Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Chapter
Light and Sound
70 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
11–20 of 70
Question 11
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student shines a ray of light at a glass block at an angle of 30° to the normal. The glass has a refractive index of 1.52.
(a)[1 mark]State Snell's law (the law of refraction) in words.
(b)[3 marks]Calculate the angle of refraction in the glass. Give your answer to 2 decimal places. ( refractive~index = \frac{sin~i}{sin~r} )
Question 12
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe an experiment to determine the refractive index of a glass block using a ray box and a protractor.
(a)[1 mark]List the apparatus you would need.
(b)[2 marks]Outline the steps you would take during the experiment.
(c)[1 mark]State how you would use your results to calculate the refractive index.
Question 13
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →The diagram shows a light ray travelling from air into glass at an angle of incidence of 0°.
Ray entering glass at 0° to the normal (diagram not to scale) Explain, using physics ideas, why the ray does not change direction as it enters the glass.
(a)[3 marks]Question 14
1 mark · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Which statement is correct about the angle of incidence and angle of reflection for a plane mirror?
- A.The angle of incidence is always larger than the angle of reflection.
- B.The angle of incidence is always smaller than the angle of reflection.
- C.The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
- D.The angle of incidence is always 90°.
Question 15
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Calculate the refractive index of a material if a ray of light enters it from air (angle of incidence 50°) and the angle of refraction is found to be 28°. ( refractive~index = \frac{sin~i}{sin~r} )
Question 16
2 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe one difference between a luminous object and a non-luminous object. Give an example of each.
Question 17
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State what is meant by the term ‘critical angle’ when referring to light travelling from glass into air.
Question 18
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A ray of light travels from a type of glass (refractive index 1.62) into air.
(a)[1 mark]Write down the equation linking the critical angle and the refractive index of the glass.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the value of the critical angle, to 2 decimal places.
Question 19
1 mark · Easy
Answer and check →Which of the following conditions must be met for total internal reflection to occur at a glass–air boundary?
- A.The angle of incidence must be less than the critical angle and light travels from glass to air.
- B.The angle of incidence must equal the critical angle and light travels from air to glass.
- C.The angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle and light travels from glass into air.
- D.The angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle and light travels from air into glass.
Question 20
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Angles measured for a glass–air interface Angle of incidence (i) Angle of refraction (r) 30° 19° 40° 27° 42° 90° Using the table above, identify the critical angle for this glass–air boundary and explain how you know.