Wrksheet

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

1. Calculate wavelength of long wave radio transmission at 200 kHz, given the speed of the
wave is 3.0 ×108 ms-1.[1]

2. Calculate wavelength of a TV channel transmitted at UHF, 543 MHz, given the speed of
the wave is 3.0 ×108 ms-1.[1]

3. Calculate frequency of radio waves of wavelength 0.8 m received from space by a radio
telescope given the speed of the waves in space is 3.0 ×108 ms-1.[1]

4. Orange coloured light has a wavelength in air of 6.0 ×10-7 m. Calculate the frequency of
this light given the speed of light in air is 3.0 ×108 ms-1[1]

5. Radio transmission is possible with a certain spectrum of waves that travel through space
at 3.0 ×108 ms-1. What is the frequency of the radio transmission on wavelength of
1500m?[1]

6. An antenna of the length ¼ λ was used to receive a radio signal of 100MHz.Given the
speed of the signal is 3.0 ×108 ms-1, determine the length of the antenna in metres used.[3]

7. Visible light and X-rays are both types of Electromagnetic waves. State;

i) Four similarities between the two types of waves. [4]

ii) One difference between the two types of waves. .[1]

8. Consider the following types of Electromagnetic (E.M.) waves : Infrared, Ultraviolet,

Sound, X-rays, and Radio.[1]
a) Which of these is not part of the electromagnetic spectrum? Sound [1]
b) Which has the shortest wavelengths? X-rays[1]
c) Which has the lowest frequencies? Radio [1]
d) Which is unlikely to be detected by photographic film. Sound [1]
e) What is significant about their speed? All have the same speed of 3.0 ×108 ms-1 except
for sound waves which travels at 330 ms-1 [1]

9. Which of the following characteristic of light, speed, wavelength and frequency does not
change when light passes from air into water? wavelength [1]
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10. Calculate the wavelength and state the name of the radiation emitted by the following
devices named below ; (v = 3.0 ×108 ms-1)

a) A camera & video display setup which is used to inspect the welds in steel pipes
produces waves of the frequency 1.7 ×1020 Hz .[1]

b) A camera which is used to locate heat producing bodies/objects in the dark detects
waves of the frequency 1.0 ×1012 Hz .[1]

c) A Transmitter-Receiver machine which is used to communicate between satellites

and ground stations transmits waves of the frequency 1.0 ×1010 Hz.[1]

d) A machine which is used kill deep cancerous growths generates waves of the
frequency 1.0 ×1021 Hz .[1]

e) A ray gun which is used to cause fluorescence(glowing) in a chemical produces

waves of the frequency 1.0 ×1016 Hz [1]

f) A machine which is used to diagnose broken bones in animals produces waves of the
frequency 1.7 ×1019 Hz .[1]

11. State the difference between X-rays and Gamma rays..[2]

12. Give an account for why it is difficult to distinguish between X-rays and Gamma rays.[2]
[1]

13. State 6 properties (shared by)/common to All Electromagnetic Waves. [6]

14. The Electromagnetic Wave spectrum is often describe as being ‘Continuous’ Briefly
explain what this means.. [2]

15. Why are sound waves not a part of the Electromagnetic Wave spectrum?.[2]
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16. Arrange the following list of electromagnetic radiation below in order of wavelengths
from shortest to longest. [4]
VHF radio , X-rays , Infrared, Gamma, UHF TV, Visible light, Microwaves, U.V.

17. Arrange the following list of electromagnetic radiation below in order of frequencies
from longest to shortest.[4]
Gamma VHF radio, U.V., UHF TV, Infrared, Microwaves, Visible light, , X-rays

18. Copy and Complete the table below comparing Sound and Light waves.

Characteristic/feature Light Sound

Type of Wave
Speed in Air/vacuum
Media it can travel through gases, some solids & Solids, liquids & Gases (A
liquids, Vacuum (no medium always needed)
medium needed)
Typical frequency 1 kHz 5.0 ×1014 Hz
Transfer Energy yes
Part of the Electromagnetic yes
Spectrum
Can be Reflected
Can be Refracted
Can be Diffracted
Can be Polarised

19. Copy and complete the table below on electromagnetic radiations given below:

Name of Sources of Detectors of the Properties of Uses of the

Electromagnetic Radiation Radiation radiation Radiation
Radiation employed
Has very high Used to kill
Gamma rays energy. cancerous
Very deep growths .
penetrating Used to find
power. flaws or
defects in
metals.
Used to
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sterilize
surgical
equipment
Photographic Has very high
X – rays film. energy.
Fluorescent Very deep
screens in CRTs. penetrating
power.
The Sun . Highly
UV(ultraviolet) Very hot energize waves
light objects. causes many
Electric chemical
welding arcs. reactions.
Electric sparks.
Mercury vapour
lamps.

The Eye. -------

Visible light Photographic
film.
Photovoltaic
cell.

IR Photographic ------ Used for

IR (infrared) light film. heating.
LDR & Used by
Photodiode. scientists
Skin. /military for
photography
through
haze or fog.
Used in
military
satellites to
take special
IR
photographs
Antenna Can spread
Radio (connected to around hills,
tuned electric buildings by
circuits in radio diffraction
and TV sets)

20. Describe 4 properties of electromagnetic waves.[4]

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21. X-rays and ultraviolet radiation are both electromagnetic in nature. For EACH of these
two types of the of radiation, name TWO means of detection.[4]

22. Copy and complete the table below to show the link between an electromagnetic wave,
its source and its use or effect . [6]

Electromagnetic Wave Source Use or Effect

Visible light Photosynthesis

Microwave

Nuclei of Radioactive
elements Cancer treatment

Sun,
Electric Arcs or sparks Sunburn

23. Micro-waves travel at a speed of 3.0 ×108 ms-1 in a vacuum and have a frequency of 1.5
×1010 Hz.

i) Calculate the wavelength of the micro-waves in centimeters.[2]

ii) As the microwaves enter water at an angle of incidence of 45o, their speed is
reduced to 2.0 ×108 ms-1.Calculate the wavelength of the micro waves in water.[3]

24. The distance between the earth and moon has been measured by transmitting a laser beam
from earth to a reflector on the moon and measuring the time taken for the reflected beam
to be received back on earth. The laser had a wavelength of 450 nm. What was its
frequency? (velocity of laser light v = 3.0 ×108 ms-1).[2]

25. Calculate the distance between the earth & moon if the transit time was found to be 2.5 s.
[2]

26. A weather satellite orbits at 800 km above the surface of the earth. Calculate the time
taken for the radio waves to arrive at the earth’s surface after being transmitted from the
satellite.[3] (Speed of electromagnetic waves v = 3.0 ×108 ms-1)
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27. Short wavelength radio waves (microwaves) have many applications such as at a weather
station.
The radar used in weather stations transmits microwaves of frequency 3.0 ×109 Hz.
These are emitted in pulses EACH of 1.0 ×10-6 s duration.

(Speed of electromagnetic waves = v = 3.0 ×108 ms-1)

i) Calculate the wavelength of the radiation.[3]

ii) The number of waves emitted in the a pulse.[3]

iii) After the transmission of a pulse, nothing is transmitted for 1 millisecond,

calculate how far the pulse would have travelled in this time.[2]

iv) To detect a distance object the pulse is reflected from it and must return to the
weather station before another pulse is emitted. What is the furthest distance at
which an object may be detected using this system?[2]