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physics Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level Physics.

Solved problems for the chapter:

Electromagnetic Spectrum

View the theory »

Introduction to Light

1. Speed of light

2. Wavelength and frequency of light

3. Sources of light

3.1. Light sources based on black body radiation

3.2. Light emission due to changes in the energy levels of atoms

4. Luminous intensity and illuminance

5. Light perception

6. Forum

↓ Show theory [1] ↓

Detailed solution steps are available at:

https://en.openprof.com/wb/chapter:electromagnetic_spectrum/4063/

Example 1.

An electromagnetic wave is travelling through a vacuum. What could be the wavelength and period of the electromagnetic wave?

	wavelength	period
A
B
C
D

Example 2.

An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of in a vacuum. To which region of the electromagnetic spectrum does this wave belong?

radio wave
microwave
visible light
X-ray

Which of the following summarises the change in wave characteristics on going from infra-red to ultraviolet in the electromagnetic spectrum?

	frequency	speed (in a vacuum)
A	decreases	decreases
B	decreases	remains constant
C	increases	remains constant
D	increases	increases

Which statement about electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is correct?

Infrared waves have shorter wavelengths than visible light waves.
Microwaves have longer wavelengths than radio waves.
Ultraviolet waves have higher frequencies than visible light waves.
-rays have lower frequencies than X-rays.

The spectrum of electromagnetic waves is divided into a number of regions such as radio waves, visible light and gamma radiation.

State three distinct features of waves that are common to all regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
A typical wavelength of visible light is . Calculate the number of wavelengths of this light in a wave of length .
State a typical wavelength for
- X-rays,
- infra-red radiation.

A student is investigating two electromagnetic waves, X and Y, in a vacuum. Wave X has a wavelength of . Wave Y has a frequency of . Which principal regions of the electromagnetic spectrum contain waves X and Y?

	X	Y
A	radio wave	ultraviolet
B	ultraviolet	visible
C	visible	microwave
D	microwave	radio wave

A laser emits a beam of electromagnetic waves of frequency in a vacuum.

Show that the wavelength of the waves is .
State the region of the electromagnetic spectrum to which these waves belong.

The graph shows how the intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted from a distant star varies with wavelength.

In which region of the electromagnetic spectrum is the radiation of greatest intensity?

infrared
visible light
ultraviolet
X-ray

Which list of regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is in order of increasing wavelength from left to right?

gamma-ray ultraviolet infrared
infrared microwave ultraviolet
microwave X-ray infrared
X-ray ultraviolet gamma-ray

10.

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum is shown.

What is the name of the shaded region and what is the order of magnitude of a wavelength of a wave from this region?

	name	wavelength /
A	infrared
B	infrared
C	ultraviolet
D	ultraviolet

11.

An electromagnetic wave in free space has a frequency of . Which region of the electromagnetic spectrum includes this frequency?

infrared
microwave
ultraviolet
X-ray

12.

An electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of .

State the wavelength, in , of the wave.
Calculate the frequency, in , of the wave.
State the name of the region of the electromagnetic spectrum that contains this wave.

13.

Which statement about electromagnetic waves is correct?

A wave of wavelength is invisible to the human eye.
They can all travel at different speeds in free space.
They cannot be polarised.
They consist of vibrating atoms.

14.

What is the approximate range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye?

15.

Which microorganisms have a length that is equal to the wavelength in free space of an electromagnetic wave that is visible to the human eye?

algae of length
bacteria of length
fungi of length
protozoa of length

16.

Some sources of electromagnetic waves in free space are listed.

a radio wave transmitter
a source of X-rays
a wavelength radar transmitter
a light-emitting diode that emits red light

Which list gives the sources in order of increasing wavelength, from left to right, of the waves emitted by the sources?

1 3 4 2
2 4 1 3
2 4 3 1
3 1 4 2

17.

Two electromagnetic waves have wavelengths of and in a vacuum. Which row identifies the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the waves belong?

	wavelength	wavelength
A	ultraviolet	infrared
B	visible	microwave
C	ultraviolet	microwave
D	visible	infrared

18.

Electromagnetic waves of wavelength and frequency travel at speed in a vacuum. Which of the following describes the wavelength and speed of electromagnetic waves of frequency ?