IGCSE
Cambridge (CIE)
Physics
2 hours
20 questions
Theory Questions
Light
Reflection of Light / Investigating Reflection / Refraction of Light / Refractive Index /
Total Internal Reflection / Ray Diagrams / Real & Virtual Images / Real Images /
Virtual Images / Correcting Sight / Dispersion of Light
Easy (5 questions)
/36
Medium (7 questions)
/43
Hard (8 questions)
/61
Total Marks
/140
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1
Easy Questions
1 (a) The spectrum of white light is made up of seven colours.
Fig. 7.1 shows a partially-completed spectrum. Two labels are missing.
(i) On Fig. 7.1, write the name of the missing colour in each blank space.
[2]
(ii) On Fig. 7.1, indicate the direction of increasing wavelength for the spectrum. Draw an
arrow in the box below the spectrum of colours.
[1]
(3 marks)
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(b) A ray of red light strikes one face of a triangular glass prism as shown in Fig. 7.2.
(i) On Fig. 7.2, draw the path of the ray as it travels through the glass prism and enters
the air.
[2]
(ii) State the term used to describe what happens to the ray of red light as it enters and
leaves the prism.
[1]
(3 marks)
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2 (a) Fig. 5.1 represents an object positioned on the principal axis of a thin lens.
Each small square of the grid represents 0.5 cm. Each principal focus of the lens is
labelled F.
Use the grid to determine the focal length of the lens.
focal length = ..................................................... cm
(1 mark)
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(b) (i) On Fig. 5.1, draw a ray from the top of the object that passes through a principal focus,
then through the lens and beyond it.
[1]
(ii) On Fig. 5.1, draw a second ray from the top of the object that passes through the
centre of the lens. Continue the path of this ray to the edge of the grid.
[1]
(iii) On Fig. 5.1, draw an arrow to show the position and nature of the image produced by
the lens.
[1]
(4 marks)
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3 (a) An object, OX, is placed in front of a converging lens.
Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light from the object passing through the lens.
(i) The lens forms an image of object OX.
On Fig. 7.1, draw another ray from X to locate the position of the image.
[1]
(ii) On Fig. 7.1, draw an arrow to represent the image of OX and label it I.
[1]
(iii) On Fig. 7.1, mark a principal focus for the lens and label it F.
[1]
(iv) On Fig. 7.1, measure and record the focal length of the lens.
focal length = ...................................................... cm [1]
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(4 marks)
(b) Describe the image I.
Choose words from the list. Tick (✓) two boxes.
□ enlarged
□ diminished
□ same size
□ inverted
□ upright
(2 marks)
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4 (a) Extended tier only
An endoscope is a piece of medical equipment used to see inside a person's body.
Endoscopes use optical fibres within a long tube which reflects light from inside the
patient to an eye piece lens or camera.
Fig. 1.1
Fig. 1.1 shows a section of optical fibre. Light travels from X to Y.
On Fig. 1.1, complete the path of the light ray until it leaves the section of optical fibre.
(2 marks)
(b) State the type of reflection that occurs within an optical fibre.
(1 mark)
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(c) Extended tier only
Calculate the critical angle.
Glass has a refractive index of 1.52.
critical angle = ...................................
(3 marks)
(d) Extended tier only
When the light ray exits the optical fibre it passes into air.
Calculate the speed of light in glass.
speed of light in glass = ....................................
(3 marks)
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5 (a) Extended
Fig. 1.1 shows a light ray passing though a block of ice.
(not to scale)
Determine the refractive index of ice.
refractive index = ....................................
(3 marks)
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(b) Explain why the angle of refraction is smaller than the incident angle for the boundary
from air to ice.
(3 marks)
(c) State the correct value of angle θ on Fig. 1.1.
angle θ = ....................................
(1 mark)
(d) Complete Table 1.2 by drawing a tick to show which properties of light change during
refraction.
Table 1.2
Property
Does change
Does not change
speed
wavelength
frequency
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(3 marks)
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Medium Questions
1 (a) Fig. 9.1 shows two rays of light X and Y leaving an object O. The rays strike a plane mirror.
Ray X is reflected as shown.
(i) On Fig. 9.1, draw the normal at the point where ray X strikes the mirror.
[1]
(ii) On Fig. 9.1, draw the path of ray Y after it strikes the mirror.
[1]
(2 marks)
(b) An object O is placed on the left of a thin converging lens. F is the principal focus.
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This arrangement is shown in Fig. 9.2.
Two rays from the top of the object are incident on the lens, as shown in Fig. 9.2.
On Fig. 9.2, draw the path of each ray to locate the position of the image of O formed by
the lens.
On Fig. 9.2, draw an arrow to represent the image and label it I.
(3 marks)
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2 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a converging lens and the image I formed when an object is placed to the
left of the lens. The principal focuses are labelled A and B and the centre of the lens is
labelled C.
(i) On Fig. 7.1, draw two rays to locate the position of the object.
Draw the object and label it O.
[3]
(ii) Ring all of the following distances that are equal to the focal length of the lens.
AB
AC
CB
2AB
[2]
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(5 marks)
(b) Fig. 7.2 shows green light passing through a triangular glass block.
Red light enters the triangular glass block shown in Fig. 7.2 along the same path as the
green light.
(i) On Fig. 7.2, draw the path of the red light within the triangular glass block.
[1]
(ii) Fig. 7.3 shows green light passing through a rectangular glass block.
Red light enters the rectangular glass block shown in Fig. 7.3 along the same path as the
green light.
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On Fig 7.3 draw the path of the red light within the rectangular glass block.
[1]
(iii) On Fig 7.3 draw the path of the red light after leaving the rectangular glass block.
[1]
(3 marks)
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3 (a) Extended tier only
The speed of a light wave in air is 3.00 × 108 m / s. The refractive index of water is 1.33.
Calculate the speed of the light wave in water.
speed = .........................................................
(2 marks)
(b) Fig. 7.1 shows parallel wavefronts of a light wave in air incident on a boundary with a
transparent plastic.
On Fig. 7.1,
(i) draw the positions of the four refracted wavefronts in the plastic,
[3]
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(ii) draw an arrow to show the direction of travel of the refracted wave,
[1]
(iii) label the angle of refraction r of the light wave.
[1]
(5 marks)
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4 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows a mirror periscope. The periscope is used to view a golfer over the heads
of other people. The periscope has two plane mirrors each at an angle of 45° to the
vertical.
(i) On Fig. 6.1:
1. Continue the ray of light from the golfer towards the upper mirror of the periscope.
Draw and label the normal at the point where the ray strikes the mirror.
[1]
(ii) On Fig. 6.1, continue the ray of light after reflection at the upper mirror until it leaves
the periscope.
[1]
(iii) State the law of reflection used to deduce the position of the ray of light after striking
the mirrors.
[1]
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(3 marks)
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(b) Fig. 6.2 shows three rays of red light each entering a semi-circular glass block.
Using the information in Table 6.1, draw on Fig. 6.2 to complete the path of each ray of
red light.
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(3 marks)
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5 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows an arrangement of glass prisms inside a box. The angles of the prisms are
45°, 45° and 90°.
This is a device used to view objects that are behind a wall. The incident ray of light
undergoes total internal reflection in the prisms.
On Fig. 6.1, complete the path of the ray through the device and show the ray as it
emerges from the box.
(3 marks)
(b) Extended tier only
Show that the refractive index of glass with a critical angle of 45° is 1.41.
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(2 marks)
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6 (a) Fig. 8.1 is a partially completed ray diagram.
The object is at O and its image is at I.
Which distance is the focal length of the lens? Tick one box.
□ C to F1
□ O to C
□ F2 to I
□ O to I
(1 mark)
(b) On Fig. 8.1, extend the two rays from the arrowhead on the object until both reach the
position of the image.
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(3 marks)
(c) The object is moved a small distance away from the lens. State the effect, if any, this has
on the position and size of the image.
(2 marks)
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7 (a) Fig. 8.1 shows a ray of light travelling through a glass block and then reflecting from a
mirror.
State the term used for the dashed lines drawn in Fig. 8.1.
(1 mark)
(b) Use Fig. 8.1 to identify the three angles in the list. Place the correct letter in the box to
indicate each angle.
□ angle of incidence
□ angle of reflection
□ angle of refraction
(3 marks)
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(c) The ray of light in Fig. 8.1 changes direction as it enters the glass block. State the name of
this effect and explain why it happens.
(2 marks)
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Hard Questions
1 (a) Extended tier only
A laser produces a beam of monochromatic light. State what is meant by the term
monochromatic.
(1 mark)
(b) A wave, in air, is incident on a glass block. Fig. 7.1 shows the wavefronts at the air-glass
boundary. The arrow shows the direction of travel of the wavefronts.
The wave undergoes reflection and refraction at the air-glass boundary.
On Fig. 7.1 draw:
(i) the wavefronts of the reflected wave
[3]
(ii) the wavefronts of the refracted wave.
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[3]
(6 marks)
(c) A transverse wave is produced in a long, horizontal rope. The rope is much longer than
the wavelength of the wave.
In the space below, sketch a diagram to show the appearance of the rope as the wave
passes along it. Label two important features of the wave.
(2 marks)
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2 (a) Fig. 6.1 represents the electromagnetic spectrum.
State the radiation in each of the regions represented by A, B, C and D in Fig. 6.1.
(2 marks)
(b) Extended tier only
A source emits visible light.
Fig. 6.2 shows a ray of red light from the source incident on the face XY of a glass prism
at point S.
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The angle of incidence i of the ray is 35 °. The refractive index of the glass for red light is
1.5.
(i) Calculate the angle of refraction in the glass at S.
angle of refraction = ......................................................... [2]
(ii) On Fig. 6.2, draw the refracted ray at face XY and the ray emerging from face XZ of the
prism. Label this ray R.
[2]
(iii) A ray of blue light follows the same path as the ray of red light incident on the face
XY.
On Fig. 6.2, draw the path of this ray in the prism and emerging from the prism.
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Label this ray B.
[2]
(6 marks)
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3 (a) Extended tier only
Fig. 7.1 shows red light travelling from air into a prism made of diamond. The path of the
red light is incomplete.
The refractive index of diamond is 2.42.
Calculate angle x.
angle x = .........................................................
(2 marks)
(b) Explain the term total internal reflection.
(3 marks)
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(c) The angle y is greater than the critical angle of diamond.
On Fig. 7.1, draw the path of the red light through and out of the prism after point A.
(2 marks)
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4 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light in water that is incident on a submerged, transparent plastic
block.
State what happens to the speed of light as it enters the plastic block. Explain your
answer.
(2 marks)
(b) Extended tier only
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Fig. 7.2 shows the two principal focuses F1 and F2 of a thin converging lens.
Fig. 7.2 also shows an object O of height 1.2cm placed close to the lens. Two rays from
the tip of the object O are incident on the lens.
(i) On Fig. 7.2, continue the paths of these two rays for a further distance of at least 5 cm.
[2]
(ii) Using your answer to (b)(i), find and mark on Fig. 7.2 the image I of object O and label
this image.
[2]
(iii) Determine the height of image I.
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height = ...........................................................[1]
(iv) State and explain whether I is a real image or a virtual image.
[1]
(6 marks)
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5 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light striking a plane mirror at point P.
(i) Determine the value of the angle of incidence for the ray of light at point P.
angle of incidence = ...................................................... ° [1]
(ii)
On Fig. 7.1,
draw a normal at point P
draw the ray reflected at point P
determine the angle of reflection at point P.
angle of reflection = ...................................................... ° [3]
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(4 marks)
(b) Fig. 7.2 shows an object OB positioned 20cm from a thin converging lens. Both principal
focuses of the lens are labelled F.
Two rays from the tip B of the object are incident on the lens, as shown in Fig. 7.2.
On Fig. 7.2, continue the paths of these two rays to show the position of the image of OB
formed by the lens. Draw an arrow to show the size, position and orientation of the
image of OB.
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(4 marks)
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6 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows a ray of red light incident on part of a lens.
(i) On Fig. 6.1, continue the path of the ray as it passes through the lens and emerges
from it.
[2]
(ii) State the term used to describe the process as the ray enters and leaves the lens.
[1]
(3 marks)
(b) Fig. 6.2 shows two parallel rays of light travelling towards another lens.
The two rays of light pass through the lens to form an image.
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On Fig. 6.2, continue the path of the rays. Extend the rays for at least 5 cm beyond the
lens.
(2 marks)
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7 (a) A ray of light in air is incident on a glass block. The light changes direction.
State
(i) the name of this effect.
[1]
(ii) the cause of this effect.
[1]
(2 marks)
(b) Fig. 5.1 shows a thin converging lens of focal length 3.5cm.
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(i) On Fig. 5.1, mark each of the two principal focuses and label each with the letter F.
[1]
(ii) An object O of height 4.4cm is placed a distance of 7.5cm from the lens.
On Fig. 5.1, draw rays from the tip of the object O to locate the image. Draw and label
the image.
[3]
(iii) Determine the height of the image.
height of the image = ...........................................................[1]
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(iv) State and explain whether the image is real or virtual.
[1]
(6 marks)
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8 (a) Fig. 5.1 shows a visible spectrum focused on a screen by passing light from a source of
white light through a lens and a prism.
(i) State the name of the process that separates the colours in white light.
[1]
(ii) State the colour of the light on the screen at points A and B.
[1]
(iii) State the property of the glass of the prism that causes white light to be split into the
different colours of the spectrum.
[1]
(3 marks)
(b) Extended tier only
Fig. 5.2 shows a section of an optical fibre in air. A ray of light is incident on the fibre wall
at X.
(i) On Fig. 5.2, continue the path of the ray of light up to the end of the fibre.
[1]
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(ii) The refractive index of the material of the fibre is 1.46. Calculate the critical angle of
the material of the fibre.
critical angle = ...........................................................[2]
(iii) State two uses of optical fibres.
[2]
(5 marks)
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