Refraction of light: past paper questions

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  In which diagram is the path of the light ray not correct?

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

  The diagrams show light travelling in air incident on the surface of a glass block.

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• Question 24May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Light travelling in glass is incident on a glass–air boundary. The angle of incidence of the light is greater than the critical angle. Which arrow shows the direction of the light after it is incident on the boundary?

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light travelling from air to medium Q. What is the critical angle for the boundary between medium Q and air?

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• Question 20Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement is correct?

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• Question 25May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Three students suggest an advantage of using optical fibre cables in telecommunications rather than using copper cables.

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Light passes into a transparent material that has a refractive index $n$. The angle of incidence at the surface of the transparent material is $i$. Which equation is used to calculate the angle of refraction $r$ ?

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• Question 27Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Light travelling in air is incident on a water surface. The refractive index of water is $1.3$ and the angle of refraction in the water is ${40}^{\circ }$. What is the angle of incidence in the air?

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• Question 30Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Three rays of light are incident on the boundary between a glass block and air. The angles of incidence are different. What is a possible critical angle for light in the glass?

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows light passing through a triangular glass prism. State the value of the angle of incidence at point P.

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• Question 28Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ray of light passing through a triangular glass block. Which angle is the critical angle of light in glass?

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A student uses a glass block and two identical glass prisms to demonstrate the action of a converging lens. Figure 5.1 shows three parallel rays of red light incident on the glass block and the two prisms. On Figure 5.1, draw and label the normal to the prism at point P.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a ray of light striking the left-hand surface of a thin glass converging lens. Explain why the ray refracts and changes direction as it enters the glass.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Red light of frequency $4.7\times {10}^{14}\text{ Hz}$ travels in air at a speed of $3.0\times {10}^8\text{ m/s}$. Calculate the wavelength in air of this red light.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the refraction of light through a transparent block. Fig. 2.1 shows a top view of the transparent block. Fig. 2.1 On Fig. 2.1, draw a normal to the line XY at point M and extend it above and below the line XY.

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• Question 23May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A swimming pool is lit by an underwater light. A ray of light is incident on the surface of the water. What is the path for the ray of light?

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• Question 22May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows white light entering a prism.

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• Question 22May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A ray of light in glass is incident on the surface at an angle $c$. The angle $c$ is the critical angle. Which diagram shows what happens to the light?

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• Question 1May/June 2025, paper 42Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the refraction of a ray of light passing through a transparent block and determines the refractive index $n$ of the block. The student’s ray-trace sheet is shown full size in Fig. 1.1. The outline of the transparent block is shown by the rectangle ABCD.

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• Question 21May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show light incident on the straight edge of a semi-circular glass block after passing through it.

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• Question 7May/June 2023, paper 22Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Ultraviolet radiation is one component of the electromagnetic spectrum. State the name of two components of the electromagnetic spectrum that have a smaller wavelength than ultraviolet radiation.

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