Electromagnetic spectrum
7.4What the syllabus asks of you
- state that all electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel with the same speed c in free space
- recall the approximate range of wavelengths in free space of the principal regions of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to γ-rays
- recall that wavelengths in the range 400–700 nm in free space are visible to the human eye
Read the notes first
Chapter 7: Electromagnetic spectrum
Drill this topic
Every question on Electromagnetic spectrum, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
70 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared
Bultraviolet
Cvisible
DX-ray
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation
Bultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, visible light
Cultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation
Dvisible light, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation
Mark scheme
3May / June 2026 · Paper 14 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A300 nm to 700 nm
B300 nm to 650 nm
C400 nm to 650 nm
D400 nm to 700 nm
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 14 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AA wave of wavelength 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ m is invisible to the human eye.
BThey can all travel at different speeds in free space.
CThey cannot be polarised.
DThey consist of vibrating atoms.
Mark scheme
5May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
A0.05 ns
B0.10 ns
C0.50 µs
D1.0 µs
Mark scheme
6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
A4.9 × 10⁻⁹ m
B6.6 × 10⁻⁹ m
C5.5 × 10⁻⁷ m
D8.6 × 10⁻⁷ m
Mark scheme
7May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
A5.94 × 10^8 km
B1.19 × 10^9 km
C5.94 × 10^11 km
D1.19 × 10^12 km
Mark scheme
8May / June 2025 · Paper 13 · Q27Show mark scheme →
A4.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ km
B6.2 × 10⁻⁷ m
C5.4 × 10⁻⁶ cm
D4.2 × 10⁻⁴ mm
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9May / June 2025 · Paper 14 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Atype of wave: longitudinal; speed in free space: faster for shorter wavelengths
Btype of wave: longitudinal; speed in free space: the same for all wavelengths
Ctype of wave: transverse; speed in free space: faster for shorter wavelengths
Dtype of wave: transverse; speed in free space: the same for all wavelengths
Mark scheme
10Feb / March 2025 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Atransverse wave ✓, longitudinal wave ✗, can travel in free space ✓
Btransverse wave ✓, longitudinal wave ✗, can travel in free space ✗
Ctransverse wave ✗, longitudinal wave ✓, can travel in free space ✓
Dtransverse wave ✗, longitudinal wave ✓, can travel in free space ✗
Mark scheme
11Feb / March 2025 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A100 nm to 400 nm
B300 µm to 30 cm
C400 nm to 700 nm
D800 nm to 1000 µm
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12Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aradio waves → visible light → gamma rays
Bvisible light → microwaves → infrared
Cvisible light → ultraviolet → X-rays
DX-rays → infrared → microwaves
Mark scheme
13Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared | visible light
Binfrared | X-rays
Cultraviolet | visible light
Dultraviolet | X-rays
Mark scheme
14Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 13 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A10⁻⁹ m — gamma ray
B10⁻⁵ m — microwave
C10⁻⁸ m — ultraviolet
D10⁻¹⁴ m — X-ray
Mark scheme
15May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Awavelength 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁰ Tm, period 2.5 Ms
Bwavelength 1.2 pm, period 2.5 × 10¹¹ Gs
Cwavelength 1.2 × 10² pm, period 4.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ ns
Dwavelength 1.2 × 10³ μm, period 4.0 ns
Mark scheme
16May / June 2024 · Paper 13 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aradio wave
Bmicrowave
Cvisible light
DX-ray
Mark scheme
17Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AInfrared waves have shorter wavelengths than visible light waves.
BMicrowaves have longer wavelengths than radio waves.
CUltraviolet waves have higher frequencies than visible light waves.
Dγ-rays have lower frequencies than X-rays.
Mark scheme
18Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AX: radio wave, Y: ultraviolet
BX: ultraviolet, Y: visible
CX: visible, Y: microwave
DX: microwave, Y: radio wave
Mark scheme
19Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 13 · Q1Show mark scheme →
A260 nm
B540 nm
C780 nm
D920 nm
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20May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A1 → 3 → 4 → 2
B2 → 4 → 1 → 3
C2 → 4 → 3 → 1
D3 → 1 → 4 → 2
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21May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A5.0 × 10^5 Hz
B5.0 × 10^8 Hz
C5.0 × 10^11 Hz
D5.0 × 10^14 Hz
Mark scheme
22May / June 2023 · Paper 13 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared
Bmicrowave
Cradio wave
Dvisible light
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23Feb / March 2023 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A(430–750) kHz
B(430–750) MHz
C(430–750) GHz
D(430–750) THz
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24Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Amicrowave telescope
Boptical telescope
Cradio telescope
DX-ray telescope
Mark scheme
25Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aultraviolet | infrared
Bvisible | microwave
Cultraviolet | microwave
Dvisible | infrared
Mark scheme
26Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 13 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Aalgae of length 0.5 μm
Bbacteria of length 5.0 μm
Cfungi of length 50 μm
Dprotozoa of length 100 μm
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27May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AA wave of wavelength 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ m is invisible to the human eye.
BThey can all travel at different speeds in free space.
CThey cannot be polarised.
DThey consist of vibrating atoms.
Mark scheme
28May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared
Bmicrowave
Cultraviolet
DX-ray
Mark scheme
29May / June 2022 · Paper 13 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Agamma-ray → ultraviolet → infrared
Binfrared → microwave → ultraviolet
Cmicrowave → X-ray → infrared
DX-ray → ultraviolet → gamma-ray
Mark scheme
30Feb / March 2022 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Aall arrive at the same time
Bblue first, then green, then red
Cred first, then blue, then green
Dred first, then green, then blue
Mark scheme
31Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aγ-rays
Bultraviolet
Cvisible light
DX-rays
Mark scheme
32Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared
Bmicrowave
Cultraviolet
Dvisible light
Mark scheme
33Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 13 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A20 nm
B350 nm
C720 nm
D5.0 μm
Mark scheme
34May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aspeed: X; wavelength: 10⁻⁸ Y
Bspeed: X; wavelength: 10⁻⁴ Y
Cspeed: 10⁴ X; wavelength: Y
Dspeed: 10⁸ X; wavelength: Y
Mark scheme
35May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aamplitude
Bfrequency
Cintensity
Dspeed
Mark scheme
36May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Agamma-rays → infrared → ultraviolet → radio waves
Bgamma-rays → ultraviolet → infrared → radio waves
Cradio waves → infrared → ultraviolet → gamma-rays
Dradio waves → ultraviolet → infrared → gamma-rays
Mark scheme
37May / June 2021 · Paper 13 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Amicrowaves → visible light → X-rays → gamma-rays
Bgamma-rays → X-rays → visible light → microwaves
CX-rays → gamma-rays → microwaves → visible light
Dmicrowaves → visible light → gamma-rays → X-rays
Mark scheme
38Feb / March 2021 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aγ-rays, 3 × 10⁻¹³ m
BX-rays, 3 × 10⁻¹⁰ m
Cinfrared, 3 × 10⁻⁶ m
Dmicrowaves, 3 × 10⁻⁵ m
Mark scheme
39Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared
Bvisible light
Cultraviolet
DX-ray
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40Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Aname: infrared; wavelength / m: 10–5
Bname: infrared; wavelength / m: 10–8
Cname: ultraviolet; wavelength / m: 10–5
Dname: ultraviolet; wavelength / m: 10–8
Mark scheme
41Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 13 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A10^{-5} T
B10^{-3} T
C10^{-2} T
DT
Mark scheme
42May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Aγ-rays; infrared
Bγ-rays; red light
CX-rays; infrared
DX-rays; red light
Mark scheme
43May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Agamma-ray, X-ray, infrared, microwave, radio wave
Bradio wave, microwave, infrared, X-ray, gamma-ray
Cradio wave, microwave, ultraviolet, infrared, X-ray
DX-ray, infrared, ultraviolet, microwave, radio wave
Mark scheme
44May / June 2020 · Paper 13 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Ainfrared, 10^-5
Bradio, 10^-3
Cultraviolet, 10^-12
DX-rays, 10^-7
Mark scheme
45Feb / March 2020 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A10⁻⁶, 10³
B10⁻², 10³
C10⁻⁶, 10⁻¹⁰
D10⁻², 10⁻¹⁰
Mark scheme
46Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aradio wave
Bmicrowave
Cvisible light
DX-ray
Mark scheme
47Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Aultraviolet / infrared
Bvisible / microwave
Cultraviolet / microwave
Dvisible / infrared
Mark scheme
48May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Amicrowaves, X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared
Binfrared, microwaves, X-rays, ultraviolet
Cmicrowaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays
DX-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, microwaves
Mark scheme
49May / June 2019 · Paper 13 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A5 × 10⁻⁵ m
B5 × 10⁻⁷ m
C2 × 10⁻⁹ m
D2 × 10⁻¹¹ m
Mark scheme
50Feb / March 2019 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A10⁻⁷ m
B10⁻⁵ m
C10⁻² m
D10⁰ m
Mark scheme
51Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Amicrowave telescope
Boptical telescope
Cradio telescope
DX-ray telescope
Mark scheme
52Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A0.05 ns
B0.10 ns
C0.50 µs
D1.0 µs
Mark scheme
53Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 13 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ainfra-red
Bultraviolet
Cvisible
DX-ray
Mark scheme
54May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Ainfra-red waves
Bradio waves
Cultraviolet waves
DX-rays
Mark scheme
55May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AGreen light has a shorter wavelength than X-rays.
BRed light has a shorter wavelength than green light.
CThe wavelength range for radio waves is less than that for infra-red waves.
DThe wavelength range for X-rays is less than that for radio waves.
Mark scheme
56May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aamplitude
Bfrequency
Cintensity
Dspeed
Mark scheme
57May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Ainfra-red
Bmicrowaves
Cultraviolet
DX-rays
Mark scheme
58Feb / March 2018 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Amicrowaves 10⁻⁶, infra-red 10⁻¹⁰, ultraviolet 10⁻¹², X-rays 10⁻¹⁴
Bmicrowaves 10⁻⁴, infra-red 10⁻⁸, ultraviolet 10⁻¹⁰, X-rays 10⁻¹²
Cmicrowaves 10⁻², infra-red 10⁻⁶, ultraviolet 10⁻⁸, X-rays 10⁻¹⁰
Dmicrowaves 10², infra-red 10⁻⁴, ultraviolet 10⁻⁶, X-rays 10⁻⁸
Mark scheme
59Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q4Show mark scheme →
A3 000 000 pm
B30 nm
C30 000 µm
D3000 mm
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60Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A10^10 Hz
B10^12 Hz
C10^14 Hz
D10^16 Hz
Mark scheme
61Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 13 · Q27Show mark scheme →
A1.0 × 10^6 Hz
B1.0 × 10^9 Hz
C1.0 × 10^12 Hz
D1.0 × 10^15 Hz
Mark scheme
62May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Aradio waves → gamma rays → ultraviolet → infra-red
Bradio waves → infra-red → ultraviolet → gamma rays
Cultraviolet → gamma rays → radio waves → infra-red
Dultraviolet → infra-red → radio waves → gamma rays
Mark scheme
63May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AP: infra-red; Q: visible; R: ultraviolet
BP: microwave; Q: infra-red; R: visible
CP: ultraviolet; Q: X-ray; R: gamma ray
DP: visible; Q: ultraviolet; R: X-ray
Mark scheme
64May / June 2017 · Paper 13 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AX-rays 10¹⁰, ultraviolet 10¹⁴, microwaves 10¹⁸, infra-red 10¹⁵
BX-rays 10¹⁴, ultraviolet 10¹⁸, microwaves 10¹⁵, infra-red 10¹⁰
CX-rays 10¹⁵, ultraviolet 10¹⁰, microwaves 10¹⁴, infra-red 10¹⁸
DX-rays 10¹⁸, ultraviolet 10¹⁵, microwaves 10¹⁰, infra-red 10¹⁴
Mark scheme
65Feb / March 2017 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AM: microwaves, N: visible light
BM: microwaves, N: γ-rays
CM: γ-rays, N: microwaves
DM: visible light, N: microwaves
Mark scheme
66Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Agamma ray, X-ray, infra-red, microwave, radio wave
Bradio wave, microwave, infra-red, X-ray, gamma ray
Cradio wave, microwave, ultraviolet, infra-red, X-ray
DX-ray, infra-red, ultraviolet, microwave, radio wave
Mark scheme
67Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 13 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Agamma ray, X-ray, infra-red, microwave, radio wave
Bradio wave, microwave, infra-red, X-ray, gamma ray
Cradio wave, microwave, ultraviolet, infra-red, X-ray
DX-ray, infra-red, ultraviolet, microwave, radio wave
Mark scheme
68May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Ainfra-red, microwaves, visible light, X-rays
Bmicrowaves, infra-red, X-rays, gamma rays
Cmicrowaves, visible light, ultraviolet, gamma rays
Dradio waves, microwaves, ultraviolet, X-rays
Mark scheme
69May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
A10⁻⁹ m — gamma ray
B10⁻⁵ m — microwave
C10⁻⁸ m — ultraviolet
D10⁻¹⁴ m — X-ray
Mark scheme
70May / June 2016 · Paper 13 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A10^4
B10^6
C10^8
D10^10
Mark scheme