LIGHT PAST PAPERS
1
YEAR
#
PAGE
JUNE 2018
P2#1
2
JAN 2018
P2#1
4
JAN 2018
P2#5
6
JUNE 2017
P2#6
8
JAN 2017
P2#4
9
JUNE 2015
P2 #6
12
JUNE 2014
P2 #4
13
JUNE 2013
P2 #3
15
JUNE 2010
P2#1
17
JUNE 2007
P2#4
18
JUNE 2005
P3 #3
19
JUNE 2002
P3 #2
20
JUNE 2001
P2 #4
21
JUNE 1999
P3 #3
22
JUNE 1994
P3#2
23
JUNE 1992
P3 #4
24
JUNE 1991
P2#5
24
JUNE 1990
P3#7
25
JAN 2015
P2 # 4
25
JAN 2014
P2 #1
26
JAN 2013
P2#4
28
JAN 2009
P2 #4
29
JAN 2008
P2 #3
30
JAN 2007
P2 #5
31
JAN 2006
P2 #2
32
JAN 2006
P3 #2
33
JAN 1999
P3#3
35
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JUNE 2018 P2#1
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(4)
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JAN 2018 P2 #1
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(4)
TOTAL:25 MARKS
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JAN 2018 P2 #5
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(3)
(1)
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JUNE 2017 P2 #6
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JAN 2017 P2 #4
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JUNE 2015 P2 #6
a.i. Copy Figure 3 and draw the ray as it emerges on the other side of the lens and its relation to
the focus. Show the principal axis and the focal length. (5)
ii. Write in words or symbols the formula for the magnification of an object. (1)
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b. An object AB is placed 20cm in front of a converging lens of focal length F 10cm as seen in the
figure below.
i.
ii.
iii.
Calculate the position of the image formed and state on what side of the lens it is
located. (5)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Calculate the magnification of the image formed. (3)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Is the image formed real or virtual? (1)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
TOTAL: 15 MARKS
JUNE 2014 P2#4
a. State the laws of refraction. (6)
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b. Figure 3 show the clown fish ,Nemo looking at point B. It sees the fisherman’s net
appearing as if it were at A.
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i.
Calculate angle c given that the angle ABD is 420. (3)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii.
Given that angle c is the critical angle for the air-water boundary, calculate the refractive
index of water. (3)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
iii.
Nemo swims away and his eye is now a horizontal distance of 5 metres from point B.
Looking at point B he no longer sees the net but now sees Bruce, the shark. If Bruce is
at the same depth as Nemo, how far away is Bruce’s eye from Nemo’s eye. Explain
your result. (3)
Total: 15 marks
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JUNE 2013 P2 #3
a.i. State Snell’s law. (3)
ii. In the space below, draw a labelled diagram using the converging lens to show clearly the
following features:
Principal axis, Principal focus, focal length and focal plane. (4)
b. Describe the path into a prism and out of a prism when a ray of light is incident at 900 to the
hypotenuse of a right-angled glass prism as shown in Figure I. (7)
ii. Through what angle would the ray be turned after emerging? (1) [critical angle for glass= 420]
total: 15 marks
JUNE 2010 P2 #1
Testing of a new material to be used as an anti reflective coating for eye glasses has yielded the
results as shown in the table.
Angle of
incidence, i/0
Angle of ref.,
r/0
Sin i
Sin r
30.0
40.0
50.0
60,0
70.0
23.5
30.5
38.0
43.7
48.5
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a. Complete the table by calculating the values of sin I and sin r. (4)
b. Use the readings to plot a graph of sin I vs sin r. (7)
c. Calculate the gradient of the graph. (4)
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d. State the two laws of refraction (4)
e. Calculate the angle of refraction if the angle of incidence is 900 for this new material. (3)
f. The anti-reflective coating works best if its refractive index is the square root of the refractive
index of the lens in the eye glasses. Determine the refractive index of the lens that given the best
result. (3)
Total: 25 marks
JUNE 2007 P2 #4
a. In the seventeenth century, two conflicting theories concerning the nature of light were put
forward. (2)
i.
State what these theories considered light to be:
Theory ATheory Bb. Table 1 below lists some of the properties of light. Indicate by ticking the relevant boxes,
the properties of these theories can explain. Place an X in the box if the theory cannot
satisfactorily explain the property. (4)
PROPERTY
THEORY A
THEORY B
Travels in a straight line
Reflection
Conveys energy
Diffraction
c. An optical fibre is a flexible glass rod of extremely small diameter which is used to carry
light signals over distance of several km. Figure 3 below shows the structure of a typical
optical fibre, with a glass core of refractive index 1.50, surrounded by a glass cladding of
different refractive index, n2. Once the light enters the core, it is totally internally reflected
and remains inside the fibre until it reaches the other end of the fibre. The ray of light AB
in air is refracted into the core along the path BC.
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i.
What is means by the term ‘total internal reflection’ at C? (2)
ii.
Is the refractive index of the cladding greater or smaller than that of the core? (1)
iii.
Draw on the diagram above, the ray that shows the path of the light continuing from C.
(1)
TOTAL: 15 MARKS
JUNE 2005 P3 #3
a. With the aid of a neat, clearly labelled diagram, describe an experiment to prove the
relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection for a ray of light
incident on a plane mirror. (8)
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b. The figure below is a side view of ABCD, a prism made from fused quartz of refractive
index 1.46. The ray MN is incident on the face AD as shown.
I.
ii.
Show that MN will be totally internally reflected from AB. (7)
Determine the angle which the ray makes with point P.
iii.
Sketch on the diagram, the ray from point P showing clearly the path from P
through to its emergence from the prism. (5)
TOTAL: 20 MARKS
JUNE 2002 P3 #2
a. Describe an experiment to verify Snell’s law of refraction. State what apparatus you would
use, give a brief description of the method you would use and state how you would arrive at
your conclusion. (8)
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b. An optical device consists of two glass blocks of different indices of refraction, arranged as
shown in the diagram below. The refractive index from air to medium 1 is 1.2 The
refractive index from Medium 1 to medium 2 is 1.25. (12)
i.
If light is incident at 600 on the block with the smaller refractive index, determine the
angles 1-5.
ii.
What is the velocity of the light in Medium 1? c= 3 x 108 ms-1
TOTAL: 15 MARKS
JUNE 2001 P2#4
a.i. State the laws of reflection. (2)
ii.An object is placed in front of a mirror as shown in figure 4.
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Draw on the diagram above the image of the object. (2)
iii.
iv.
Draw two rays of light leaving point A on the object and received by an observer at
points A and P’. Show how these rays appear to come from the image. (3)
Explain how real and virtual images are formed. State whether the image of the object
is real or virtual. (3)
c. The beam from a laser in Kingston Jamaica is reflected from a plane mirror on a satellite.
The reflected beam is received in Port-of-Spain Trinidad. The figure below illustrates this
situation diagrammatically. In the diagram draw a normal from the mirror to the earth’s
surface. (1)
Use the information given on the diagram to determine the angle of incidence of the laser
light on the mirror. (3)
JUNE 1999 P3 #3
a. With the aid of a diagram explain the terms ‘refractive index’ and ‘critical angle’. Draw a
ray diagram to show how a right angled isosceles glass prism can be used to turn a ray of
light through 1800 and identify the optical instrument that utilizes this property. (8)
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b. i. A ray of light travelling in water at a speed )of 2.25 x 108 ms-1 strikes the water surface as
shown below. Determine the refractive index of water and calculate the maximum angle
the beam can make with the normal if the light is to enter the air. (6)
ii. The light source is replaced by a detector of light and a ray of light is then shone on the surface
of the water from the air. Is there any angle of incidence at which no light enters the water?
Explain. (3)
Use cair= 3 x 108 ms-1
c. The figure below shows three rays entering a specially shaped piece of glass called a
prismatic window. The angle of incidence of the two outer rays on the surfaces AB and CD
is greater than the critical angle of glass. Copy and complete the diagram to show the
passage of the rays through the glass. (3)
June 1994 P3#2
a. i. In terms of the wave theory, explain why refraction of light occurs. Illustrate your answer
with a ray diagram. (4)
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ii. With the aid of ray diagrams explain the terms ‘refractive index’ and ‘critical angle’. (4)
b.
A ray of light hits a block of ice at P as shown. The refractive index of ice is 1.6.
i.
Calculate the angle of refraction of the ray of light incident at P. (3)
ii.
Calculate the value of the critical angle for ice. (3)
iii.
Redraw the diagram and show the path of the ray of light through the ice. Mark the size
of the angles of incidence and show clearly where the ray leaves the ice. (6)
June 1991 P2 #5
BA-
C-
D-
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a.i. Label the parts of the eye A,B,C,D. (4)
ii.By drawing a convex lens infront of the eye above, show how long sightedness can be correct. (4)
b. The spectacle lens used has a focal length of 80cm. It produces a virtual image of the object
being viewed. If the object is 10cm high and 40cm from the lens, find by completing a scale
drawing the position and magnification of the image. (8)
JUNE 1992 P3 #4
a. Describe with the aid of a diagram an investigation to measure the critical angle of glass or
Perspex. (8)
b. An object is at the bottom of a water-filled tank. When it is viewed from above, it does not
appear to be at its actual position. Draw a ray diagram to illustrate this and state what is
observed. (4)
c.
The figure above represents a ray of light leaving a light pipe through the face YZ. The light ray is
incident at M at an angle of 680 to the normal. Given that the critical angle is 420 for the glass-air
interface, calculate:
I.
The refractive index of the glass. (4)
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ii. the angle of refraction at the face YZ. (4)
JUNE 1990 P3 #7
a. The human eye is optically similar to a simple lens camera. State how each achieves the
following:
i.
Control of the amount of light catering
ii.
Formation of sharp images of objects at different distances.
Where is the image formed in EACH case? Name TWO surfaces of the human eye at which
refraction of light occurs. (8)
An object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of the converging lens in a camera used for
close-up photography. The object is 30cm from the lens and an inverted real image is formed at a
distance of 10cm from the lens. Calculate the magnification of the image and by means of a scale
drawing on graph paper, determine the focal length of the lens. (8)
b. The lens is removed from the camera and held at a distance of 4cm from an ant of length
2mm. Use a scale diagram to find the length of the image of the ant. (4)
JAN 2015 P2 #4
a.i. With the aid of a labelled diagram, state the laws of reflection. (4)
II.The glare of light from oncoming vehicles when driving on a rainy nights can be annoying. With
the aid of a labelled diagram, show how this glare results.
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JAN 2014 P2 #1
Keshorn investigated the relationship between image size I and object size O while studying
shadows. His results were presented in Table 1.
Image size I/cm
Object size O/cm
2.5
0.5
5.0
1.0
7.6
1.5
10.0
2.0
12.6
2.5
a. Plot a graph of image size I vs object size O. (7)
b. Calculate the gradient of the line. (5)
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3.0
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c. State the physical quantity with which the gradient of the graph G is associated. (1)
d. During the investigation Keshorn talked with his friend Atiba about the term ‘focal length’.
Define ‘focal length’. (3)
e. With what piece of apparatus is the term focal length associated. (1)
f. A 10cm tall tablet computer as placed vertically 20cm from a plane mirror. Its image
distance was found to be 20cm. Use the data given to calculate:
i.
The height of the image of the computer. (4)
ii.
The magnification of this image. (4)
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Jan 2013 P2 #2
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JAN 2009 P2 #4
a. With the aid of a labelled diagram, describe an experiment to show that the angle of
incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
b. Figure 3 below shows a ray of light entering a rectangular glass block ABCD of refractive
index 1.5. The angle of incidence is 600.
A
B
600
D
C
I.
Calculate the angle of refraction at the AD boundary.
iii.
What is the value of the angle of emergence at the BC boundary?
iii. If the critical angle for glass is 420, describe what would happen to the ray if its angle of
incidence on the boundary BC was 42.50.
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JAN 2008 P2 #3
C
A
a
b
B
d
D
E
X
a. Identify the labelled parts of the diagram: (6)
A …………………. B…………………. C………………
D…………………
X………………..
b. The refractive index of the block is 1.5.
i.
Determine the value of the angle b when angle a= 600 (1)
E………………..
ii.
State a reason for your answer in b.i. (1)
iii.
Calculate the angle d. (4)
iv.
Determine the value of the angle of d must exceed if E is to be totally internally
reflected. (3)
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JAN 2007 P2 #5
The figure 2 shows an object in front of a converging lens.
F
G
A
E
D
I.
iii.
C
D
Identify the following by using appropriate letters: (4)
i.
Principal Axis
ii.
Principal focus
iii.
Optical centre
iv.
Focal length
Write down two formulae for the magnification for an object. (2)
b. A ray of light enters water from air at an angle of incidence whose sine is 0.5. The
refractive index of water -1.3
I. Calculate the angle of refraction. (4)
ii. Calculate the critical angle for light rays travelling from water to air. (4)
iv.
It was observed that a ray of light travelling from water to air at an angle of 530 was
totally internally reflected. Why did this occur? (1)
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JAN 2006 P3#2
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JAN 2006 P2 #2
a. State the two laws of reflection (2)
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JAN 99 P3 #3
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