True or False?
Sterilising water and detecting fake bank notes are two applications of X-rays.
False.
Sterilising water and detecting fake bank notes are two applications of ultraviolet radiation (UV). X-rays are used for imaging in medicine, dentistry, airport security and industry.
True or False?
Visible light is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that human eyes can see.
True.
Human eyes can only detect wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the visible light section of the electromagnetic spectrum.
True or False?
Remote controls are one application of ultraviolet radiation.
False.
Ultraviolet radiation carries too much energy and would be harmful if used for this purpose. Remote controls are one application of infrared radiation.
State the type of radiation used in the device in the diagram.
The device in the diagram is a microwave oven and uses microwaves.
True or False?
As the frequency of electromagnetic waves increases, so does the energy and the danger associated with them.
True.
As the frequency of electromagnetic waves increases, the energy they transfer increases, and therefore so does the danger associated with them.
What is the main danger associated with ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays?
Ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays can all ionise atoms, which can damage cells and cause mutations, which can lead to cancer.
True or False?
Radio waves are known to be harmful to humans.
False.
There are no known harmful effects of radio waves.
True or False?
Microwaves can be harmful to humans.
True.
Microwaves can be harmful to humans in high levels of exposure, because higher-frequency microwaves cause internal heating.
True or False?
Mobile phones emit microwave radiation.
True.
Mobile phones do emit microwave radiation, but only at low energies which are not known to cause any harm.
True or False?
Ultraviolet radiation can be harmful to humans.
True.
Ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.
True or False?
X-rays and gamma rays can be harmful to humans.
True.
X-rays and gamma rays (and UV) are ionising radiation which can remove electrons from atoms, causing damage to DNA which can lead to cell and tissue damage, mutations and cancer.
True or False?
Sunscreen absorbs ultraviolet light, preventing it from damaging the skin.
True.
Sunscreen absorbs ultraviolet light, preventing it from damaging the skin.
True or False?
Ionising forms of electromagnetic radiation have a higher frequency than visible light.
True.
The ionising forms of electromagnetic radiation are ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, all of which have higher frequencies than visible light.
True or False?
The longer the wavelength, the more ionising the electromagnetic radiation.
False.
The shorter the wavelength (and therefore, the higher the frequency), the more ionising the electromagnetic radiation.
State the purpose of the device in the image.
The device in the image is a radiation badge and its purpose is to measure a person's exposure to radiation.

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