P6: Electromagnetic Waves Physics GCSE

• What are electromagnetic waves defined as?

  Transverse waves transferring energy to an absorber
• What properties do all electromagnetic waves share?

  They are all transverse and travel through a vacuum
• How many types of electromagnetic waves are there?

  Seven types
• How is the electromagnetic spectrum arranged?

  Based on wavelengths or frequencies
• What part of the electromagnetic spectrum is visible light?

  A small part of a much bigger spectrum
• What happens to the energy of radiation as frequency increases?

  The energy of the radiation increases
• What are the characteristics of radiation with higher energy?

  Highly ionising and harmful to cells
• What is visible light defined as?

  The range of wavelengths visible to humans
• What percentage of the electromagnetic spectrum does visible light occupy?

  0.0035%
• Which animals can perceive wavelengths beyond visible light?

  Birds, bees, and certain fish
• Which color has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum?

  Red
• Which color has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum?

  Violet
• What are the colors of the visible spectrum in order?

  • Red
  • Orange
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Indigo
  • Violet
• What mnemonic can help remember the colors of the visible spectrum?

  Roy G. Biv
• How does the electromagnetic spectrum typically get arranged?

  In order of decreasing wavelength
• What is the relationship between radio waves and gamma rays in terms of wavelength?

  Radios have long wavelengths, gamma rays short
• How do electromagnetic waves transfer energy?

  By carrying energy from one point to another
• What type of EM waves carry higher energy?

  Waves with shorter wavelengths
• How do microwaves transfer energy?

  By heating water molecules in food
• What do all hot objects emit?

  Infrared radiation
• What does the Sun emit that allows living creatures to see?

  Visible light waves
• What type of waves heat up the Earth?

  Infrared waves
• What type of waves cause suntans and sunburn?

  Ultraviolet waves
• What happens to EM waves when they move from one medium to another?

  They can be transmitted, absorbed, reflected, or refracted
• What factors determine how EM waves interact with materials?

  The wavelength of the waves and the material
• What does glass do to visible light?

  Transmits and/or refracts visible light
• What happens to EM waves in different substances?

  They slow down and may refract
• What is the effect of refraction on EM waves?

  It causes them to change direction
• What is the normal line in refraction diagrams?

  A hypothetical line perpendicular to the surface
• How does light behave when passing from less dense to more dense media?

  It bends towards the normal
• How does light behave when passing from more dense to less dense media?

  It bends away from the normal
• What changes during refraction of light?

  Speed and wavelength change, frequency remains
• What happens to the color of light during refraction?

  It does not change color
• What is the aim of the infrared radiation experiment?

  To investigate how surface affects infrared absorption
• What is the independent variable in the infrared radiation experiment?

  Color of the surface
• What is the dependent variable in the infrared radiation experiment?

  Temperature of the water
• What control variables are used in the infrared radiation experiment?

  Identical flasks and same amounts of hot water
• What equipment is used to measure temperature in the infrared radiation experiment?

  Thermometer
• What is the resolution of the thermometer used in the experiment?

  1°C
• What is the method for the infrared radiation experiment?

  Fill flasks with hot water and measure temperature