Electromagnetic spectrum: past paper questions

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• Question 28May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement is correct?

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• Question 20Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The following lists show colours of the spectrum.

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Ultraviolet radiation is a component of the electromagnetic spectrum. Which application uses ultraviolet radiation?

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• Question 38May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The Sun radiates most of its energy in three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. What are these three regions?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  The microwave region is one region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Fig. 5.1 represents the electromagnetic spectrum divided into the seven main regions. The regions are arranged from left to right in order of increasing wavelength.

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which two waves are components of the electromagnetic spectrum?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured6 marks

  Most of the energy emitted by the Sun is in three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The name of one of these three regions is the ultraviolet region.

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• Question 24May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about red light and violet light is correct?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A student directs a beam of white light from a filament lamp towards a glass prism in a dark room. Fig. 4.1 shows the beam of white light incident on the left-hand side of the glass prism. A screen is placed to the right of the glass prism.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  The isotope iodine-131 emits two types of nuclear radiation. Gamma radiation is one of the types emitted. A sample of iodine-131 produces a narrow beam of radiation which passes into a magnetic field.

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• Question 27May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Ultraviolet waves and radio waves are both components of the electromagnetic spectrum. Why do ultraviolet waves cause skin cancer and cataracts while radio waves do not?

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• Question 27May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which components of the electromagnetic spectrum are used to communicate from a remote controller to a television set and from the Earth to a satellite?

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• Question 23May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row names a region of the electromagnetic spectrum with a wavelength longer than that of visible light and a region with a frequency that is greater than that of visible light?

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• Question 39May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  In which three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate most of its energy?

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• Question 22May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about infrared radiation is correct?

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• Question 39May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  In which region of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate the most energy?

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  All electromagnetic waves transfer energy. State two other properties that are the same for all electromagnetic waves.

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• Question 25May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The colour of visible light is related to the wavelength of the light. Which list of colours is in order of increasing wavelength?

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• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 22Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Ultraviolet radiation is one component of the electromagnetic spectrum. State the name of two components of the electromagnetic spectrum that have a smaller wavelength than ultraviolet radiation.

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A student uses a glass block and two identical glass prisms to demonstrate the action of a converging lens. Figure 5.1 shows three parallel rays of red light incident on the glass block and the two prisms. On Figure 5.1, draw and label the normal to the prism at point P.

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows light passing through a triangular glass prism. State the value of the angle of incidence at point P.

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