AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Higher), November 2021: Question 5
8 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Describe uses, wavelength conversions, wave speed calculations, electromagnetic spectrum identification, and characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves involving ultraviolet radiation.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
05 Ultraviolet is a type of electromagnetic wave.
05.1 Give one use of ultraviolet.
[1 mark]
05.2 An ultraviolet wave has a wavelength of 300 nanometres.
Which of the following is equal to 300 nanometres?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
3 × 107 m
3 × 10–7 m
3 × 109 m
3 × 10–9 m
05.3 The speed of ultraviolet waves is 3 × 108 m/s.
Calculate the frequency of the ultraviolet wave.
Use your answer to Question 05.2
[3 marks]
Frequency = Hz
05.4 Table 1 gives the wavelength of an ultraviolet wave and three other
electromagnetic waves.
*22* Table 1
Ultraviolet Wave E Wave F Wave G
Wavelength in
300 0.1 600 100 000
nanometres
Draw one line from each wave to the name of the wave.
[1 mark]
Wave Name
Wave E Infrared
Wave F Visible light
Wave G X-rays
05.5 Electromagnetic waves are transverse.
Some other types of wave are longitudinal.
Describe the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves.
[2 marks]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 5
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
05.1 any one from: allow 1 AO1
• (sun) tan • (invisible) security coding 4.6.2.4
• energy efficient lamps • detecting forged bank notes
• kill microbes
• attract insects
• sterilise (surgical) equipment
• cause the body to produce
vitamin D
• increasing the growth rate of
plants
• water purification
05.2 3 × 10–7 m 1 AO1
4.6.2.1
05.3 allow ecf from question 05.2 AO2
4.6.1.2
3.0 × 108 = frequency × 3 × 10–7 1
3.0 × 108
frequency = 1
3 × 10–7
15 1
frequency = 1 × 10 (Hz)
05.4 1 AO3
4.6.2.1
all three lines correct for 1 mark
05.5 in a transverse wave, the allow direction of wave travel for 1 AO1
oscillations / vibrations are direction of energy transfer 4.6.1.1 15
perpendicular to the direction of
energy transfer
in a longitudinal wave, the 1
oscillations / vibrations are
parallel to the direction of
energy transfer
Total 8
How to answer it
Electromagnetic Waves and Wave Properties
What this question tests
This question assesses your knowledge of the electromagnetic spectrum, standard form conversions (nanometres to metres), wave calculations using the wave speed equation (speed = frequency × wavelength), electromagnetic spectrum ordering, and the fundamental differences between transverse and longitudinal waves.
Uses of Ultraviolet
✅ Correct Answer
Any one from:
- (Sun) tan
- Energy efficient lamps
- (Invisible) security coding / detecting forged bank notes
- Kill microbes / sterilise (surgical) equipment / water purification
- Attract insects
- Cause the body to produce vitamin D
- Increasing the growth rate of plants
💡 Key Knowledge
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than visible light. It carries enough energy to cause chemical reactions and fluorescence, making it useful in security inks, medical sterilisation, and tanning.
Converting Nanometres to Metres
✅ Correct Answer
Tick for: 3 × 10⁻⁷ m
💡 Key Knowledge
The prefix nano means multiply by 10⁻⁹ (or divide by 1,000,000,000).
300 nm = 300 × 10⁻⁹ m = 3 × 10⁻⁷ m
❌ Common Errors
Students frequently confuse positive and negative indices in standard form, or incorrectly move the decimal place when converting from nanometres to standard SI units.
Calculating Wave Frequency
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation
- State the formula: wave speed = frequency × wavelength ( v = f × λ )
- Rearrange for frequency: frequency = wave speed / wavelength ( f = v / λ )
- Substitute values: 3.0 × 10⁸ / 3 × 10⁻⁷
- Calculate final answer: 1 × 10¹⁵ Hz
🧠 Exam Technique & ECF
If you got question 05.2 wrong, Error Carried Forward (ECF) applies here! As long as you correctly divide 3.0 × 10⁸ by your answer from 05.2, you can still pick up calculation marks.
Identifying EM Waves by Wavelength
✅ Correct Answer (Matching Lines)
- Wave E (0.1 nm) → X-rays
- Wave F (600 nm) → Visible light
- Wave G (100,000 nm) → Infrared
💡 Key Knowledge
Remember the order of the electromagnetic spectrum from longest wavelength (lowest frequency) to shortest wavelength (highest frequency): Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays.
Comparing Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
✅ Correct Answer
- In a transverse wave, oscillations/vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer (or wave travel).
- In a longitudinal wave, oscillations/vibrations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer (or wave travel).
❌ Common Errors
A major pitfall is using vague terminology like "waves go up and down" instead of referring strictly to oscillations or vibrations being perpendicular or parallel. You must also reference the direction of energy transfer, not just the "direction of the wave".
Topics
Physics · P6: Waves
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 2 (Higher), November 2021. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.