Dispersion of light: past paper questions

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• Question 22May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which list states three colours of the visible spectrum in order of decreasing frequency?

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which list shows the colours present in the visible spectrum in order of increasing wavelength?

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows the dispersion of white light by a glass prism?

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram correctly shows the dispersion of white light through a glass prism?

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  White light can be split into different colours by passing it through a prism. What is the name of this process?

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a narrow beam of white light being dispersed by a glass prism to produce a visible spectrum. Which statement describes what happens to the frequency and wavelength of the light in observing from P to Q across the spectrum?

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Red, green and violet lights are part of the visible spectrum of light. What is the order of colours from shortest to longest wavelength?

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• Question 21May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Three statements about red light are listed. 1 Red light is one of the traditional seven colours that make up the visible spectrum. 2 Red light has the highest frequency in the visible spectrum.

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows two narrow beams of light, P and then Q, passing through the same prism. Beams P and Q are both incident on the same point on the prism and at the same angle.

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows the dispersion of white light by a prism?

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• Question 21May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show rays of light passing through triangular glass prisms.

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the effect of a prism on white light. Some light is reflected on striking the prism and some is refracted and dispersed to form a spectrum. What happens if monochromatic light is used instead of white light?

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• Question 22May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Some of the Sun’s radiation passes through a prism. The diagram shows the spectrum of the radiation. Which point on the screen does the infrared radiation reach?

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• Question 5May/June 2025, paper 32Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A teacher produces a water wave in a ripple tank. The wavelength of the water wave is $1.2\text{ cm}$. The speed of the water wave is $18\text{ cm/s}$.

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• Question 20May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows information about different colours of light.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 33Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A student shines a ray of red light into a rectangular glass block, as shown in Fig. 6.1. Draw the normal at the point where the ray of red light enters the glass block.

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A beam of white light is dispersed in a glass prism. Figure 9.1 shows the paths taken by green, indigo, red and yellow light. State which of the rays, 1, 2, 3 or 4, is: • the green ray ....................

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• Question 22May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  White light enters a glass prism. The light leaving the other side of the prism is separated into colours. Which row correctly describes what happens?

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• Question 22May/June 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Which colours of visible light are in the correct order of increasing wavelength?

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• Question 20May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A beam of light consists of yellow and blue light. The beam of light is incident on a glass prism. Which diagram is correct?

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 31Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light striking a plane mirror. The ray is reflected as shown. The angle of incidence for the ray of light is ${40}^{\circ }$.

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 33Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of red light incident on a glass prism at point P. The ray of red light is refracted at point P. On Fig. 7.1: draw the normal at point P

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• Question 19May/June 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement describes monochromatic light?

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