TOPIC 3 WAVES AND PARTICLE NATURE OF LIGHT

Topic 3C More wave properties of light

1 Which of the following optical devices is not based on refraction of light?
A Microscope
B Periscope
C Telescope
D Camera

Your answer

(1)
(Total for Question 1 = 1 mark)

2 Which line of the table below states what happens to the speed, wavelength and
frequency of red light as it passes from glass into air?

Speed Wavelength Frequency

A reduces increases increases
B reduces reduces increases
C increases increases stays the same
D increases reduces stays the same

Your answer
(1)
(Total for Question 2 = 1 mark)

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 3 The diagram below shows a ray of red light approaching a rectangular glass
block. The refractive index of this type of glass for red light is 1.513 and the
speed of red light in air is 3.00  108 ms−1.

(a) Copy the diagram and complete it to show the path of the ray of red light as
it passes through the block of glass and exits on the far side.

(2)

(b) Calculate the angle of refraction as the ray enters the glass.
(2)

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(c) Calculate the incident and refracted angles at the far side of the block as the
ray exits the block. Comment on your answer.
(3)

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(d) Calculate the speed of red light in glass.

(1)

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: © Pearson Education Ltd 2018. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free
 (e) Blue light travels more slowly in glass than red light. How would this affect
the angles calculated in parts (b) and (c) above?
(2)

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(Total for Question 3 = 10 marks)

4 A woman is windsurfing on a sunny day. There is a lot of glare from the light
reflected off the water.
(a) State what happens to the light that is reflected off the water.
(1)

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(b) The woman wears Polaroid sunglasses to reduce the glare. Explain how
they reduce the glare.
(2)

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(c) The windsurfer now wants to be able to see an obstruction under the
surface of the water. She rotates her head through 90 degrees to the side.
Explain why she does this.
(1)

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(Total for Question 4 = 4 marks)

: © Pearson Education Ltd 2018. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free
5 The diagram below shows a ray of red light travelling along an optical fibre. This
particular fibre has a central core of refractive index 1.51 and a surrounding
cladding of refractive index 1.49 (for red light).

(a) Explain why the refractive index of the cladding must be less than the
refractive index of the core.
(1)

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(b) Calculate the maximum value of the incident angle  at the core cladding
boundary at which the ray will remain in the core. State the name of this
angle.
(3)

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TOTAL FOR ASSESSMENT = 20 MARKS