AQA · Physics · 8463

GCSE Physics: Types of electromagnetic waves

Waves · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.6.2.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Types of electromagnetic waves", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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  1. Are electromagnetic waves transverse or longitudinal?

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    Transverse.

  2. What do electromagnetic waves transfer from a source to an absorber?

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    Energy.

  3. How do the speeds of different types of electromagnetic wave compare in a vacuum?

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    They are all the same — every type of electromagnetic wave travels at the same velocity through a vacuum (and through air).

  4. Electromagnetic waves form a ? spectrum.

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    continuous

  5. By which two properties are the groups of the electromagnetic spectrum ordered?

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    Wavelength and frequency.

  6. Which type of electromagnetic wave has the longest wavelength?

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    Radio waves.

  7. Which type of electromagnetic wave has the highest frequency?

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    Gamma rays.

  8. Which type of electromagnetic wave lies between radio waves and infrared in the spectrum?

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    Microwaves.

  9. Which type of electromagnetic wave lies between visible light and X-rays in the spectrum?

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    Ultraviolet.

  10. Which colour of visible light has the shortest wavelength?

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    Violet (visible light runs from red at the long-wavelength end to violet at the short-wavelength end).

  11. As wavelength decreases across the electromagnetic spectrum, what happens to frequency?

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    Frequency increases — shorter wavelength means higher frequency.

  12. Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum can human eyes detect?

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    Only visible light — a limited range of the whole spectrum.

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