plumiDiffraction and the diffraction grating (core practical 6): Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 2.3.4.2 Diffraction and the diffraction grating (core practical 6), 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q15(a)
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All 38 questions on Diffraction and the diffraction grating (core practical 6), as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q15(a) (2 marks): State what is meant by diffraction. (2)
- June 2025, AS Unit 2, Q15(b)(ii) (3 marks): A student suggests that the beam of electrons would produce a diffraction pattern if a diffraction grating with 5000 lines per cm was used. screen electron beam
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q14(b)(i) (4 marks): Calculate the number of lines per mm on the diffraction grating. λ = 650 nm L = 1.30 m x = 0.22 m (4) Number of lines per mm =
- January 2025, AS Unit 2, Q14(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain how a first order maximum is produced on the screen. (3)
- January 2025, AS Unit 3, Q4(b) (2 marks): The student derived the following formula v λ θ sin f where λ is the wavelength of the laser light and v is the speed of sound in the liquid. Explain how a grap
- January 2025, AS Unit 3, Q4(c)(i) (3 marks): Determine the value of v using your graph. λ = 650 nm (3) v =
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q16(a) (1 mark): Give one safety precaution the student should take during the experiment. (1)
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q16(b) (2 marks): State what measurements the student should make to determine the wavelength of the light from the laser. (2)
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q16(c)(i) (4 marks): Show that the wavelength of the light from the laser is about 600 nm. (4)
- October 2024, AS Unit 2, Q16(c)(ii) (2 marks): The student observed maxima beyond the first order. Determine the greatest order of maximum that the student could observe. (2) Greatest order of maximum =
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q12(a) (2 marks): In the visible spectrum formed on the screen, violet light is closest to the central maximum and red light is furthest away. Explain why the violet light is clo
- June 2024, AS Unit 2, Q12(b) (2 marks): The diffraction grating has a line spacing of 1.62 × 10 Calculate the wavelength of the violet light. (2) Wavelength of the violet light =
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q17(a) (2 marks): Describe how Huygens’ construction can be used to predict the shape of diffracted wavefronts. (2)
- January 2024, AS Unit 2, Q17(b) (6 marks): The wavefronts in the sea arrive parallel to the harbour wall. The wavelength of the waves varies as the weather varies. There are identical boats at two positi
- January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): The student used a metre rule to measure the distance between adjacent minima. Describe how the student should determine an accurate value for the distance betw
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1 (1 mark): The formula for a diffraction grating in the list of equations is nλ = d sin θ. Which of the following quantities does not have units? A n B λ C d D θ
- October 2023, AS Unit 2, Q15(a) (4 marks): This demonstration can be used to make conclusions about the behaviour of the electrons and the structure of the graphite. State these conclusions. (4)
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q1 (1 mark): Waves may spread out as they pass an object. Which of the following is the name of this process? A diffraction B interference C reflection D refraction
- June 2023, AS Unit 2, Q8 (1 mark): Light from a laser is incident on a diffraction grating, causing a series of maxima to be seen on a screen. The positions of the central maximum and first order
- January 2023, AS Unit 2, Q4 (1 mark): The equation nλ = d sin θ can be used to determine the wavelength of laser light that has passed through a diffraction grating. Which of the following is repres
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q18(a) (2 marks): Calculate the angle θ2 . (2) θ2 =
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q18(b) (3 marks): The student measured θ for values of n from 1 to 4. Describe how a graphical method can be used to determine the wavelength of the light from the laser. Assume
- October 2022, AS Unit 2, Q18(c) (4 marks): In a separate experiment, the student uses a different diffraction grating that has been labelled as “300 lines per mm” by another student. The distance measure
- June 2022, AS Unit 2, Q5 (1 mark): A laser, diffraction grating and screen are set up as shown. The position of the central maximum is O and the position of the first order maximum is X. The diff
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q14(a) (4 marks): The diagram below shows the position of the central dot at O. The next bright dot appears at position X. The diffraction grating has 450 lines per mm. X 0.500 m
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q14(b) (3 marks): Explain why a series of bright dots is seen on the screen. (3)
- January 2022, AS Unit 2, Q14(c) (2 marks): The laser is replaced by a source producing a parallel beam of bright white light. Suggest what would now be observed on the screen. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q2 (1 mark): A student determines the wavelength of the light emitted by a laser. She uses the laser, a diffraction grating and a screen. Which of the following measurements
- October 2021, AS Unit 2, Q9 (1 mark): The wavefront diagrams show consecutive waves approaching gaps of different sizes. A B C D The wavefronts diffract as they pass through each gap. In which diagr
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q18(b)(i) (1 mark): The diffraction grating equation is nλ = d sin θ State the quantity represented by d. (1)
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q18(b)(ii) (3 marks): The teacher made the following measurements: distance from central maximum to first order maximum = 1.61m distance from diffraction grating to screen = 2.74 m T
- January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q18(b)(iii) (3 marks): Using this diffraction grating and laser pointer, only the first order maxima and the central maximum are produced. Explain how the teacher, using the same lase
- October 2020, AS Unit 2, Q3 (1 mark): A diffraction grating has 300 lines per mm. When laser light is directed towards the diffraction grating, a diffraction pattern is observed on a screen. The pos
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q9 (1 mark): In an experiment, laser light is shone through a diffraction grating so that a series of bright dots appears on a screen. The equation nλ = d sin θ can be used
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q16(a) (2 marks): Explain, using Huygens’ construction, how diffraction occurs as waves pass through a gap. (2)
- January 2020, AS Unit 2, Q16(b) (3 marks): The diffraction pattern consists of a central bright spot surrounded by concentric circles of light of decreasing intensity. A close‑up of the pattern is shown
- June 2019, AS Unit 2, Q16(c) (3 marks): Light from the tube was directed through a diffraction grating, labelled as having 300 lines per mm. The diffraction pattern produced was displayed on a flat sc
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q3(c)(iv) (2 marks): The diffraction occurs as the electrons pass through the thin slice of graphite. The atoms in the graphite are arranged in layers. The position of the rings in
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