plumiThe electromagnetic spectrum: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on The electromagnetic spectrum (specification points 3.10–3.13), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q11(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q11(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q6(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q1(a)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q1(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q9(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q9(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q9(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 44 questions on The electromagnetic spectrum, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q11(b)(i) (2 marks): Suggest why the tube must have a fluorescent coating for the lamp to operate effectively. (2)
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q11(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the fluorescent tube lamp is dangerous if the fluorescent coating becomes damaged. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(a) (1 mark): Give a harmful effect of infrared waves. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Give two similar properties of visible light waves and infrared waves. (2) 1 2
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Give two differences between the properties of visible light waves and infrared waves. (2) 1 2
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(c) (3 marks): The infrared heating lamps are placed 1.5 m from the car. Calculate the time taken for infrared waves emitted from a lamp to reach the car. [for infrared waves,
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the part labelled A. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the part labelled B. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Give a use of microwaves. (1)
- June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give a use of gamma rays. (1)
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b) (1 mark): Diagram 2 shows a damaged microwave oven with a hole in the door. Diagram 2 This microwave oven should not be used as it is very dangerous. State a harmful effe
- November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): The filament lamp emits visible light. The table gives some statements about visible light. Place ticks (ü) in the boxes to show which statements are correct fo
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): State another property that all electromagnetic waves have in common. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State a harmful effect of excessive exposure to x-rays. (1)
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (3 marks): The table gives some statements about the electromagnetic spectrum. Place three ticks (ü) in the table to show which statements are correct. (3) Statement Corre
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Give one use and one harmful effect of microwaves. (2) use harmful effect
- June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Give one use and one harmful effect of gamma rays. (2) use harmful effect
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): Name the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that has a lower frequency than microwaves. (1)
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q9(c)(i) (1 mark): Photograph 2 shows the analogue meter for one of the readings. Photograph 2 Give the reading on the analogue meter. (1) reading = arbitrary units
- January 2023, Paper 1, Q9(c)(ii) (4 marks): The graph shows the results of the student’s investigation. 100 80 60 Meter readings in arbitrary units 40 20 0 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Distance in cm The st
- January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): State which colour in the visible spectrum has the shortest wavelength. (1)
- January 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q2(b) (2 marks): Explain a hazard of ultraviolet radiation to the human body. (2)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a) (4 marks): Draw a straight line from each electromagnetic wave to its correct use. One has been done for you. (4) Electromagnetic wave Use detecting broken bones infrared
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (1 mark): State a hazard to humans of excessive exposure to infrared waves. (1)
- June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): State a precaution that would reduce a person’s risk of exposure to ultraviolet waves. (1)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State a similarity of the Wi-Fi signals at 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz. (1)
- January 2022, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): The two Wi-Fi signals have different frequencies. State another difference between the Wi-Fi signals. (1)
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which of these is another example of ionising radiation? (1) A infrared B microwave C radio D ultraviolet
- January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (2 marks): Give one use of x‑rays and one use of gamma rays. (2) x‑rays gamma rays
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum causes damage to human surface skin cells? (1) A microwaves B radio waves C ultraviolet D visible light
- June 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these increases the risk of damage to human surface skin cells? (1) A sunbathing B using protective sun cream C very cloudy weather D wearing sunglasse
- January 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of these electromagnetic waves has a longer wavelength than infrared waves? (1) A gamma rays B microwaves C ultraviolet rays D visible light waves
- January 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is another use for infrared waves? (1) A fluorescent lamps B heating lamps C satellite transmissions D sterilising medical equipment
- January 2021, Paper 2, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Which of these is a harmful effect of infrared waves? (1) A blindness B cancer C internal heating of body tissue D skin burns
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a) (3 marks): Complete the table to show the missing parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. (3) Thermometer Part of electromagnetic spectrum P Q red light R S violet light T
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b) (2 marks): Suggest why the lower part of each thermometer should be painted black. (2)
- January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q2(c) (1 mark): The equipment is left for a short period of time. The thermometers now show higher temperatures than before. State the part of the electromagnetic spectrum in t
- November 2020, Paper 2, Q5(a) (3 marks): Radio waves are emitted from an aerial at an airport, and are then reflected back to the aerial from an aeroplane. The time taken between emitting the radio wav
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a) (3 marks): The boxes show some EM waves and their uses. Draw one straight line from each EM wave to its correct use. One has been done for you. (3) EM wave Use gamma long
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): Which of these is a hazard of microwave radiation? (1) A blindness B cell mutation C internal heating of tissue D skin burns
- January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q1(c) (1 mark): State the name of an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength longer than microwave radiation. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw a straight line linking each electromagnetic wave to its correct hazard. (2) Hazard Electromagnetic wave • skin burns • microwave blindness • internal heat
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is a use for x-rays? (1) A checking for broken bones cooking food C detecting forged banknotes D smoke detectors
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is a use for infrared waves? (1) A checking for broken bones B cooking food • C detecting forged banknotes D sterilising medical instruments
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