The electromagnetic spectrum: OCR GCSE Combined Science A questions

Every OCR GCSE Combined Science A exam question on P4.2 The electromagnetic spectrum, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 73 questions on The electromagnetic spectrum, as a list

June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): Which row identifies features of a light wave? Travels through Transverse Longitudinal space Key A ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓ wave has this B ✗ ✓ ✓ feature C ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ wave does not
June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): Which electromagnetic wave is used for cooking? A Gamma rays B Infra-red radiation C Ultraviolet radiation D X-rays Your answer [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): A radio wave has a wavelength of 5.0 m. A second radio wave has a wavelength which is a thousand times greater. What is the wavelength of the second radio wave?
June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(a)(i) (1 mark): Which type of electromagnetic wave is the animal emitting? Tick (✓) one box. Infra-red radiation Visible light X-rays [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(a)(ii) (1 mark): Why is a human not able to see the animal at night? [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(b)(i) (1 mark): State one reason why ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma radiation can be harmful to living things. [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(b)(ii) (2 marks): Ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma radiation are also useful. Draw one line from each type of electromagnetic wave to a typical use. Electromagnetic wave Typical use
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q7 (1 mark): A remote control uses infra-red waves to send signals to a television. The infra-red waves have a frequency of 320 THz and a speed of 3.0 × 108 m / s. What is t
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): The diagram shows the refraction of a light wave as it passes from material A to material B. Normal Material A Boundary Material B Which statement is correct? A
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(b)(i) (1 mark): Describe the difference in frequency between radio waves and microwaves. [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(b)(ii) (1 mark): Describe one use that radio waves and microwaves have in common. [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q14(b) (3 marks): A radio wave has a frequency of 7 500 kHz and a wavelength of 40 m. Calculate the speed of this radio wave. Use the equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelengt
June 2024, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q14(c)(i) (1 mark): What is the relationship between frequency range and wavelength? Use the table. [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q14(c)(ii) (1 mark): Which type of radio wave has a frequency of 15 MHz and a wavelength of 20 m? Tick (3) one box. HF VHF UHF SHF [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q14(c)(iii) (1 mark): High frequency radio waves are similar to microwaves. Suggest how high frequency radio waves can harm the human body. [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q14(c)(iv) (1 mark): Complete the sentence about high frequency radio waves. Put a ring around the correct option. High frequency radio waves are more / less dangerous than microwav
June 2024, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Wave X and wave Y are two electromagnetic waves in space. The frequency of wave X is double the frequency of wave Y. Which answer describes the wavelength of wa
June 2024, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): A radio wave has a frequency of 88 MHz. What is 88 MHz converted to kHz? A 0.088 kHz B 88 000 kHz C 88 000 000 kHz D 88 000 000 000 kHz Your answer [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15 (6 marks): 15* A student shines a ray of white light from air into a glass prism. White light is made up of many different colours of light. The diagram shows the path of
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q17(a) (1 mark): Which electromagnetic wave has the highest frequency? [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q17(b) (1 mark): Which electromagnetic wave is the most dangerous? [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q17(c) (1 mark): Ultraviolet waves have a greater frequency than visible waves. How many times greater? Put a ring around the correct answer. 102 103 1013 1014 1016 [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q17(d) (2 marks): What is the frequency of a typical radio wave on the graph? Write your answer as an ordinary number without standard form. Frequency = Hz [2]
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q17(e) (1 mark): Which sentence is true about electromagnetic waves? Tick (3) one box. Infrared waves do not have any harmful effects on human body tissue. Only microwaves trans
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): Which graph shows how wave speed varies with wavelength for electromagnetic waves in space? A Wave speed Wavelength B Wave speed Wavelength C Wave speed Wavelen
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(a) (1 mark): Which electromagnetic wave has the highest frequency? [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(b) (1 mark): Which electromagnetic wave is the most dangerous? [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(c) (1 mark): Ultraviolet waves have a greater frequency than visible waves. How many times greater? Put a ring around the correct answer. 102 103 1013 1014 1016 [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(d) (2 marks): What is the frequency of a typical radio wave on the graph? Write your answer as an ordinary number without standard form. Frequency = Hz [2]
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(e) (1 mark): Which sentence is true about electromagnetic waves? Tick (3) one box. Infrared waves do not have any harmful effects on human body tissue. Only microwaves trans
June 2022, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): Which type of wave is light? A Electromagnetic B Longitudinal C Sound D Water Your answer [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q13(a) (4 marks): Channel 4 uses a wave with a frequency of 1.0714 × 1010 Hz. The speed of the wave is 3.0 × 108 m / s. Calculate the wavelength of the wave. Use the equation: wa
June 2022, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q13(b) (1 mark): The remote control emits infra-red or radio waves when a button is pressed. The remote control also contains a light which flashes when a button is pressed. Exp
November 2021, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why gamma rays are not used for communications. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name one other electromagnetic wave that is used for communications. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(a)(iii) (1 mark): State one use of this electromagnetic wave in communications. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(b)(i) (2 marks): Using data from Table 15.1 describe the relationship between frequency and wavelength. [2]
November 2021, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(b)(ii) (1 mark): How many significant figures are used in each value in Table 15.1? [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(b)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the speed of the wave ARQ B. Use the equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelength Speed = m / s [3]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Which property is the same for all electromagnetic waves in space? A Frequency B Time period C Velocity D Wavelength Your answer [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why gamma rays are not used for communications. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name one other electromagnetic wave that is used for communications. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(a)(iii) (1 mark): State one use of this electromagnetic wave in communications. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(b)(i) (2 marks): Using data from Table 11.1 describe the relationship between frequency and wavelength. [2]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(b)(ii) (1 mark): How many significant figures are used in each value in Table 11.1? [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(b)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the speed of the wave ARQ B. Use the equation: wave speed = frequency × wavelength Speed = m / s [3]
November 2020, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q10 (1 mark): Electromagnetic waves have many uses. Which row in the table is correct? Electromagnetic wave Use A Gamma rays Tanning beds B Microwaves Mobile phones C Radio w
November 2020, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q13(a) (2 marks): Electromagnetic waves have similar properties. Use these words to complete the sentences: You can use each word once, more than once, or not at all. Acceleratio
November 2020, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): Electromagnetic waves have many uses. Which row in the table is correct? Electromagnetic wave Use A Gamma rays Tanning beds B Microwaves Mobile phones C Radio w
November 2020, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): In glass, violet light refracts more than red light as it passes from air into glass. Which statement explains why? A Red light has a shorter wavelength. B Red
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): Which statement describes what human eyes can detect? A Limited range of electromagnetic waves. B Limited range of sound waves. C Wide range of electromagnetic
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q11(a) (1 mark): This diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum is incomplete. Complete the diagram by adding the missing parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. visible gamma micr
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q11(b) (1 mark): Sound is not part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Explain why. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q11(c)(i) (1 mark): Which part of the electromagnetic spectrum has the highest frequency? [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q11(c)(ii) (1 mark): What happens to the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave as the frequency increases? Tick (3) one box. Decreases Increases Stays the same [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q11(d) (1 mark): Describe how X-rays and gamma rays can damage humans. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the time taken between the pulse being transmitted and received. Time taken = ms [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(a)(ii) (2 marks): A radar signal is sent from the radar station. The signal reflects off the ship and is detected 0.0006 s later. The speed of the microwaves is 3.0 × 108 m / s.
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(a)(iii) (1 mark): The amplitude of the received pulse is lower than the transmitted pulse. Suggest why. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q15(b) (4 marks): Radar stations use microwaves with a frequency of 200 MHz. The speed of the waves is 3.0 × 108 m / s. Calculate the wavelength of these waves. Wavelength = m [4
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the time taken between the pulse being transmitted and received. Time taken = ms [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(a)(ii) (2 marks): A radar signal is sent from the radar station. The signal reflects off the ship and is detected 0.0006 s later. The speed of the microwaves is 3.0 × 108 m / s.
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(a)(iii) (1 mark): The amplitude of the received pulse is lower than the transmitted pulse. Suggest why. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q11(b) (4 marks): Radar stations use microwaves with a frequency of 200 MHz. The speed of the waves is 3.0 × 108 m / s. Calculate the wavelength of these waves. Wavelength = m [4
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q13(b)(ii) (1 mark): What type of radiation is emitted? [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(a) (2 marks): Suggest how the student completes this experiment and the apparatus he uses. [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(b) (2 marks): The student needs to write a risk assessment for the experiment. Complete the table to give one risk, the hazard it could cause and a control measure for the ri
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(c)(i) (2 marks): Plot the results from the table on the axes below and draw a curve of best fit. The first five points have already been plotted for you. 40 30 Angle of refracti
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(c)(ii) (2 marks): What could the student conclude from the graph? [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(c)(iii) (1 mark): The angle of refraction at 40° is incorrect. Use the curve of best fit on the graph to estimate the actual angle of refraction at 40°. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(d) (2 marks): Another student uses red light in the experiment. She then repeats the experiment with blue light. Describe and explain the difference in the refraction of the
June 2018, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): Which of these electromagnetic waves has the smallest wavelength? A Gamma-ray B Micro-wave C Radio wave D X-ray Your answer [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): How are radio waves produced? A By alternating currents B By a radio C By a speaker D By steady currents Your answer [1]

Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © OCR, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Full past papers.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.

3,411 questions