plumiThe electromagnetic spectrum: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Combined Science exam question on The electromagnetic spectrum (specification points 5.7–5.14), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Exam
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Calculations
Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q6(c)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(c)
The whole paper ↗
All 39 questions on The electromagnetic spectrum, as a list
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a) (4 marks): When light travels from air into glass, it is refracted. To investigate this, a student has a rectangular glass block and a ray box. The ray box produces a ray
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b) (1 mark): Different colours of light have different frequencies. Which of these colours has the highest frequency? (1) A blue B green C red D yellow
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): The two shaded rows in Figure 2 are not plotted on the graph in Figure 3. Plot these missing results on the graph in Figure 3. (2)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(c)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a curve of best fit through the points on the graph in Figure 3. (1)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(c)(iii) (2 marks): Using figure 3, describe the relationship between the angle of refraction and the angle of incidence. (2)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a) (3 marks): X-rays and microwaves are both parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Use words from the box to complete the sentences. (3) amplitude frequency longitudinal spe
- June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b) (4 marks): Figure 1 shows the full electromagnetic spectrum. Figure 2 gives information about four of the types of electromagnetic radiation shown in Figure 1. gamma radio
- June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c) (4 marks): Light is one example of an electromagnetic wave. Light can transfer energy from a lamp to the leaf of a plant, causing chemical reactions in the leaf. Describe
- June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these waves has the highest frequency? (1) A infrared B microwaves C ultraviolet D visible light
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(c) (6 marks): X-rays and radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and have different uses. These radiations are produced in different ways. X-rays are emitted whe
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is the best piece of equipment to produce the white light? (1) A ray box B ruler C measuring cylinder D ammeter
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which colour is seen between yellow and blue in the spectrum on the screen? (1) A red B orange C green D violet
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that • is used to cook food AND • has a shorter wavelength than microwaves is (1)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(iv) (1 mark): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that • is used to sterilise medical equipment AND • has a shorter wavelength than x‑rays is (1)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): On the graph in Figure 5, draw the best fit curve. (1)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Use the graph in Figure 5 to estimate the value of angle r when angle i is 80°. (1) angle r = °
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe how angle r changes with angle i for the results shown on the graph in Figure 5. (2)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which row of the table names the parts J, K and L of the electromagnetic spectrum? (1) J K L A infrared radio ultraviolet B radio infrared ultraviolet C ultravi
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): All electromagnetic waves can travel in a vacuum. Which of these is the same for all electromagnetic waves travelling in a vacuum? (1) A amplitude B frequency C
- November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(c) (2 marks): A person warms their hands in front of a hot fire as shown in Figure 2. (Source: © Andreas Saldavs/Shutterstock) Figure 2 Use words from the box to complete the
- November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a) (3 marks): A radio station transmits on 97.4 MHz. To receive the waves an aerial needs a length equal to half the wavelength of the radio waves being transmitted. Calculat
- November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b) (2 marks): To investigate refraction in a rectangular glass block a student uses the apparatus shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 Describe how the student should measure the angl
- November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b) (1 mark): Ultraviolet light has a higher frequency than infrared light. Which of these colours of visible light has the highest frequency? (1) A blue B green C orange D y
- November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(c) (2 marks): Figure 1 shows how the brightness of a source of light changes with wavelength. brightness 0 360 380 400 420 440 460 wavelength in nm Figure 1 Describe how the
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which colour of visible light has the longest wavelength? (1) A blue B green C red D yellow
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b) (2 marks): Some television remote controls use infrared radiation and other remote controls use radio waves. Explain why an infrared remote control may not switch on the t
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b) (2 marks): Radio waves from Jupiter take 40 minutes to reach Earth. Light waves from the Sun take 8 minutes to reach Earth. Calculate how many times further it is from Ear
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q6(d) (6 marks): Radio waves and gamma radiation are at opposite ends of the electromagnetic spectrum. Compare how these two electromagnetic radiations are produced. (6)
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a) (1 mark): Which colour of visible light has the longest wavelength? (1) A blue B green Cred D yellow
- June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b) (2 marks): Some television remote controls use infrared radiation and other remote controls use radio waves. Explain why an infrared remote control may not switch on the t
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): In Figure 1, angle Y is the angle of (1) A deflection B incidence C reflection D refraction
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 2 is a graph of the student’s results. 50 45 40 35 30 angle Y 25 in degrees 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 angle X in degrees Figure 2 Use the graph to
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): The student concludes that angle Y is directly proportional to angle X. Explain what the student must do to test this conclusion in more detail. (3)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b) (4 marks): The following descriptions describe waves from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Complete each description by adding the name of the wave. Use th
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): In Figure 8, angle Y is the angle of (1) A deflection B incidence C reflection D refraction
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 9 is a graph of the student’s results. 50 45 40 35 30 angle Y 25 in degrees 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 angle X in degrees Figure 9 Use the graph to
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a)(iii) (3 marks): The student concludes that angle Y is directly proportional to angle X. Explain what the student must do to test this conclusion in more detail. (3)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Give one colour of light that has a longer wavelength than yellow light. (1)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): Give one colour of light that has a higher frequency than yellow light. (1)
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