Sample EM test

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 1. Which waves have some electrical properties and some magnetic properties?
a. longitudinal waves
b. transverse waves
c. mechanical waves
d. electromagnetic waves
____ 2. Electromagnetic waves can transfer energy without a(n)
a. medium.
b. electric field.
c. magnetic field.
d. change in either a magnetic or an electric field.
____ 3. Light that has passed through a polarizing filter is called
a. transverse light.
b. polarized light.
c. white light.
d. photoelectric light.
____ 4. In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves have the same
a. wavelength.
b. frequency.
c. speed.
d. amplitude.
____ 5. Visible light has a higher frequency than
a. X-rays.
b. ultraviolet rays.
c. infrared rays.
d. gamma rays.
____ 6. The range of electromagnetic waves placed in a certain order is called the
a. electromagnetic spectrum.
b. electromagnetic wavelength.
c. electromagnetic frequency.
d. electromagnetic field.
____ 7. The electromagnetic waves with the highest frequencies are called
a. radio waves.
b. gamma rays.
c. X-rays.
d. visible light.
____ 8. When a police officer uses radar for speed control, the officer is using what kind of electromagnetic waves?
a. radio waves
b. gamma rays
c. ultraviolet rays
d. X-rays
____ 9. Visible light can be separated into various colors to form a(n)
a. spectrum.
b. thermogram.
 c. MRI.
d. X-ray picture.
____ 10. Which type of light bulb glows when a filament inside it gets hot?
a. incandescent
b. fluorescent
c. sodium vapor
d. neon
____ 11. Which light bulbs are coated on the inside with a powder?
a. incandescent
b. fluorescent
c. neon
d. sodium vapor
____ 12. If something vibrates one million times per second, it has a frequency of
a. 1 hertz.
b. 10 hertz.
c. 1 megahertz.
d. 1 kilohertz.
____ 13. FM signals travel as changes in
a. the speed of the wave.
b. the amplitude of the wave.
c. the frequency of the wave.
d. the loudness of the wave.
____ 14. What kind of waves do cellular telephones use to transmit and receive signals?
a. gamma rays
b. microwaves
c. ultraviolet rays
d. infrared rays
____ 15. Broadcasting stations can send their signals around the world using
a. cellular telephones.
b. television satellites.
c. pagers.
d. the Global Positioning System.
____ 16. Global Positioning System signals can tell you
a. what television station you are tuned to.
b. your exact location on Earth.
c. how many satellites are in orbit.
d. who is sending a message to your pager.
____ 17. What is transferred by electromagnetic waves?
a. sound
b. electricity
c. electromagnetic radiation
d. resonance
____ 18. About how much faster than sound are electromagnetic waves?
a. ten times faster
b. one million times faster
c. one hundred times faster
d. one thousand times faster
____ 19. Which type of light bulb is commonly used in advertising signs and decoration?
a. incandescent
 b. fluorescent
c. neon
d. sodium vapor
____ 20. Which electromagnetic waves have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies?
a. infrared waves
b. radio waves
c. ultraviolet rays
d. gamma rays
____ 21. On AM broadcasts, what remains constant?
a. the amplitude
b. the music
c. the frequency
d. the speech
____ 22. For each cell, or geographical area, a cellular phone system requires
a. a hub.
b. a specific frequency.
c. a tower.
d. a satellite dish.
____ 23. The images made by an infrared camera are called
a. X-rays.
b. thermograms.
c. magnetic resonance images.
d. ultraviolet images.
____ 24. Which of the following is true of ultraviolet rays?
a. They are visible.
b. They carry information to televisions and radios.
c. They help your body produce vitamin D.
d. They provide the energy that makes your morning toast.
____ 25. The Global Positioning System (GPS) was originally designed for use by
a. hikers and campers.
b. the transportation industry.
c. the military.
d. radio and television stations.
____ 26. An instrument used to view different colors of light produced by each type of light bulb is called a(n)
a. thermogram.
b. spectroscope.
c. radar gun.
d. MRI machine.
____ 27. A packet of light energy is called a
a. wavicle.
b. photon.
c. wave.
d. photoelectron.
____ 28. The speed of an electromagnetic wave is equal to
a. wavelength plus frequency.
b. wavelength times frequency.
c. wavelength divided by frequency.
d. frequency divided by wavelength.
____ 29. What do cell phones require to work?
 a. the GPS system
b. ultraviolet rays
c. a cellular system
d. satellites
____ 30. Cell phone signals are transmitted by
a. radio waves.
b. infrared rays.
c. ultraviolet rays.
d. X-rays.

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false. If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the
sentence or statement true.

____ 31. Electromagnetic waves are classified as longitudinal waves. _________________________

____ 32. Polarized light consists of waves that vibrate in one direction only. _________________________
____ 33. Electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths have the highest frequencies.
_________________________
____ 34. Electromagnetic waves that have wavelengths slightly shorter than those of visible light are called ultraviolet
rays. _________________________
____ 35. Thermograms are produced by X-rays. _________________________
____ 36. In a sodium vapor light, neon or argon gas is heated until it causes sodium to change from a liquid into a gas.
_________________________
____ 37. Cellular telephones transmit and receive signals using high-frequency gamma rays.
_________________________
____ 38. Satellite telephone systems make long-distance telephone calls possible anywhere in the world.
_________________________
____ 39. Radio waves carry information from a broadcasting station to your radio or television.
_________________________
____ 40. Frequency modulation transmits signals by changing the amplitude of a wave. _________________________

Completion
Complete each sentence or statement.

41. Energy that is transferred by electromagnetic waves is called electromagnetic ____________________.

42. In electromagnetic waves, the magnetic fields are ____________________ to the electric fields.
43. In the phenomenon known as the ____________________ effect, electric current will flow when light shines
on certain substances.
44. For two polarizing filters to block all light passing through them, one filter should be rotated
____________________ degrees from the other.
45. The ____________________ rays in sunlight can cause sunburn.
 46. The radio waves with the shortest wavelengths and the highest frequencies are called
____________________.
47. Red light has the longest ____________________ of any color of visible light.
48. The part of the electromagnetic spectrum you can see is called ____________________ light.
49. The electromagnetic waves that have the lowest frequencies are called ____________________.
50. ____________________ are used to make images of bones inside the human body.
51. A thermogram identifies the warm and cool parts of an object by using ____________________.
52. Most of the energy of an incandescent bulb is given off as ____________________.
53. As an electric ____________________ passes through the gas in a neon light, gas particles absorb energy.
54. AM signals travel as changes in the ____________________ of a radio wave.
55. Radio transmissions are produced when charged particles move back and forth in instruments such as
transmission ____________________.
56. Each cell in a cellular system has one or more ____________________.
57. ____________________ satellites are satellites orbiting Earth that receive radio, television, and telephone
signals and then transmit them around the world.
58. Signals from at least ____________________ satellites in the Global Positioning System are needed to
determine the position of an object.
59. An electromagnetic wave consists of changing electric and magnetic ____________________.
60. A cellular system works by dividing regions into small ____________________, or geographical areas.

Short Answer

Use the diagram to answer each question.

61. Name the type of wave that has the highest frequency.
62. Name the type of wave labeled C.
63. Name the type of wave that has the greatest energy.
64. Which letter shows the type of wave that can be seen by the human eye?
65. Name the type of wave labeled A.
66. Which letter indicates X-rays?

Use the diagram to answer each question.

 67. Which letter identifies a ground transmitter of radio waves?
68. Which letter represents a ground receiver of radio waves?
69. What is the object labeled A?
70. What does object A do when it acts as a receiver?
71. What does object A do when it acts as a transmitter?
72. Looking at the diagram, what do you think prevents the radio waves from B from reaching C directly?

Essay

73. Look at the following group of terms and decide which term does not belong: star, candle flame, moon,
glowing light bulb filament. Give a reason for your choice.
74. Explain how light can be thought of as both a particle and a wave.
75. Compare and contrast the properties of visible light, ultraviolet rays, and X-rays.
76. What properties of gamma rays make them useful in medicine? Explain.
77. How is light produced in a fluorescent bulb? In an incandescent bulb?
78. Which type of radio broadcast has a greater broadcast range, AM or FM? Explain.
79. Explain how a cellular telephone transmits signals.
80. How do television networks use communications satellites?
Sample EM test
Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: D DIF: L2 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1

STO: 5.7.B.2
2. ANS: A DIF: L2 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1
STO: 5.7.B.2
3. ANS: B DIF: L2 REF: p. O-72 OBJ: O.3.1.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
4. ANS: C DIF: L1 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
5. ANS: C DIF: L2 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
6. ANS: A DIF: L1 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
7. ANS: B DIF: L1 REF: p. O-80 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.2.B.2
8. ANS: A DIF: L2 REF: p. O-76 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.1.B.3, 5.1.A.3
9. ANS: A DIF: L2 REF: p. O-78 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.3.A.1.c
10. ANS: A DIF: L1 REF: p. O-84 OBJ: O.3.3.1
STO: 5.7.B.4, 5.7.B.2
11. ANS: B DIF: L1 REF: p. O-86 OBJ: O.3.3.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.6.B.2
12. ANS: C DIF: L3 REF: p. O-92 OBJ: O.3.4.1
STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
13. ANS: C DIF: L2 REF: p. O-91 OBJ: O.3.4.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2
14. ANS: B DIF: L1 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2
STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
15. ANS: B DIF: L2 REF: p. O-95 OBJ: O.3.4.3
STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
16. ANS: B DIF: L2 REF: p. O-96 OBJ: O.3.4.3
STO: 5.1.B.3
17. ANS: C DIF: L1 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1
STO: 5.7.B.2
18. ANS: B DIF: L3 REF: p. O-72 OBJ: O.3.1.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
19. ANS: C DIF: L2 REF: p. O-87 OBJ: O.3.3.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.6.B.2
20. ANS: B DIF: L1 REF: p. O-76 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.1.B.3, 5.1.A.3
21. ANS: C DIF: L2 REF: p. O-91 OBJ: O.3.4.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2
22. ANS: C DIF: L3 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2
 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
23. ANS: B DIF: L2 REF: p. O-77 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
24. ANS: C DIF: L2 REF: p. O-78 OBJ: O.3.2.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.3.A.1.c
25. ANS: C DIF: L1 REF: p. O-96 OBJ: O.3.4.3
STO: 5.1.B.3
26. ANS: B DIF: L1 REF: p. O-84 OBJ: O.3.3.1
STO: 5.7.B.4, 5.7.B.2
27. ANS: B DIF: L1 REF: p. O-73 OBJ: O.3.1.2
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.A.3, 5.1.B.3
28. ANS: B DIF: L2 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.1
STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
29. ANS: C DIF: L1 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2
STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
30. ANS: A DIF: L2 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2
STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE

31. ANS: F, transverse

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1 STO: 5.7.B.2

32. ANS: T DIF: L1 REF: p. O-72
OBJ: O.3.1.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4
33. ANS: F, lowest

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

34. ANS: T DIF: L1 REF: p. O-78
OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.3.A.1.c
35. ANS: F, infrared rays

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-77 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

36. ANS: F, solid

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-86 OBJ: O.3.3.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.6.B.2

37. ANS: F
radio waves
microwaves

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

38. ANS: T DIF: L2 REF: p. O-94
OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
39. ANS: T DIF: L1 REF: p. O-90
OBJ: O.3.4.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2
40. ANS: F, Amplitude

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-91 OBJ: O.3.4.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2

COMPLETION

41. ANS: radiation

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1 STO: 5.7.B.2

42. ANS:
at right angles
perpendicular

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1 STO: 5.7.B.2

43. ANS: photoelectric

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-73 OBJ: O.3.1.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.A.3, 5.1.B.3

44. ANS: 90

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-72 OBJ: O.3.1.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

45. ANS: ultraviolet

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-78 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.3.A.1.c

46. ANS: microwaves

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-76 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.1.B.3, 5.1.A.3

47. ANS: wavelength

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-78 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.3.A.1.c

48. ANS: visible

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

49. ANS: radio waves

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-76 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.1.B.3, 5.1.A.3

50. ANS:
X-rays
X rays

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-79 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2, 5.7.B.4

51. ANS: infrared rays

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-77 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

52. ANS: infrared rays

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-85 OBJ: O.3.3.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

53. ANS: current

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-87 OBJ: O.3.3.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.6.B.2

54. ANS: amplitude

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-91 OBJ: O.3.4.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2

 55. ANS: antennas

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-90 OBJ: O.3.4.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2

56. ANS: towers

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

57. ANS: Communications

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-94 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

58. ANS:
four
4

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-96 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.1.B.3

59. ANS: fields

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-71 OBJ: O.3.1.1 STO: 5.7.B.2

60. ANS: cells

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

SHORT ANSWER

61. ANS:
gamma rays

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

62. ANS:
ultraviolet rays

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

63. ANS:
gamma rays

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-80 OBJ: O.3.2.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.2.B.2

64. ANS:
B

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

65. ANS:
infrared rays

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

66. ANS:
D

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-75 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4

67. ANS:
B
 DIF: L1 REF: p. O-95 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2
68. ANS:
C

DIF: L1 REF: p. O-95 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

69. ANS:
communications satellite

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-95 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

70. ANS:
It receives radio, television, and telephone signals from Earth.

DIF: L2 REF: p. O-94 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

71. ANS:
The satellite relays signals it receives from Earth back to other receivers on Earth.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-94 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

72. ANS:
The waves are blocked by the curvature of Earth.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-91, p. O-95 OBJ: O.3.4.3

STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2, 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1

ESSAY

73. ANS:
Moon. The moon is an illuminated object, which reflects light. A star, candle flame, and glowing light bulb
filament are luminous objects, which produce light.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-84 OBJ: O.3.3.1 STO: 5.7.B.4, 5.7.B.2

74. ANS:
Light can be described as made up of a stream of particles called photons, but also as an electromagnetic
wave. Light acts like a stream of particles in the photoelectric effect, when it can cause electrons to move,
producing electric current. But polarizing filters can show how light also acts like a wave. When light passes
through a polarizing filter, only the waves that vibrate perpendicular to the filter pass through. Both the
particle model and the wave model are necessary to explain all the properties of electromagnetic radiation.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-72, p. O-73 OBJ: O.3.1.2

STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.2.A.3, 5.1.B.3
75. ANS:
Visible light, ultraviolet rays, and X-rays are all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and travel at the same
speed. Humans can see visible light, but not ultraviolet rays or X-rays. Ultraviolet rays have shorter
wavelengths, higher frequencies, and higher energy than visible light. X-rays have shorter wavelengths,
higher frequencies, and higher energy than ultraviolet rays.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-75, p. O-78, p. O-79 OBJ: O.3.2.1

STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.3.A.1.c, 5.2.B.2
76. ANS:
 Gamma rays have the highest energy of all the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are the most
penetrating waves because of their energy. Gamma rays can be used to kill cancer cells in radiation therapy.
Gamma rays can also be used to examine the body’s internal structures. For example, a patient can be injected
with a fluid that emits gamma rays. A gamma-ray detector can then form an image of the inside of the body.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-80 OBJ: O.3.2.2 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.2.B.2

77. ANS:
In a fluorescent bulb, an electric current passes through a gas in the bulb, causing the gas to emit ultraviolet
rays. The ultraviolet rays hit a powder that coats the inside of the bulb, which causes the coating to emit
visible light. In an incandescent light bulb, an electric current passes through and heats a thin wire filament
made of tungsten. The filament then glows white, emitting all colors of visible light.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-85, p. O-86 OBJ: O.3.3.1

STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.7.B.4, 5.6.B.2
78. ANS:
AM. The ionosphere layer of Earth’s atmosphere reflects transmitted AM waves back toward Earth, so that
they can travel to points around the curvature of Earth. For that reason, the broadcast of AM waves can reach
great distances. FM waves more readily pass through the ionosphere because they have higher frequencies
and more energy than AM waves. They are not reflected back toward Earth and thus cannot reach points
around Earth’s curvature.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-91 OBJ: O.3.4.1 STO: 5.7.B.2, 5.2.B.2

79. ANS:
Cellular telephones transmit signals using high-frequency radio waves, called microwaves. The signals go to a
nearby tower. The signals are then sent to a central hub, which acts as a switching station. The signals are sent
on to a tower close to the receiving cellular phone.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-93 OBJ: O.3.4.2 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2

80. ANS:
Television networks use communications satellites to send their signals to local stations around the world. The
television signals are changed into radio waves. Some people can receive signals directly from a satellite by
using dish-shaped antennas called satellite dishes.

DIF: L3 REF: p. O-95 OBJ: O.3.4.3 STO: 5.8.D.1, 5.2.B.1, 5.2.B.2