Refraction of light: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 19Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light as it passes from air into glass. Which row shows the angle of refraction and the normal?

  Try this question
• Question 19Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Light travels from air into glass. What is the relationship between the refractive index $n$ of the glass, the angle of incidence $i$ and the angle of refraction $r$?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of red light travelling through a transparent prism. Normals to the prism surfaces are marked at the points where the ray meets the prism surfaces.

  Try this question
• Question 22Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  Light is travelling through air. It strikes a glass block at an angle of incidence of ${45}^{\circ }$. The glass has a refractive index of 1.4.

  Try this question
• 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.

  Try this question
• Question 18May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  When red light travels from air into glass, the speed of the light decreases from $3.0\times {10}^8\mathrm{m}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{s}$ to $2.1\times {10}^8\mathrm{m}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{s}$. The wavelength of the light in air is $620\mathrm{n}\mathrm{m}$. What is the wavelength of the light in the glass?

  Try this question
• Question 18May/June 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light entering a glass block. Which calculation gives the refractive index of the glass?

  Try this question
• Question 19May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light entering a glass block. What is the refractive index of the glass?

  Try this question
• Question 20Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Total internal reflection may occur when light reaches an air–glass boundary. Under which conditions is light totally internally reflected?

  Try this question
• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 43Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a ray of light as it enters the side of a plastic block. The ray of light passes from air into the plastic. State how the speed, wavelength and frequency of the wave in the plastic block compare with their values in the air.

  Try this question
• Question 18May/June 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Optical fibres are used to transmit digital signals using infrared radiation. The average refractive index of the fibres is $1.50$. Which row describes a digital signal and gives the speed of infrared radiation in the fibres?

  Try this question
• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 31Structured4 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 7.1 shows a ray of red light passing through a glass prism and into the air at B. Angle ABD is 60°. Determine the angle of incidence for the ray of red light at B.

  Try this question
• Question 22Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the speed of infrared radiation in glass with a refractive index of 1.5?

  Try this question
• Question 19May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The diagram shows a ray of light in glass incident on the surface between the glass and air. What happens if the angle of incidence is made larger than the critical angle for the glass?

  Try this question
• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 43Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  An image of object O is formed by a plane mirror. A person views the image. Figure 6.1 shows a scale diagram of the arrangement.

  Try this question
• Question 20Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  The speed of light in a vacuum is $3.0\times {10}^8\text{ m/s}$. The speed of light in glass is $2.2\times {10}^8\text{ m/s}$.

  Try this question
• Question 18May/June 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which conditions are necessary for light to be totally internally reflected?

  Try this question
• Question 6May/June 2023, paper 32Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows light waves passing from air into a glass block. Fig. 6.1 (not to scale) State the name of the process shown in Fig. 6.1 as the wavefronts enter the glass block.

  Try this question
• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows part of an optical fibre used in high-speed broadband communication. State two advantages of using optical fibres in high-speed data transmission compared to electrical signals sent on copper wires.

  Try this question
• Question 19May/June 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light passing from air into a transparent substance. What is the refractive index of the transparent substance?

  Try this question
• Question 5May/June 2023, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows a block ABCD made of glass that has a refractive index of 1.5. The block has one curved side AB and three straight sides, BC, CD and DA.

  Try this question
• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows successive crests of a water wave approaching a boundary. The speed of the waves in region B is lower than the speed of the waves in region A. On Fig. 6.1, draw the crests of the waves in region B.

  Try this question
• Question 20May/June 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light in an optical fibre. Which statement correctly explains the condition for the maximum transmission of light by the optical fibre?

  Try this question
• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 42Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows a container of oil. A ray of light shines on the surface of the oil. The refractive index of the oil is $1.47$.

  Try this question
• Question 22May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light incident on the surface of a glass block. The ray of light is partially reflected back into the air and partially refracted into the glass block. Which row correctly identifies the angle of reflection and the angle of refraction?

  Try this question
• Question 20May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light passing from air into diamond. What is the refractive index of the diamond?

  Try this question
• Question 5May/June 2023, paper 43Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Two types of electromagnetic radiation are used in glass optical fibres for high-speed broadband. State the type of electromagnetic radiation, other than visible light, which is used in glass optical fibres.

  Try this question
• 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

  Try this question
• Question 20May/June 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  The speed of light in a material is $50\mathrm{\%}$ of the speed of light in air. What is the refractive index of the material?

  Try this question
• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  The lens in a magnifying glass is a converging lens. Fig. 4.1 shows the lens of the magnifying glass, its two focal points, ${\text{F}}_1$ and ${\text{F}}_2$, and its principal axis. State what is meant by ‘focal point’.

  Try this question