Reflection and refraction of waves

Light waves and water waves can both be reflected.

A student used a ray box and a mirror to investigate the reflection of light.

Figure 1 shows some of the apparatus used.

The student measured angle A and angle B.

What equipment should the student have used to measure each angle?

The student moved the ray box and changed the direction of the ray of light.

The student recorded different pairs of values of angle A and angle B.

Table 1 shows the results.

Figure 2 shows an incomplete graph of the results.

Complete Figure 2.

You should:

• label the y-axis

• plot the remaining data from Table 1

• draw a line of best fit.

What is the relationship between angle A and angle B ?

Tick (✓) one box.

Figure 3 represents a water wave.

Which letter represents the amplitude of the water wave in Figure 3 ?

Tick (✓) one box.

Which letter represents the wavelength of the water wave in Figure 3 ?

Tick (✓) one box.

A water wave in a ripple tank has a wave speed of 0.125 m/s.

The wave has a frequency of 2.5 Hz.

Calculate the wavelength of the wave.

Use the equation:

Choose the unit from the box.

The wave has a frequency of 2.5 Hz.

Calculate the period of the wave.

Use the equation:

A student investigated the refraction of light by a glass block.

Figure 13 shows the protractor used to measure the angles of incidence and the angles of refraction.

What is the resolution of the protractor used to measure the angles?

Table 1 shows the results.

Describe a method the student could have used to obtain the data in Table 1.

You may include a labelled diagram.

Figure 14 shows some of the results.

The student measured the angles of refraction for two additional angles of incidence.

Table 2 shows the additional results.

Complete Figure 14.

You should:

• plot the results from Table 2

• draw the line of best fit.

How does Figure 14 show that the angle of refraction is not directly proportional to the angle of incidence?

Figure 15 shows a diagram of a car headlight.

The headlight has a lamp, a reflective surface and a transparent cover.

Figure 16 shows a ray of light incident on the reflective surface.

Complete Figure 16 to show the reflected ray of light.

You should include the normal line at the point where the incident ray meets the reflecting surface.

Rays of light pass through the transparent cover of the headlight.

Which diagram shows how a ray of light passes through the transparent cover?

Tick (✓) one box.

A student investigated the refraction of light by a glass block.

Figure 1 shows the protractor used to measure the angles of incidence and the angles of refraction.

What is the resolution of the protractor used to measure the angles?

Table 1 shows the results.

Describe a method the student could have used to obtain the data in Table 1.

You may include a labelled diagram.

Figure 2 shows some of the results.

The student measured the angles of refraction for two additional angles of incidence.

Table 2 shows the additional results.

Complete Figure 2.

You should:

• plot the results from Table 2

• draw the line of best fit.

How does Figure 2 show that the angle of refraction is not directly proportional to the angle of incidence?

Figure 3 shows a diagram of a car headlight.

The headlight has a lamp, a reflective surface and a transparent cover.

Figure 4 shows a ray of light incident on the reflective surface.

Complete Figure 4 to show the reflected ray of light.

You should include the normal line at the point where the incident ray meets the reflecting surface.

Rays of light pass through the transparent cover of the headlight.

Which diagram shows how a ray of light passes through the transparent cover?

Tick () one box.

A student used a ray box to shine a ray of light through air into a glass block.

The student investigated how the angle of refraction varied with the angle of incidence.

Table 5 shows the results.

Describe a method the student could have used to obtain the results in Table 5.

Your answer may include a labelled diagram.

Complete Figure 16 using data from Table 5.

• Label the axes.

• Plot the remaining data.

• Draw a line of best fit.

You should:

• draw the normal line

• draw the reflected ray.

Two students investigated the reflection of light by a plane mirror.

Figure 18 shows the different equipment the students used.

Explain two ways that Method A is better than Method B.

A student used a ray box to shine a ray of light through air into a glass block.

The student investigated how the angle of refraction varied with the angle of incidence.

Table 1 shows the results.

Describe a method the student could have used to obtain the results in Table 1.

Your answer may include a labelled diagram.

Figure 2 is an incomplete graph of the results.

Complete Figure 2 using data from Table 1.

Label the axes.

Plot the remaining data.

Draw a line of best fit.

Complete the ray diagram in Figure 3 to show the reflection of light from the surface of a plane mirror.

You should:

draw the normal line

draw the reflected ray.

Two students investigated the reflection of light by a plane mirror.

Figure 4 shows the different equipment the students used.

Explain two ways that Method A is better than Method B.

Visible light is used for communications. Which other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are used for communications?

Tick (✓) two boxes.

Figure 5 shows a ray of light in an optical fibre.

What is the name given to the dotted line on Figure 5 ?

Where the ray of light touches the edge of the optical fibre it is reflected. Draw the reflected ray on Figure 5.

Optical fibres need to be able to bend around corners without breaking. Suggest the property that optical fibres must have to allow them to bend around corners.

The appearance of visible light can change when it interacts with different objects. Complete the sentences. Choose the answers from the box. Each answer may be used once, more than once or not at all.

When white light is incident on a green filter, only green light passes through the filter.

Figure 7 shows the apparatus a student used to investigate the reflection of light by a plane mirror. The student drew four ray diagrams for each angle of incidence. The student measured the angle of reflection from each diagram. Table 2 gives the student’s results.

For each angle of incidence, the angle of reflection has a range of values. This is caused by an error. What type of error will have caused each angle of reflection to have a range of values?

Suggest what the student may have done during the investigation to cause each angle of reflection to have a range of values.

Estimate the uncertainty in the angle of reflection when the angle of incidence is 50°. Show how you determine your estimate.

The student concluded that for a plane mirror, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Explain whether you agree with this conclusion. Use examples from the results in Table 2 in your answer.

What extra evidence could be collected to support the student’s conclusion?

State one change the student should make to the apparatus if he wants to use the same method to investigate diffuse reflection.