PHYSICS UNIT 2

3. Refraction, reflection n diffraction Questions

Q1. A teacher has a laser pointer. The laser pointer emits a narrow beam of plane polarised light.
(a) Describe how the teacher can demonstrate that the light from the laser pointer is plane polarised.
(2)
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(b) The teacher shines light from the laser pointer onto a diffraction grating as shown.
This produces a diffraction pattern on a screen.

(i) The diffraction grating equation is

State the quantity represented by d.

(1)
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(ii) The teacher made the following measurements:
distance from central maximum to first order maximum = 1.61 m
distance from diffraction grating to screen = 2.74 m
The wavelength of the light from the laser pointer was 532 nm.
Calculate the number of lines per millimetre on the diffraction grating.
(3)
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Number of lines per millimetre = ...........................................................
(iii) Using this diffraction grating and laser pointer, only the first order maxima and the central
maximum are produced.
Explain how the teacher, using the same laser pointer, could improve his value for the number of
lines per millimetre.(3)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q2. A laser, a diffraction grating and a screen are set up as shown. The laser emits monochromatic light.
When the laser is switched on, a series of bright dots is seen on the screen.
(a)The diagram below shows the position of the central dot at O.The next bright dot appears at position X.
The diffraction grating has 450 lines per mm.

Determine the wavelength of the light from the laser.

(4)
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Wavelength = ...........................................................
(b) Explain why a series of bright dots is seen on the screen.(3)
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(c) The laser is replaced by a source producing a parallel beam of bright white light.
Suggest what would now be observed on the screen.(2)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q3. A 'smart meter' collects information about the use of electricity in the home. This information is
transmitted to the electricity company using radio waves.
(a) A typical smart meter emits radio waves with a power output of 1.00 W.
An intensity of radiation greater than 4.5 W m−2 is dangerous to people.
A person stands 25 cm from a smart meter.
Deduce whether the radiation emitted by this smart meter would be dangerous to the person at this
distance.
(3)
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(b) It is suggested that the energy per photon could be important in determining if the radiation emitted by
the smart meter is dangerous.
The smart meter transmits radio waves of frequency 902 MHz.
Calculate the energy per photon, in eV, of the photons emitted by the smart meter.
(3)
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Energy per photon = ........................................................... eV
(c) The display of the smart meter in one household is shown. This shows the total electrical energy used
in one day.

1 kW h is a unit of energy equivalent to 1 kW of power used for 1 hour.

The kettle in this house has a power of 1200 W. The kettle takes 125 seconds to heat the water to
boiling. The kettle then switches off.
A student suggests that boiling the kettle once uses less than 1% of the total energy shown on the
smart meter display.
Assess the student's suggestion.(3)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q4. A light bulb with an efficiency of 12% is positioned 2.0 m above a light sensor.
The intensity of light at the light sensor is 0.14 W m−2.
Which of the following could be used to calculate the power of the light bulb?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q5. Light is a transverse wave.
(a) Describe the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
(2)
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(b) Two prisms, A and B, made from different types of glass are placed in contact as shown. An incident
ray of light enters prism A.

(i) State why the incident ray of light does not change direction as it enters prism A.
(1)
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(ii) The refractive index of the glass in prism B is greater than the refractive index of the glass in prism
A. When the ray of light reaches the boundary between the prisms, some light is reflected and some is
refracted.
Complete the diagram to show the two paths taken by the reflected and refracted light until they have
returned to the air.
(4)
(iii) Calculate the angle of refraction as this ray of light travels across the boundary between prism A
and prism B.
refractive index of glass in prism A = 1.40
refractive index of glass in prism B = 1.55
(3)
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Angle of refraction = ...........................................................
(c) The light emerging from prism B is observed through a polarising filter. The polarising filter is rotated
gradually, and the light transmitted by the filter varies in intensity.
Explain how this observation demonstrates that light waves are transverse.
(2)
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(Total for question = 12 marks)
Q6. ICESat-2 is a satellite launched into space by NASA in 2018. One purpose of the satellite is to
measure the thickness of ice on the Earth's surface. The satellite is powered using solar panels. A laser in
the satellite produces a beam of photons, which travel to the Earth and back.
(a) Calculate the intensity of solar radiation as it reaches ICESat-2.
distance from the Sun to ICESat-2 = 1.50 × 1011 m power of the Sun = 3.83 × 1026 W (3)
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Intensity of solar radiation = ...........................................................
(b) The laser emits light with a wavelength of 532 nm. Calculate the energy, in J, of each photon.
(3)
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Energy of photon = ......................................................... J
(c) The photons released by the laser are directed towards the Earth. The mean time for these photons
to return to the satellite is 3.20 ms.
(i) Calculate the height that ICESat-2 orbits above the surface of the Earth.
(2)
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Height above Earth = ...........................................................
(ii) When photons arriving at the satellite are detected, only those with a wavelength of exactly 532
nm are used in the analysis of the results.
Suggest why.
(1)
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(d) At one point, ICESat-2 passes over a flat ice sheet. The ice sheet is 1000 m above sea level.
Explain how the measurements taken by ICESat-2 can be used to show that the ice sheet has a flat
surface and is higher than sea level.
(2)
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(Total for question = 11 marks)
Q7. A physics teacher placed a coin at the bottom of a cup.
When viewing the cup from an angle, the coin was not visible, as shown in Photograph 1.

While still observing from the same angle, the teacher slowly poured water into the cup.
The coin gradually became visible, as shown in Photograph 2.
This effect is caused by refraction.
(a) Explain what is meant by refraction.
(2)
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(b) The simplified diagram below shows how a ray of light travels from the edge of the coin to the
teacher's eye, when the cup is partially filled with water.

Determine the refractive index of the water in the cup.

(3)
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Refractive index of water = ...........................................................
(Total for question = 5 marks)
Q8. Sirius A is the brightest star in the night sky and is mostly composed of hydrogen.
(a) When light from Sirius A passes through the hydrogen in the outer layers of the star, some light is
absorbed. This causes electrons in the hydrogen to be excited. The diagram shows an electron being
excited from the –3.40 eV level to the –1.50 eV level.
 The wavelengths of the different colours of visible light are shown in the table below.

Deduce the colour of the visible light that caused the electron transition shown in the diagram.(4)
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(b) A light year is the distance travelled by light in one year.
Sirius A is 8.60 light years from Earth. The intensity of radiation from Sirius A received on Earth
is 1.17 × 10–7 Wm–2.
Calculate the power of Sirius A.(4)
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Power of Sirius A = ...........................................................
(c) When hydrogen gas is excited in the laboratory, only certain wavelengths of light are emitted.
Explain why.(2)
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(Total for question = 10 marks)
Q9. When the distance between the Sun and the planet Mercury is 4.60 × 1010 m, the intensity of solar
radiation at the surface of Mercury is 1.45 × 104 W m-2.
Which of the following expressions gives the power of the Sun?
 (Total for question = 1 mark)
Q10. A laser, diffraction grating and screen are set up as shown. The position of the central maximum is
O and the position of the first order maximum is X.
The diffraction grating has 300 lines per mm.

Which of the following expressions gives the wavelength of the laser light?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q11. The orbits of planets around the Sun are elliptical.
The intensity of radiation received at the top of the Earth's atmosphere is monitored during one orbit of the
Earth around the Sun.
The following data is recorded:
maximum intensity of radiation = 1.41 kWm−2 minimum intensity of radiation = 1.32 kWm−2
(a) Calculate the minimum distance between the Earth and the Sun.
power of the Sun = 3.83 × 1026W(3)
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Minimum distance = ...........................................................
(b) As Mars orbits the Sun, the intensity of radiation received at the top of its atmosphere varies from 491
W m−2 to 711 W m−2.
Explain two differences between the orbits of Mars and Earth that can be deduced from this data.(3)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)
Q12. Diamonds, cubic zirconia and silicon carbide can be used as gemstones in jewellery.
The speed of light in these materials is shown in the table.

(a) In order to identify the material used, a ray of light is directed towards a boundary between air and the
gemstone.

Deduce the material used for the gemstone.(3)

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(b) Diamonds are cut into different shapes so that they 'sparkle' when light shines on them.
The diagram shows a ray of light entering a diamond and incident on a boundary between diamond
and air.

(i) Add to the diagram to show the path of the ray of light as it leaves this boundary. Your answer
should include a calculation.
(4)
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(ii) Explain what would happen to the ray at this boundary if the material used was silicon carbide
instead of diamond.
(2)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q13. Solar panels are devices that use sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity.
A solar panel has a surface area of 1.54 m2. The intensity of radiation incident on the Earth's surface is
1050 W m−2. The manufacturer states that the maximum output power of the solar panel is 250 W.
Which of the following could be used to calculate the maximum efficiency of the solar panel?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q14. When an incident ray of light meets a boundary between air and glass, some of the light is reflected
and some is refracted, as shown.

The reflected light is partially plane polarised.

(a) State what is meant by plane polarised.(2)
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(b) Deduce whether the refracted ray is unpolarised or partially plane polarised.
(2)
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(c) At the Brewster angle θB, the reflected light is completely plane polarised. This occurs when the
reflected ray and the refracted ray are at right angles to each other, so θB + r = 90°

(i) Show that tan

na = refractive index of air
ng = refractive index of glass
(3)
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(ii) Calculate θB for light passing from air into glass.
refractive index of air = 1.00
refractive index of glass = 1.50 (2)
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θB = ...........................................................
(iii) Different colours of visible light are refracted as they pass through a prism as shown.

A student suggests that the Brewster angle for violet light would be smaller than that for red light, as
violet is refracted more than red. Criticise this suggestion.(2)
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(Total for question = 11 marks)
Q15. A block of glass is submerged in a container of water. A ray of light travelling in the water is directed
towards the glass surface as shown.
refractive index of water = 1.33
refractive index of glass = 1.52
(a) Calculate the angle of refraction within the glass block when θ = 43.0°.
(2)
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Angle of refraction = ...........................................................
(b) Determine the critical angle for light at a glass-water boundary. (2)
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Critical angle = ...........................................................
(Total for question = 4 marks)
Q16. The refractive index of glass varies with the colour of light.
refractive index of glass for red light = 1.513
refractive index of glass for violet light = 1.532
(a) A ray of white light is incident on side AB of a rectangular glass block, as shown.

The red light and violet light from the incident ray arrive at slightly different points on side CD.
Determine the distance between these points.(5)
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Distance between points = ...........................................................
(b) White light is incident on a boundary between glass and air, as shown.

Explain what happens to the red light and the violet light when meeting the boundary.
Your answer should include calculations.(4)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q17. A water wave approaches a boundary between deep water and shallow water and is refracted. The
diagram shows how the direction of travel of the wave changes.

(a) Explain why the wave is refracted as shown, as it travels from deep water into shallow water. You
may add to the diagram.(2)
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(b) When waves travel across the surface of water, their speed v is dependent on the depth d of the
water and the wavelength λ of the waves.

For waves travelling in deep water, where

For waves travelling in shallow water,

(i) Calculate the angle of refraction r.
 wavelength of waves in deep water = 15 m
depth of deep water = 10 m
depth of shallow water = 0.50 m
angle of incidence = 40°
(5)
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r = ...........................................................
(ii) In 1933, the crew of the US Navy ship USS Rampo took measurements from one of the largest
waves ever recorded. The wavelength of the wave was 342 m and the time period was 14.8 s.
Show that the depth of the water where the crew measured the wave was greater than 170 m.
(3)
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(Total for question = 10 marks)
Q18. Light travels at a speed of 2.3 × 108 m s−1 in water and 2.0 × 108 m s−1 in glass.
The refractive index of glass is 1.5
Which of the following expressions can be used to determine the refractive index of water?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q19. The diagram shows a ray of light incident on a glass block.

(a) Complete the diagram to show the path of the ray as it enters the block. Use the space below for any
calculations.
refractive index of glass = 1.58 (5)
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(b) The speed of light in a different type of glass is 1.96 × 108 m s-1.
Calculate the value of the critical angle at a boundary between this type of glass and air.
(3)
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Critical angle = ...........................................................
(Total for question = 8 marks)
Q20. Solar panels generate electricity when sunlight is incident on the surface of the panel.
(a) The total generation of electricity worldwide in the year 2014 was approximately 23 800 TWh (1 TWh
= 3.6 × 1015 J).
Some scientists claim that if the Sahara Desert were covered with solar panels, sufficient electricity
could be generated to supply the whole world.
(i) Calculate the maximum energy received by the solar panels in one hour.
maximum intensity of solar radiation at the Earth's surface = 1100 Wm–2 area of Sahara Desert = 9.2
× 1012 m2
(2)
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Maximum energy received in one hour = ...........................................................
(ii) Determine whether covering the Sahara Desert with solar panels would be able to generate
enough electricity for the whole world.
(2)
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(b) Sand storms are common in the Sahara Desert.
Explain why sand storms reduce the power generated by the solar panels.
(2)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)
Q21. In 1857, Heinrich Geissler invented the first gas discharge tube. A sodium gas discharge
tube is shown.

When a high potential difference is applied between the electrodes, electrons move through the sodium
gas in the tube. The electrons collide with the sodium atoms. The tube then gives out visible light with a
wavelength of 589 nm.
(a) Describe the process by which visible light is emitted from the sodium atoms.
(3)
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(b) Calculate the energy, in eV, of a photon of visible light with a wavelength of 589 nm.
(3)
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Photon energy = ........................................................... eV
(c) Light from the tube was directed through a diffraction grating, labelled as having 300 lines per mm.
The diffraction pattern produced was displayed on a flat screen.
The student measured the distance s between the central maximum and the first-order maximum on the
screen. He also measured the distance D from the diffraction grating to the screen.
Determine whether the labelling of the diffraction grating as having 300 lines per mm was correct.
s = 0.234 m
D = 1.30 m
λ = 589 nm
(3)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q22. An endoscope is a medical device that can be used to see inside the digestive system.
The endoscope contains bundles of very fine glass fibres. Light is directed into the fibres to illuminate the
part of the digestive system being investigated.
Light travels along the glass fibres by total internal reflection.

(a) State the conditions required for total internal reflection to occur.(2)
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(b) A ray of light is incident on the end of a glass fibre and refracts as it enters the glass.
Explain why the light refracts as it enters the glass.(2)
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(c) The diagram shows a ray of light being totally internally reflected at one side of a glass fibre and then
refracting as it leaves the end of the fibre. The angle of incidence at the boundary between the glass fibre
and air is equal to the critical angle C for the glass-air interface. The ray enters water as it leaves the
glass fibre.
 Determine the angle θ between the emerging ray and the normal.(4)
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θ = ...........................................................
(Total for question = 8 marks)
Q23. A diffraction grating has 300 lines per mm. When laser light is directed towards the diffraction
grating, a diffraction pattern is observed on a screen. The position of a first order maximum on the screen
is shown in the diagram.

Which of the following calculations should be used to determine the wavelength, in mm, of the laser light
used?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q24. The work functions of four metals are shown in the table.

(a) State what is meant by work function.

(1)
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(b) When light with a frequency of 6.32 × 1015 Hz is incident on a metal, photoelectrons are released with
a maximum kinetic energy of 3.60 × 10−18 J.
Determine which of the four metals the light is incident on.
(3)
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(c) Ultraviolet radiation is incident on a potassium plate. If the radiation behaved as a wave, there would
be a time delay before electrons were emitted from the plate.
(i) Calculate the time taken for a potassium atom to absorb enough energy to release an electron.
intensity of ultraviolet radiation = 38.0 mW m−2
area over which a potassium atom absorbs energy = 8.10 × 10−20 m2
(3)
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Time taken = ...........................................................
(ii) In practice, electrons are emitted from the plate as soon as the ultraviolet radiation is incident on
the plate.
Explain how this provides evidence for the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation.
(2)
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(Total for question = 9 marks)