Starter quiz
- Electromagnetic radiation that has longer wavelengths than X–rays and shorter wavelengths than light is called ______ radiation.
- 'ultraviolet' ✓
- Match the following types of electromagetic radiation to the correct description.
- Radio waves ...⇔have the lowest frequencies of any EM radiation. ✓
- Gamma rays ...⇔have the highest frequencies of any EM radiation. ✓
- Infrared waves ...⇔have frequencies higher than microwaves and lower than visible light. ✓
- Which of the following statements about electromagnetic waves are correct?
- All electromagnetic waves have the same frequency in a vacuum.
- All electromagnetic waves have the same wavelength in a vacuum.
- All electromagnetic waves transfer energy. ✓
- All electromagnetic waves have the same speed in a vacuum. ✓
-
- Which of the following types of particle is found outside the nucleus of an atom?
- electron ✓
- neutron
- proton
-
- Match each of the following types of particle with its type of electric charge.
- electron⇔negative ✓
- neutron⇔neutral ✓
- proton⇔positive ✓
- An atom contains 6 protons, 5 neutrons and 6 electrons. What is the overall electric charge on the atom?
- 6–
- 1–
- 0 ✓
- 1+
- 6+
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Exit quiz
- Electromagnetic (EM) radiation can transfer energy to objects. Match each of the following types of EM radiation with an effect that can occur when it transfers energy.
- ultraviolet⇔sunburn ✓
- gamma⇔destruction of cancer cells ✓
- infrared⇔heating of an object’s surface ✓
- microwaves⇔heating of the water inside food ✓
- light⇔generation of electricity by a solar panel ✓
- Some types of electromagnetic radiation can make an atom gain or lose one or more electrons and become charged. A charged atom is called an ...
- 'ion' ✓
- Which of the following is the most strongly ionising type of electromagnetic radiation?
- gamma rays ✓
- infrared waves
- microwaves
- ultraviolet waves
- X–rays
-
- Which of the following increases the potential harm when electromagnetic radiation hits a living organism?
- increasing the intensity of the radiation ✓
- increasing the frequency of the radiation ✓
- increasing the wavelength of the radiation
- increasing how long exposure to the radiation lasts ✓
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- Which of the following can happen when an atom absorbs radiation?
- An electron becomes ‘excited’. ✓
- An electron is ejected from the atom. ✓
- An electron moves to a lower energy level.
- An electron moves to a higher energy. ✓
-
- Match each of the following types of electromagnetic radiation to one of its uses.
- ultraviolet⇔detecting fake bank notes ✓
- X–rays⇔scanning bags at security checks ✓
- gamma rays⇔sterilising medical equipment ✓
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- All EM waves can transfer energy, from a source to an absorber.
- Only UV, X-ray and gamma frequencies of EM wave cause ionisation. The higher the frequency, the more ionising.
- Ionising radiation can damage cells, cause genes to mutate and increase the risk of cancer.
- UV is used in lighting and to disinfect water. It causes tanning/sunburn. It increases the risk of skin cancer.
- X- and gamma rays are used in medical imaging. Gamma rays are used to kill cancer cells and to sterilise food/equipment.
Common misconception
Gamma rays are always higher energy (or power), or more dangerous, than other frequencies of EM radiation.
EM waves transfer their energy in 'chunks' or 'packets'. The energy transferred by one 'packet' of radiation (and so its ionising ability) does depend on frequency. But the power of a beam of radiation depends on the intensity of the radiation too.
Keywords
Energy transfer - Electromagnetic waves transfer energy because stores of energy decrease when they are emitted and increase when they are absorbed.
Ionisation - Ionisation is the process of an atom losing or gaining electrons so become charged/becoming an ion.
Ultraviolet - Ultraviolet means EM radiation with frequencies greater than visible light but lower than X–rays.
X-rays - X-rays are EM radiation with frequencies greater than ultraviolet but lower than gamma rays.
Gamma rays - Gamma rays are the highest frequency electromagnetic waves.