plumiReflection, refraction and absorption: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Reflection, refraction and absorption (specification points 4.9–4.12), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q5(a)
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Q5(b)(i)
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Q5(b)(ii)
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Q5(b)(iii)
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Q2(c)(i)
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Q2(c)(ii)
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Q2(c)(iii)
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Q10(b)(i)
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Q10(b)(ii)
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Q10(c)
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Q6(b)
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Q5(a)(i)
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Q5(a)(ii)
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Q5(a)(iii)
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Q5(b)
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Q5(c)
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Q5(d)
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Q5(b)
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Q5(c)
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Q6(c)
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All 27 questions on Reflection, refraction and absorption, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a) (4 marks): When light travels from air into glass, it is refracted. To investigate this, a student has a rectangular glass block and a ray box. The ray box produces a ray
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): state what happens to the wavelength of light when the light travels from glass into air (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): state what happens to the frequency of light when the light travels from glass into air. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): The speed of blue light in air is 3.0 × 108 m / s. Calculate the change in the speed of blue light when it travels from air into glass. Use the equation v = f ×
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(c)(i) (2 marks): The two shaded rows in Figure 3 are not plotted on the graph in Figure 4. Plot these missing results on the graph in Figure 4. (2)
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(c)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a curve of best fit through the points on the graph in Figure 4. (1)
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(c)(iii) (2 marks): Using Figure 4, describe the relationship between the angle of refraction and the angle of incidence. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): The incident energy is 0.25 J. The absorbed energy is 67 % of the incident energy. The reflected energy is 15 % of the incident energy. Calculate the amount of
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give one way to reduce the percentage of energy transmitted through the sound-insulating board. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q10(c) (2 marks): The ratio of the absorbed energy Ea to incident energy Ei is the coefficient of absorption of sound α. Ü O E a E i The table in Figure 17 gives the coefficient
- June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b) (3 marks): Figure 10 shows the difference in refraction of sound waves and light waves when these waves travel from air into water. light sound air air water water Figure
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): On the graph in Figure 6, draw the best fit curve. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Use the graph in Figure 6 to estimate the value of angle r when angle i is 80°. (1) angle r = °
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe how angle r changes with angle i for the results shown on the graph in Figure 6. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (1 mark): In Figure 5, the frequency of the light remains the same in glass as in air. Which row of the table describes what happens to the wave velocity and to the wavel
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (3 marks): In Figure 7, only refraction of light is shown. Other things happen to the light as it travels from P to Q. The intensity (brightness) of the light at Q is less
- November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(d) (1 mark): Which of these sketch graphs represents the speed of light as it travels from P to Q? (1) A B speed speed of light of light 3 × 108 3 × 108 in m/s in m/s air gl
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (2 marks): To investigate refraction in a rectangular glass block a student uses the apparatus shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 Describe how the student should measure the angl
- November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (4 marks): Figure 6 is a simplified diagram to show radio waves from a transmitter moving upwards, then meeting a boundary between lower and upper layers of the atmosphere
- June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(c) (2 marks): Sound travels slower in air than it does in water. Figure 9 shows the direction of travel of a sound wave approaching a boundary between air and water. The soun
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): In Figure 2, angle Y is the angle of (1) A deflection B incidence C reflection D refraction
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 3 is a graph of the student’s results. 50 45 40 35 30 angle Y 25 in degrees 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 angle X in degrees Figure 3 Use the graph to
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a)(iii) (3 marks): The student concludes that angle Y is directly proportional to angle X. Explain what the student must do to test this conclusion in more detail. (3)
- June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (3 marks): When white light crosses the boundary between air and glass, it can split up into the colours of the spectrum. Explain, in terms of speed, why the light behaves
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): In Figure 15, angle Y is the angle of (1) A deflection B incidence C reflection D refraction
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 16 is a graph of the student’s results. 50 45 40 35 30 angle Y 25 in degrees 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 angle X in degrees Figure 16 Use the graph
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a)(iii) (3 marks): The student concludes that angle Y is directly proportional to angle X. Explain what the student must do to test this conclusion in more detail. (3)
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