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Electromagnetic Spectrum

Total questions: 47

Worksheet time: 47mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Visible light occupies the range of wavelengths from 380 to 790 nanometers in the electromagnetic spectrum. Which of the following kinds of electromagnetic radiation has shorter wavelengths than visible light?

a)

radio waves

b)

X-rays

c)

infrared radiation

d)

microwaves

2.

An aurora is a natural light show caused by charged particles from solar winds that flow through the magnetosphere and are then guided by Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere. Energy is transformed into visible light as the charged particles collide with the atmosphere. The color of the aurora is determined by two primary atmospheric gases. What are the two primary gases and the corresponding visible light wavelength produced?

a)

Oxygen and nitrogen atoms collide producing visible light at 750 nm and 400 nm respectively.

b)

Oxygen and carbon dioxide atoms collide producing visible light at 557 nm and 630 nm respectively.

c)

Oxygen and nitrogen atoms collide producing visible light at 557 nm and 475 nm respectively

d)

Nitrogen and carbon dioxide atoms collide producing visible light at 475 nm and 630 nm respectively.

3.

Which statements correctly compare infrared waves to ultraviolet waves?

l. Infrared have a higher frequency than ultraviolet waves.

ll. Infrared have longer wavelengths than ultraviolet waves.

lll. Infrared and ultraviolet waves cannot be seen with human eyes.

a)

I only

b)

III only

c)

II and III

d)

I and III

4.

Which of the following best describes the behavior of light?

a)

light acts only as a wave

b)

light acts only as a particle

c)

light acts as both a wave and a particle

d)

light acts as neither a wave nor a particle

5.

Which elements are present in this star?

a)

Hydrogen and Magnesium

b)

Calcium and Hydrogen

c)

Hydrogen and Iron

d)

Iron and Magnesium

6.

Which of the following colors in the Visible Light Spectrum has the highest frequency?

a)

red

b)

orange

c)

green

d)

violet

7.

How are the frequency and wavelength of light related?

a)

They are inversely proportional to each other.

b)

Frequency equals wavelength divided by the speed of light.

c)

Wavelength is determined by dividing frequency by the speed of light.

d)

They are directly proportional to each other.

8.

How does the speed of visible light compare with the speed of gamma rays?

a)

The speed of visible light is greater.

b)

The speed of gamma rays is greater.

c)

The speeds are the same.

d)

No answer can be determined from the information given.

9.

In the diagram below, which part of the spectrum has the greatest energy?

a)

radio

b)

visible

c)

gamma

d)

each part has equal energy

10.

Which of the following best explains why Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio waves are used for communications between space vehicles and ground stations?

a)

These waves travel slowly.

b)

These waves travel along a curved path.

c)

These waves are not refracted by the ionosphere.

d)

These waves require a large antenna.

11.

Which of the following electromagnetic waves has the lowest frequency?

a)

red light

b)

yellow light

c)

green light

d)

violet light

12.

Due to the Doppler Effect, waves from a receding source (moving away from the observer) are observed as having a longer wavelength than when they were emitted. Which of the following pairs could represent the kind of radiation emitted from a source moving away from Earth and the kind of radiation it is detected as on Earth?

a)

emitted as red light, observed as a microwave

b)

emitted as yellow light, observed as ultraviolet light

c)

emitted as an X-ray, observed as a gamma ray

d)

emitted as a radio wave, observed as infrared radiation

13.

A photon of which of these types of electromagnetic radiation has the most energy?

a)

ultraviolet

b)

infrared

c)

microwave

d)

x-ray

14.

Which graph correctly displays the relationship between wavelength, in meters, and frequency, in hertz, in the electromagnetic spectrum?

a)
b)
c)
d)
15.

Compared to visible light, ultraviolet radiation is more harmful to human skin and eyes because ultraviolet radiation has which of the following characteristics?

a)

higher speed

b)

higher frequency

c)

longer period

d)

longer wavelength

16.

Which of the following best describes the role of two wave behaviors in weather forecasting?

a)

The Doppler effect helps meteorologists determine the size of a weather system, while reflection helps meteorologists determine the speed at which it is approaching or moving away from an area.

b)

Resonance helps meteorologists pinpoint the exact location of a weather system, while diffraction helps meteorologists determine the types of precipitation it contains.

c)

Reflection helps meteorologists determine the size of a weather system, while the Doppler effect helps meteorologists determine the speed at which it is approaching or moving away from an area.

d)

Diffraction helps meteorologists pinpoint the exact location of a weather system, while resonance helps meteorologists determine the types of precipitation it contains.

17.

Which of the following electromagnetic waves has the shortest wavelength?

a)

microwave

b)

ultraviolet

c)

light

d)

x-ray

18.

Due to the Doppler Effect, waves from an approaching source (moving toward the observer) are observed as having a shorter wavelength than when they were emitted. Which of the following pairs could represent the kind of radiation emitted from a source rapidly approaching Earth and the kind of radiation it is detected as on Earth?

a)

emitted as a gamma ray, observed as ultraviolet light

b)

emitted as a microwave, observed as a radio wave

c)

emitted as yellow light, observed as blue light

d)

emitted as ultraviolet light, observed as infrared radiation

19.

A telescope is a tool that helps people observe distant objects. In the simplest telescope design, incoming light hits a lens and is focused to a single point. This focused image is then magnified by a second lens so that it is roughly the same size as an observer's pupil. Which of the following wave behaviors plays the most important role in the functioning of this type of telescope?

a)

Refraction

b)

Interference

c)

Resonance

d)

Reflection

20.

Two photons of electromagnetic radiation, A and B, are propagating in a vacuum. If photon A is less energetic than photon B, which of the following is true?

a)

A has lower frequency and longer wavelength than B.

b)

A has higher frequency and longer wavelength than B.

c)

A has higher frequency and shorter wavelength than B.

d)

A has lower frequency and shorter wavelength than B.

21.

What occurs when light passes from water into flint glass?

a)

Its speed increases, its wavelength becomes longer, and its frequency decreases.

b)

Its speed increases, its wavelength becomes longer, and its frequency remains the same.

c)

Its speed decreases, its wavelength becomes shorter, and its frequency remains the same.

d)

Its speed decreases, its wavelength becomes shorter, and its frequency increases.

22.

Gamma rays are emanations that have

a)

mass but no charge.

b)

neither mass nor charge.

c)

charge but no mass.

d)

both mass and charge

23.

Which of the following is the same for radio waves and gamma rays traveling in space?

a)

Period

b)

Wavelength

c)

Speed

d)

Frequency

24.

Which of the following waves has a wavelength shorter than that of visible light?

a)

Infrared

b)

Ultraviolet

c)

Microwave

d)

Radio

25.

Which characteristic is the same for every color of light in a vacuum?

a)

Energy

b)

Period

c)

Speed

d)

Frequency

26.

Which of these is the least energetic form of electromagnetic radiation?

a)

Microwaves

b)

gamma rays

c)

visible light

d)

radio waves

27.

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

a)

Radio

b)

Infrared

c)

Gamma

d)

Ultraviolet

28.

Radar involves the use of radio waves. Radar can be used not only to detect objects, but also to determine how far away they are and how fast they are moving. Which of the following wave behaviors is used to detect the presence of objects?

a)

doppler effect

b)

Diffraction

c)

Reflection

d)

Refraction

29.

Which of the following statements about electromagnetic radiation is true?

a)

Electromagnetic waves with long wavelengths are more energetic than electromagnetic waves with short wavelengths.

b)

All electromagnetic radiation carries the same amount of energy.

c)

Electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum can change frequency to become more or less energetic.

d)

Electromagnetic waves with high frequency are more energetic than electromagnetic waves with low frequency.

30.

Light of which color has the greatest period?

a)

violet

b)

orange

c)

red

d)

green

31.

Which form of electromagnetic radiation is more energetic than ultraviolet rays?

a)

X-rays

b)

infrared radiation

c)

Microwaves

d)

violet light

32.

At any given time, there are many radio waves traveling through the air. A radio's antenna picks up these radio waves, and then a tuner allows people to zero in on one radio wave frequency and listen to their favorite station. Which wave behavior can best explain how a radio tuner works?

a)

Diffraction

b)

Interference

c)

Reflection

d)

Resonance

33.

Which of the following types of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

a)

Visible

b)

Infrared

c)

Ultraviolet

d)

Radio

34.

Which form of electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by carbon dioxide and water vapor in our atmosphere?

a)

infrared

b)

visible light

c)

gamma rays

d)

radio

35.

Which form of electromagnetic radiation would be blocked in the stratosphere by ozone?

a)

ultraviolet

b)

cosmic rays

c)

visible light

d)

microwaves

36.

Of all the forms of electromagnetic radiation, the one with the lowest frequency is

a)

radio waves

b)

microwaves

c)

ultraviolet rays

d)

gamma rays

37.

The visible color of electromagnetic radiation that has the shortest wavelength is

a)

violet

b)

red

c)

green

d)

blue

38.

There are no X-ray telescopes on Earth because

a)

they are too expensive to build

b)

we can't figure out how to direct an X-ray beam through space

c)

X-rays don't penetrate Earth's atmosphere

d)

there are no astronomical objects that emit X-rays

39.

Which type of radiation can be observed well from Earth's surface?

a)

gamma ray

b)

X-ray

c)

ultraviolet

d)

visible

40.

Which of the following has the shortest wavelength?

a)

visible light

b)

infrared waves

c)

microwaves

d)

radio waves

41.

Which of the following has the longest wavelength?

a)

ultraviolet rays

b)

visible light

c)

radio waves

d)

microwaves

42.

As the wavelength decreases from radio waves to gamma rays, what happens to the frequency of the wave?

a)

stays the same

b)

increase, then decreases

c)

increases

d)

decreases

43.

What is the unit of measurement for electromagnetic waves?

a)

micrometer

b)

centimeter

c)

kilometer

d)

nanometer

44.

These waves are used to sterilize equipment and kill cancer cells

a)

gamma rays

b)

radio waves

c)

X-rays

d)

microwaves

45.

ROYGBIV are the colors that make up this type of electromagnetic wave that can be seen with the human eye

a)

ultraviolet rays

b)

infrared waves

c)

X-rays

d)

visible light

46.

We wear sunscreen to protect from these types of electromagnetic waves

a)

visible light

b)

UV rays

c)

radio waves

d)

gamma rays

47.

The following telescope receives what kind of EM waves?

a)

radio waves

b)

ultraviolet

c)

visible light

d)

gamma rays