A Level Physics 9702, topic 8.2
Diffraction: past paper questions
18 Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 questions on Diffraction (8.2) from 18 papers, 2023 to 2026. Mostly multiple choice. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 18
- Papers
- 18
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 42
- Average per question
- 2.3 marks
- Largest question
- 10 marks
By type: Multiple choice 15 · Structured 3
What the syllabus asks
- explain the meaning of the term diffraction
- show an understanding of experiments that demonstrate diffraction including the qualitative effect of the gap width relative to the wavelength of the wave; for example diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply5
- Analyse1
- Not banded12
Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.
Command words
- calculateApply3 questions
work out from given facts, figures or information
- stateRecall3 questions
express in clear terms
- demonstrateApply2 questions
- determineApply1 question
establish an answer using the information available
- explainAnalyse1 question
set out purposes or reasons/make the relationships between things evident/provide why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- sketchApply1 question
make a simple freehand drawing showing the key features
- useApply1 question
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20262
- 20254
- 20244
- 20238
By session
- May/June9
- Oct/Nov9
By paper
- Paper 115
- Paper 23
Questions on this topic
Showing 11 of 18, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 28May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
Water waves of wavelength are incident normally on an obstacle with a narrow gap. The width of the gap is equal to . The waves from the gap emerge over an angle as shown.
- Try this questionQuestion 29Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark
An electromagnetic wave is diffracted as it passes through a single slit. The width of the slit is larger than the wavelength of the wave. Which change will decrease the amount of diffraction of the wave?
- Try this questionQuestion 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
In an experiment, water waves in a ripple tank are incident on a gap, as shown. Some diffraction of the water waves is observed. Which change to the experiment would provide a better demonstration of diffraction?
- Try this questionQuestion 26May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
Water waves diffract as they pass through a gap. Which combination produces the greatest amount of diffraction?
- Try this questionQuestion 24Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
Which row is correct for sound waves?
- Try this questionQuestion 30May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
A ripple tank contains water at a constant depth. A water wave of constant frequency travels towards a gap in a barrier placed in the ripple tank. The gap is made smaller.
- Try this questionQuestion 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram
Water waves in a ripple tank are made to pass through a small gap, as shown. Which diagram shows the waves after they have passed through the gap?
- Try this questionQuestion 6May/June 2025, paper 23Structured8 marksHas a diagram
State what is meant by diffraction.
- Try this questionQuestion 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured9 marksHas a diagram
State the principle of superposition.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram
A beam of vertically polarised light is incident normally on a polarising filter, as shown in Fig. 5.1. The transmission axis of the filter is initially vertical.
- Try this questionQuestion 27May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark
An experiment is set up to demonstrate the diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank. The waves pass through a gap of width and some diffraction of the waves is observed. The wavelength of the waves is now doubled.