Electromagnetic waves
(a) Microwaves and X-rays are both electromagnetic waves - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 1 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 1
Electromagnetic waves
(a) Microwaves and X-rays are both electromagnetic waves.
(i) Which row of the table is correct for microwaves and X-rays in a vacuum?
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Worked Solution & Example Answer:Electromagnetic waves
(a) Microwaves and X-rays are both electromagnetic waves - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 1 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which row of the table is correct for microwaves and X-rays in a vacuum?
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Answer
X-rays and microwaves both travel at the same speed in a vacuum, which is the speed of light. However, they have different frequencies. Therefore, the correct answer is:
C: the same (speed) and different (frequencies).
Step 2
State one harmful effect of X-rays on living matter.
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Answer
A harmful effect of X-rays on living matter is that they can damage DNA, which may lead to mutations or cancers.
Step 3
State one other ionising radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Answer
One other type of ionising radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum is gamma rays.
Step 4
State one use of an ionising radiation.
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Answer
One use of ionising radiation is in medical imaging, such as X-ray imaging, to visualize the internal structures of the body.