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3.1 Waves & The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Question Paper

Course Edexcel IGCSE Physics

Section 3. Waves
Topic 3.1 Waves & The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Difficulty Easy

Time allowed: 40

Score: /33

Percentage: /100

Page 1 of 9

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Question 1
Different types of waves are used in hospitals. Some of the waves used are electromagnetic.
Which of these properties is the same for all electromagnetic waves?
A. Amplitude
B. Frequency
C. Speed in free space
D. Wavelength in free space
[1 mark]

Question 2
Which of these statements is correct?
A. Microwaves always travel faster than radio waves.
B. Microwaves always travel slower than radio waves.
C. Microwaves and radio waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.
D. Microwaves and radio waves travel at the same speed in all materials.
[1 mark]

Question 3
The diagram shows part of a water wave.

Which letter represents the amplitude?

[1 mark]

Page 2 of 9

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Question 4
The diagram shows a water wave.

What is the amplitude of the wave?

A. 1 cm
B. 2 cm
C. 4 cm
D. 8 cm
[1 mark]

Question 5
Some types of wave are used in hospitals.

A scanner uses one type of wave to check for broken bones. What type of wave is emitted by the scanner?
A. infrared
B. microwave
C. ultrasound
D. x-rays
[1 mark]

Page 3 of 9

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Question 6a
Which of the following electromagnetic waves has the shortest wavelength?
A. infrared
B. microwaves
C. ultraviolet
D. visible light
[1 mark]

Question 6b
Which of these statements about electromagnetic waves is not correct?
A. electromagnetic waves are longitudinal
B. electromagnetic waves can transfer energy
C. electromagnetic waves can travel between stars
D. electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in free space
[1 mark]

Question 6c
Which of the following is a use for x-rays?
A. broadcasting television
B. cooking a potato
C. looking at the internal structure of objects
D. looking through night vision goggle
[1 mark]

Page 4 of 9

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Question 7a
The Sun emits different types of electromagnetic waves.
Which of the following properties is the same for all the waves?
A. amplitude
B. frequency
C. speed
D. wavelength
[1 mark]

Question 7b
Which type of electromagnetic wave causes sunburn and snow blindness?
A. gamma rays
B. infrared
C. radio waves
D. ultraviolet
[1 mark]

Question 8
All types of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun are emitted with
A. the same amplitude
B. the same frequency
C. the same speed
D. the same wavelength
[1 mark]

Page 5 of 9

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Question 9
The diagram shows a wave on the sea.

Which letter shows the amplitude of the wave?

[1 mark]

Question 10a
Describe one difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.
Draw a labelled diagram to help your answer.
[3 marks]

Question 10b
State two properties that are the same for all electromagnetic waves.
[2 marks]

Page 6 of 9

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Question 11a
The Earth receives different types of electromagnetic waves from the Sun.
These include
infrared
ultraviolet
visible light
Complete the table by arranging these three types of electromagnetic wave in order of decreasing wavelength.

[1 mark]

Question 11b
Name two other types of electromagnetic wave.
[2 marks]

Question 11c
Ultraviolet waves are useful, but they can be dangerous.

(i)
State two uses of ultraviolet waves.
(2)
(ii)
State two dangers of ultraviolet waves.
(2)
[4 marks]

Page 7 of 9

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Question 12a
The names of two parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are missing.

Complete the table with the names of the missing parts.

[2 marks]

Question 12b
The Sun emits visible light, infrared and ultraviolet that travel through space and reach the surface of the Earth.
State two similarities between visible light, infrared and ultraviolet.
[2 marks]

Page 8 of 9

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Question 12c
Too much exposure to infrared and ultraviolet can cause damage to the human body.

State the damage that each can cause.

[2 marks]

Question 12d
Seven colours can be seen in the visible light spectrum.
Which colour has the longest wavelength?
[1 mark]

Question 13
A man watches some waves pass his boat.
He sees the crest of the waves pass him every 5 s.
Calculate the frequency of these waves.

frequency = ............................ Hz
[2 marks]

Page 9 of 9

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