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Uses and dangers of EM radiation: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Uses and dangers of EM radiation (specification points 5.20–5.24), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,554 questions

  1. Q2(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(a): Draw one straight line from each electromagnetic radiation to its correct description. (3) electromagnetic radiation description infrared used in night vision c

  2. Q5(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(a)(i): Explain why UVC is potentially the most dangerous ultraviolet radiation but does not cause harm to people. (2)

  3. Q5(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 5(b): UV radiation of wavelength 365 nm is used to detect forged banknotes. In a genuine banknote there are marks that cannot be seen using visible light. These marks

  4. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(a)(i): Figure 1 shows some types of radiation that form part of the e-m spectrum and some uses of e-m radiation. Draw one straight line from each type of e-m radiation

  5. Q1(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(b)(i): Explain why X-rays are used to scan passengers’ bags. (2)

  6. Q1(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(b)(ii): Explain why passengers are not scanned with X-rays. (2)

  7. Q9(a)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a): The potential danger associated with the waves of the e.m. spectrum increases as (1) A frequency decreases B frequency increases C velocity decreases D velocity

  8. Q1(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(b)(i): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum used to detect broken bones is (1)

  9. Q1(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(b)(ii): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum used in thermal imaging is (1)

  10. Q1(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiationThe electromagnetic spectrum
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(b)(iii): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that • is used to cook food AND • has a shorter wavelength than microwaves is (1)

  11. Q1(b)(iv)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiationThe electromagnetic spectrum
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(b)(iv): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that • is used to sterilise medical equipment AND • has a shorter wavelength than x‑rays is (1)

  12. Q2(b)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(b)(i): State one way that x-rays are useful to humans. (1)

  13. Q2(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(b)(ii): State one way that x-rays are harmful to humans. (1)

  14. Q1(a)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 1(a): Draw one line from each use of wave to the matching electromagnetic wave. One line has been drawn for you. (3) use of wave electromagnetic wave to detect forged

  15. Q9(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a): Some sunglasses have photochromic lenses. Photochromic lenses are clear when the lenses are indoors but they darken in bright sunlight to reduce the effects of

  16. Q9(c)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(c): Ultraviolet waves cover a range of frequencies. Scientists divide this range into three types, UVA, UVB and UVC. The table in Figure 14 shows the frequency rang

  17. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksUses and dangers of EM radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 5(b)(i): X-rays can be used in diagnosis and treatment from outside the body. Some x-rays are absorbed by bone as they travel through the body. Figure 4 shows how the in
All 17 questions on Uses and dangers of EM radiation, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a) (3 marks): Draw one straight line from each electromagnetic radiation to its correct description. (3) electromagnetic radiation description infrared used in night vision c
  2. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why UVC is potentially the most dangerous ultraviolet radiation but does not cause harm to people. (2)
  3. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (4 marks): UV radiation of wavelength 365 nm is used to detect forged banknotes. In a genuine banknote there are marks that cannot be seen using visible light. These marks
  4. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (3 marks): Figure 1 shows some types of radiation that form part of the e-m spectrum and some uses of e-m radiation. Draw one straight line from each type of e-m radiation
  5. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why X-rays are used to scan passengers’ bags. (2)
  6. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why passengers are not scanned with X-rays. (2)
  7. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a) (1 mark): The potential danger associated with the waves of the e.m. spectrum increases as (1) A frequency decreases B frequency increases C velocity decreases D velocity
  8. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum used to detect broken bones is (1)
  9. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): The part of the electromagnetic spectrum used in thermal imaging is (1)
  10. June 2022, 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)
  11. June 2022, 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)
  12. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State one way that x-rays are useful to humans. (1)
  13. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): State one way that x-rays are harmful to humans. (1)
  14. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a) (3 marks): Draw one line from each use of wave to the matching electromagnetic wave. One line has been drawn for you. (3) use of wave electromagnetic wave to detect forged
  15. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a) (1 mark): Some sunglasses have photochromic lenses. Photochromic lenses are clear when the lenses are indoors but they darken in bright sunlight to reduce the effects of
  16. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (4 marks): Ultraviolet waves cover a range of frequencies. Scientists divide this range into three types, UVA, UVB and UVC. The table in Figure 14 shows the frequency rang
  17. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): X-rays can be used in diagnosis and treatment from outside the body. Some x-rays are absorbed by bone as they travel through the body. Figure 4 shows how the in

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