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A LevelPhysicsCIEExam Questions7. Waves7.4 Electromagnetic Spectrum

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First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Electromagnetic Spectrum (CIE A Level Physics)

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7.4 Electromagnetic Spectrum

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7.4 Electromagnetic Spectrum

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1
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Which of the following is the approximate range of frequencies of infrared radiation?

  • 1 × 1014 – 1 × 1016 Hz

  • 1 × 1012 – 1 × 1014 Hz

  • 1 × 109 – 1 × 1011 Hz

  • 1 × 103 – 1 × 109 Hz

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2
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Which of the following statements is a correct description of part of the electromagnetic spectrum?

  • waves of wavelength 5 × 10–7 m are infrared waves

  • waves of wavelength 5 × 10–9 m are high energy gamma rays

  • waves of wavelength 9 × 10–7 m are light waves

  • waves of wavelength 3 × 10–8 m are ultraviolet waves

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3
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Which of the following give the order of magnitude of frequencies of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum?

  • 1015 Hz

  • 1014 Hz

  • 1013 Hz

  • 1016 Hz

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4
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The diagram shows part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

cie-ial-images344png

Which row correctly labels the regions marked P and Q?

 

P

Q

A

B

C

D

infrared

ultraviolet

x-ray

infrared

x-ray

x-ray

infrared

microwaves

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    5
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    Which of the following do not travel at the speed of light in a vacuum?

    • x-rays

    • radio waves

    • microwaves

    • electrons

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    6
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    Which of the following is the number of wavelengths in one metre of visible light?

    • 104

    • 106

    • 108

    • 1010

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    1
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    Two lasers are set up to pass through a vacuum. One laser emits red light; the other emits green light.

     Which property of the two lasers are different?

    • speed

    • plane of polarisation

    • frequency

    • amplitude

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    2
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    The wavelength of light emitted by a laser is 600 nm.

     Which of the following is the distance in number of wavelengths, that is travelled by light in one second?

    • 5.0 × 1014 s–1

    • 5.0 × 108 s–1

    • 5.0 × 1011 s–1

    • 5.0 × 1017 s–1

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    3
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    Waves of the electromagnetic spectrum travel through a vacuum at speed c and with a wavelength λ and frequency f

     Which of the following describes the speed and wavelength when the frequency is f over 2  ?

     

    λ

    c

    A

    		 2 lambda 2 c

    B

    		 2 lambda c

    C

    		 lambda over 2 c

    D

    		 lambda over 2 c over 2

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      4
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      The diameter of a nucleus and the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave are in the same order of magnitude.

       In which region of the electromagnetic spectrum would that wavelength occur?

      • infrared

      • visible light

      • x-ray

      • gamma-ray

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      5
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      R is a source emitting infra-red radiation and S is a source emitting ultra-violet radiation. The table suggests the wavelengths for R and S.

       Which row is correct?

       

      Wavelength emitted by R / m

      Wavelength emitted by S / m

      A

      B

      C

      D

      5 × 10–7

      5 × 10–8

      5 × 10–5

      5 × 10–5

      5 × 10–8

      5 × 10–10

      5 × 10–8

      5 × 10–10

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        6
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        Which statement would be deduced from a table of wavelengths of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum?

        • the wavelength range for radio waves is less than that for infrared waves

        • the wavelength range for x-rays is less than that for radio waves

        • red light has a shorter wavelength than green light

        • green light has a shorter wavelength than x-rays

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        7
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        A telescope detects electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths 2 cm.

        Which type of telescope is it ?

        • x-ray telescope

        • optical telescope

        • microwave telescope

        • radio telescope

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        1
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        An infrared wave has a wavelength of 30 µm and frequency finfrared. An x-ray has a wavelength of 400 pm and frequency fx-ray.

        What is the value of the ratio f subscript x minus r a y end subscript over f subscript i n f r a r e d end subscript?

        • 1.3 × 10−5

        • 0.075

        • 13

        • 7.5 × 104

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        2
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        Fig. 1.1 shows the percentage of transmitted wavelengths which can travel through Earth’s atmosphere and reach sea level.

        cie-7-4-mcq-hard-q2-cie-ial-physics

        Fig. 1.1

        What is the range of frequencies that can penetrate Earth’s atmosphere and reach sea level?

        • 10 space nHz space less or equal than space f space less or equal than space 100 space straight mu Hz comma space 1 space mHz space less or equal than space f space less or equal than space 10 space Hz

        • 10 space Hz space less or equal than space f space less or equal than space 100 space Hz

        • 30 space MHz space less or equal than space f space less or equal than space 300 space GHz comma space 3 space THz space less or equal than space f space less or equal than space 3000 space THz

        • 30 space MHz space less or equal than space f space less or equal than space 300 space THz

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        3
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        Monochromatic light is incident normally upon a double slit where the distance between the slits is 0.02 mm. The angle between the second-order and central maxima is 3.96°.

        What is the colour of the monochromatic light?

        • Violet

        • Blue

        • Green

        • Red

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        4
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        The table below contains the frequencies of various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. 

        Which row correctly describes X as infrared and Y as X-rays?

         

        X

        Y

        A.

        3 × 105 Hz

        3 × 1020 Hz

        B.

        3 × 1010 Hz

        3 × 1016 Hz

        C.

        		 3 × 1018 Hz 3 × 1014 Hz

        D.

        		 3 × 1014 Hz

        3 × 1019 Hz

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