EM Spectrum Questions GCSE P1b

1
Name the type of electromagnetic wave that...
a) is the size of atomic nuclei
(1)

b) is the size of molecules

(1)

c) has a wavelength of about 0.1m

(1)

d) is used by mobile phones to send signals

(1)

e) can be used to cook marshmallows!

(1)

2
Draw a transverse wave and label the wavelength, λ, and amplitude, A.

(3)
3
a) What is the wave speed, in terms of wavelength and frequency?

(1)

b) What is the frequency of a wave, in terms of speed and wavelength?

(1)

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 EM Spectrum Questions GCSE P1b
4
This transverse wave is drawn to scale (i.e. full size). What is its wavelength?

a) What is its wavelength, in cm?

(1)

b) What is its wavelength in m?

(1)

c) What is its amplitude?

(1)

d) How fast do EM waves travel?

(2)

d) Assuming this is an EM wave, what is its frequency? (Hint: See Q3b)

(2)

5
a) What is the frequency of an EM wave that has a wavelength of 300,000 metres?

(2)

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 EM Spectrum Questions GCSE P1b
b) What is the wavelength of an EM wave that has a frequency of 1 Hz?

(2)
c) What is the wavelength of an EM wave that has a frequency of 100 kHz?

(2)

6
BBC Radio 1 broadcasts using EM waves of a frequency between 97.7 and 99.7 MHz.
a) What is their average broadcast frequency, in Hz?

(2)

b) What is the wavelength of this average wave, in metres?

(2)

c) What type of EM wave is this?

(1)

7
It takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds for light to reach us from the Sun.
a) How many seconds does it take for the Sun’s light to reach us?

(1)

b) How far away is the Sun, in metres?

(2)

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 EM Spectrum Questions GCSE P1b
8
There are 1,000,000,000, or 109, nanometres (nm) in one metre.
a) What would be the frequency of red light with a wavelength of 710 nm?

(2)

b) What would be the frequency of violet light, of wavelength 400nm?

(2)

9
Radar is an acronym, standing for “Radio Detection And Ranging”.
It was developed by the British during the Second World War (although invented
previously) and gave the Allied forces a distinct advantage against the Germans. It can be
used to tell how far away large objects are.
a) What type of EM wave is used? (Hint: Clue’s in the name!)
(1)

b) Which would be the best wavelength to use for this: 3m; 3mm or 3nm?
(1)

b) What would be the frequency of this wave?

(2)

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