The radiation that causes skin cancer is
A - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2013 - Paper 1
Question 5
The radiation that causes skin cancer is
A. ultraviolet radiation
B. radio waves
C. microwaves
D. infrared radiation
(b) The word box contains the names of thre... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The radiation that causes skin cancer is
A - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2013 - Paper 1
Step 1
Skin cancer can be caused by radiation from the Sun. Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer.
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Answer
The correct answer is A. ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is known to damage the DNA in skin cells, leading to skin cancer.
Step 2
Use this diagram to classify the three types of radiation given in the word box.
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Answer
In the Venn diagram, the classification would be as follows:
Gamma rays: Place in the area that overlaps with ionising radiation.
Infrared radiation: Place in the area exclusively under electromagnetic radiation.
Alpha particles: Place in the area exclusively under ionising radiation.
Step 3
Which of these is correct for all electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?
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Answer
The correct answer is B. they have the same frequency. In a vacuum, all electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light but can have different wavelengths; hence they do not have the same wavelength.
Step 4
Describe a use of gamma radiation.
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Answer
Gamma radiation is commonly used in the medical field for cancer treatment. It is employed in radiotherapy to destroy cancerous cells by delivering high doses of radiation that kill or damage the cells.
Step 5
Explain how the results of the experiments carried out by Herschel and Ritter led to these discoveries.
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Answer
Herschel's experiment involved measuring the temperature of sunlight through a prism, where he noted that the region beyond the red end was hotter, indicating the presence of infrared radiation. Ritter's experiment focused on measuring the effect of sunlight on silver chloride paper, discovering that the paper darkened more quickly when exposed to light beyond the violet end, indicating the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Together, these results led to the conclusion that there are types of radiation beyond visible light: infrared (below red) and ultraviolet (above violet).
