Lesson 5.6.1

5.6.1 Electromagnetic radiation and photon energy Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 5.6.1, Electromagnetic radiation and photon energy: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 5: Waves and Particle Nature of Light, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which electromagnetic wave region has the lowest frequency?

    • X-rays
    • Gamma rays
    • Ultraviolet
    • Radio waves

  2. Which equation gives the energy of a photon with frequency f?

    • E = hc/f
    • E = f/h
    • E = h/f
    • E = hf

  3. What is the SI unit of the Planck constant h?

    • J s⁻¹
    • J s⁻²
    • J s
    • J m

  4. Which term describes a discrete quantum of electromagnetic radiation?

    • Photon
    • Electron
    • Positron
    • Neutrino

  5. What is the speed of electromagnetic radiation in a vacuum?

    • 3.0 x 10^8 m/s
    • 3.0 x 10^5 m/s
    • 3.0 x 10^6 m/s
    • 3.0 x 10^10 m/s

  6. How does the energy of a photon change as its frequency increases?

    • Increases proportionally
    • Increases exponentially
    • Remains constant
    • Decreases proportionally

  7. What is one electronvolt equal to, in joules?

    • About 1.6 x 10^-16 J
    • About 1.6 x 10^-19 J
    • About 6.6 x 10^-34 J
    • Exactly 1.0 J

  8. What is the energy of a photon of frequency 5.0 x 10^14 Hz? Take h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s.

    • 1.3 x 10^-48 J
    • 3.3 x 10^-15 J
    • 7.5 x 10^-20 J
    • 3.3 x 10^-19 J

  9. What is the frequency of light of wavelength 600 nm? Take c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.

    • 5.0 x 10^12 Hz
    • 5.0 x 10^14 Hz
    • 2.0 x 10^15 Hz
    • 1.8 x 10^14 Hz

  10. What is the energy, in electronvolts, of a photon of wavelength 600 nm? Use hc = 1240 eV nm.

    • 5.0 eV
    • 2.1 eV
    • 3.2 eV
    • 0.48 eV

  11. What is the energy of a microwave photon of wavelength 3.0 cm? Take h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s and c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.

    • 6.6 x 10^-24 J
    • 6.6 x 10^-32 J
    • 2.2 x 10^-14 J
    • 6.6 x 10^-26 J

  12. A laser emits 1.0 mW of light at 633 nm. Approximately how many photons are emitted per second? Take h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s and c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.

    • 3.2 x 10^15 per second
    • 6.3 x 10^14 per second
    • 3.2 x 10^12 per second
    • 3.2 x 10^18 per second

  13. Which photon carries greater energy, X-ray or ultraviolet?

    • Both equal
    • Ultraviolet
    • X-ray
    • Infrared

  14. By what factor does the energy of a photon change if its frequency doubles?

    • 1/2
    • 4
    • 2
    • 1

  15. What is 3.0 eV in joules?

    • 1.9 x 10^-19 J
    • 3.0 x 10^-19 J
    • 4.8 x 10^-17 J
    • 4.8 x 10^-19 J

  16. Which property determines the energy of an individual photon?

    • Frequency
    • Speed
    • Amplitude
    • Intensity

  17. A 100 W lamp emits 2.0% of its power as light of wavelength 550 nm. How many photons per second does it emit? Take h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s and c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.

    • 1.1 x 10^19 per second
    • 2.8 x 10^18 per second
    • 5.5 x 10^18 per second
    • 5.5 x 10^16 per second

  18. Light of frequency 1.0 x 10^15 Hz has photon energy of about how many electronvolts? Take h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s.

    • 0.66 eV
    • 6.6 eV
    • 1.6 eV
    • 4.1 eV

  19. A photon has energy 2.0 eV. What is its frequency? Take h = 6.63 x 10^-34 J s.

    • 1.2 x 10^15 Hz
    • 4.8 x 10^14 Hz
    • 3.0 x 10^14 Hz
    • 2.1 x 10^-15 Hz

  20. Why does ultraviolet light cause sunburn while visible light does not?

    • Greater total intensity
    • Larger amplitude
    • Higher light speed
    • Higher photon energy

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