Newton’s corpuscular theory of light: AQA A‑Level Physics questions

AQA A-Level Physics past-paper questions on 3.12.2.1 Newton’s corpuscular theory of light, 2008–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.

All 13 questions on Newton’s corpuscular theory of light, as a list

June 2025, Paper 3 Turning points, Q03 (6 marks): The work of Fizeau, Foucault, Hertz and Maxwell contributed to our understanding of the nature of light. Fizeau measured the speed of light in air. Foucault con
June 2023, Paper 3 Turning points, Q03.3 (3 marks): Another theory of the nature of light was proposed by Isaac Newton. Describe how Newton’s theory was used to explain the refraction of light as it moves from ai
June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q01.1 (2 marks): The student observes two bright white lines on the screen. Explain how this observation supports Newton’s theory of light. [2 marks]
June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q01.2 (6 marks): The student makes alterations to the apparatus in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the red and dark fringes that the student now observes on the screen. Figure 2 Identi
June 2022, Paper 3 Turning points, Q01.3 (3 marks): Shortly before the work of Newton and Huygens, Francesco Grimaldi carried out an experiment into the behaviour of light. Figure 3 shows Grimaldi’s arrangement.
June 2019, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.1 (1 mark): What happens to the horizontal and vertical components of the velocity of the corpuscles, according to the theory, when they are reflected? Tick () one box. [1
June 2019, Paper 3 Turning points, Q02.2 (6 marks): Newton used the corpuscular theory to explain the refraction of light at an interface between air and water. Huygens used the wave theory to explain the refract
June 2015, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe how Newton used the corpuscular theory to explain the refraction of light as it passes from one substance into a substance of higher optical density. [
June 2015, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Huygens used a wave theory to explain refraction. Explain why the corpuscular theory was rejected in favour of a wave theory to explain refraction. [2 marks]
June 2011, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State one reason why Huygens’ theory of light was rejected for many years after it was first proposed, in favour of Newton’s corpuscular theory of light. (1 mar
June 2011, PHYA5 Turning points (old spec), Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the eventual measurement of the speed of light in water led to the definite conclusion that light consists of waves and not corpuscles. (2 marks)
June 2008, PHA8W (2008 spec), Q3(a) (4 marks): 3 (a) Use Newton’s theory of light to explain the refraction of the light ray on entering the glass block. You may be awarded additional marks to those shown in
June 2008, PHA8W (2008 spec), Q3(b) (2 marks): 3 (b) Huygens put forward an alternative theory of light. Compare the explanations of refraction suggested by Newton and by Huygens. (2 marks)

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