Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum | Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics, Higher tier (1SC0)
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- 104 questions
- 8 subtopics
- Paper 5
- Paper 5
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum is examined in Paper 5, Physics 1.
It covers properties of electromagnetic waves, investigating refraction in glass blocks, the groups of the electromagnetic spectrum, the continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detect, absorption, transmission and the velocity of electromagnetic waves, how radiation is generated, and why danger rises with frequency, harmful effects of excessive exposure to radiation and uses of electromagnetic radiation.
Sample questions from Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Properties of electromagnetic waves
Explain why light from a distant star reaches the Earth across empty space but the star's sound cannot.
Show the answer
Light is an electromagnetic wave that travels through a vacuum, while sound needs particles to carry it. -
Investigating refraction in glass blocks
State the independent and dependent variables when refraction in a rectangular glass block is investigated.
Show the answer
The angle of incidence is changed and the angle of refraction is measured. -
The groups of the electromagnetic spectrum
Name the group of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies between radio waves and infrared.
Show the answer
Microwaves. -
The continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detect
Compare the frequency of ultraviolet with the frequency of infrared.
Show the answer
Ultraviolet has the higher frequency, because it lies nearer the gamma ray end of the spectrum. -
Absorption, transmission and the velocity of electromagnetic waves
State how the speed of an electromagnetic wave in glass compares with its speed in a vacuum.
Show the answer
It travels more slowly in the glass than in a vacuum. -
How radiation is generated, and why danger rises with frequency
Place microwaves, X-rays and visible light in order of increasing potential danger.
Show the answer
Microwaves, then visible light, then X-rays. -
Harmful effects of excessive exposure to radiation
Describe the harmful effects on the body of excessive exposure to ultraviolet.
Show the answer
It damages surface cells and the eyes, which can lead to skin cancer and to eye conditions. -
Uses of electromagnetic radiation
State the use of infrared that allows information to be carried over long distances.
Show the answer
Infrared signals are sent along optical fibres.
The 8 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Properties of electromagnetic waves | Electromagnetic waves as transverse waves travelling at 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s through a vacuum, why they form one family, and the energy they transfer from source to absorber in sunlight, microwave ovens and radio aerials. | 12 |
| Investigating refraction in glass blocks | Drawing round the block, marking the ray with crosses, measuring the angles of incidence and refraction from the normal, the variables involved, and the pattern of results. | 12 |
| The groups of the electromagnetic spectrum | The seven groups of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of wavelength, which groups lie at each end and between their neighbours, and the colours of the visible spectrum from red to violet. | 10 |
| The continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detect | Why the spectrum is continuous, how frequency and wavelength change from radio waves to gamma rays, and the narrow band of visible light the eye detects, with infrared and ultraviolet just outside it. | 13 |
| Absorption, transmission and the velocity of electromagnetic waves | How absorption and transmission depend on wavelength in glass, oven doors, bone, black surfaces and the atmosphere, light slowing and refracting in glass and water, prisms splitting white light, and how radio waves are produced and received by an aerial. | 18 |
| How radiation is generated, and why danger rises with frequency | Why danger rises with frequency across the electromagnetic spectrum, ranking groups by potential harm, radiation from changes in electrons and nuclei, atoms raised to higher energy states or ionised, sodium lamps, and the sources of X-rays and gamma rays. | 12 |
| Harmful effects of excessive exposure to radiation | Harmful effects of excessive exposure to microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, from internal heating and skin burns to skin cancer, eye damage and cell mutation, with sunbathing, radiographers and sunglasses as examples. | 8 |
| Uses of electromagnetic radiation | Uses of radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays, from broadcasting, satellite links, cooking and thermal imaging to optical fibres, security marking, disinfecting water, medical images, sterilising and cancer treatment. | 19 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 1,449 questions with their answers.