Electromagnetic Waves Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?
- A. 3 × 10⁸ m/s
- B. 3 × 10⁶ m/s
- C. 3 × 10¹⁰ m/s
- D. 3 × 10⁴ m/s
2. Which of the following lists electromagnetic waves in order of increasing frequency?
- A. Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave, radio
- B. Radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays
- C. Visible, infrared, radio, microwave, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays
- D. Microwave, radio, visible, infrared, X-rays, ultraviolet, gamma rays
3. Why are ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays considered hazardous to human tissue?
- A. They have very long wavelengths that can damage skin cells
- B. They carry enough energy to ionise atoms and molecules, causing cell damage and mutations
- C. They reflect off surfaces and concentrate in one area
- D. They travel faster than other electromagnetic waves and cause burns
4. A radio wave and an infrared wave are both electromagnetic waves. Which statement best explains why they behave differently when passing through materials?
- A. Radio waves travel faster than infrared waves in all materials
- B. Different wavelengths interact differently with the structure of materials, so they are reflected, transmitted, or absorbed to different extents
- C. Infrared waves are more ionising, so they always pass through materials more easily
- D. Radio waves have lower energy, so they cannot be absorbed by any material
5. Explain how a change in the number of electrons in an atom can produce electromagnetic radiation. What does this tell us about the relationship between atomic structure and EM radiation?
- A. Electrons moving between energy levels release photons of electromagnetic radiation; the frequency depends on the energy difference between levels
- B. All electrons in an atom emit radiation continuously regardless of their energy state
- C. Only electrons in the nucleus can produce electromagnetic radiation when they change energy levels
- D. Electromagnetic radiation is only produced when atoms lose all their electrons completely