Photons: Eduqas A‑Level Physics questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Physics exam question on 3.4 Photons, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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Q4(a)
June 2025 · Component 3
4 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(b)
June 2025 · Component 3
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(c)
June 2025 · Component 3
4 marks3.4 Photons
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Q7(a)(i)
June 2025 · AS Component 2
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q7(a)(ii)
June 2025 · AS Component 2
2 marks3.4 Photons
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Q7(b)(i)
June 2025 · AS Component 2
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q7(b)(ii)
June 2025 · AS Component 2
1 mark3.4 Photons
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Q7(b)(iii)
June 2025 · AS Component 2
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(a)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(b)
June 2024 · Component 3
2 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(c)(i)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(c)(ii)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q4(d)
June 2024 · Component 3
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q3(a)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
1 mark3.4 Photons
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Q3(b)(i)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
2 marks3.4 Photons
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Q3(b)(ii)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
2 marks3.4 Photons
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Q3(b)(iii)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
3 marks3.4 Photons
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Q3(c)(i)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
1 mark3.4 Photons
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Q3(c)(ii)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
2 marks3.4 Photons
The whole paper ↗
Q3(c)(iii)
June 2024 · AS Component 2
2 marks3.4 Photons
The whole paper ↗

All 89 questions on Photons, as a list

June 2025, Component 3, Q4(a) (4 marks): Explain briefly how these results were obtained. [4]
June 2025, Component 3, Q4(b) (3 marks): Use the graph to calculate a value for the Planck constant. [3]
June 2025, Component 3, Q4(c) (4 marks): Determine which of the following metals could have been used for the surface of the photocell. [4] Metal Work function, φ / eV Cs 2.14 K 2.30 Na 2.75 Ca 3.20 Mo
June 2025, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the number of photons emitted per second by the laser. [3]
June 2025, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the number of photons per second will be less if a laser with the same power output is used that emits blue light. [2]
June 2025, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): The ammeter reading is 4.8 × 10–8 A. Calculate the number of electrons emitted per second by the caesium surface. State any assumptions you make. [3]
June 2025, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Joanna states that the probability of an individual photon causing the emission of an electron is very low if light from the green laser in part (a) is used. Ev
June 2025, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how the circuit needs to be changed to measure the stopping potential, Vs, of the emitted electrons from the caesium surface. [3]
June 2024, Component 3, Q4(a) (3 marks): Explain why the current is proportional to the light intensity. [3]
June 2024, Component 3, Q4(b) (2 marks): State the two factors that should be kept constant for the current to be proportional to the light intensity for this photocell. [2]
June 2024, Component 3, Q4(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the work function of the metal of the photocell, given that the maximum speed of the photoelectrons is 3.9 × 105 m s–1. [3]
June 2024, Component 3, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): The total light power incident on the photocell is 0.36 μW. Calculate the current in the circuit, stating any assumption that you make. [3]
June 2024, Component 3, Q4(d) (3 marks): The photoelectric effect is evidence of light behaving like particles. In 1802, Thomas Young carried out an experiment that was evidence of light behaving like
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the work function of a metal. [1]
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the frequency of radiation needed to eject electrons with a maximum kinetic energy of 1.5 × 10–19 J from a sodium surface. [2]
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Determine the minimum pd needed between the sodium surface and a nearby negatively charged electrode to stop these electrons. [2]
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): The intensity of the radiation is increased by moving the radiation source closer to the sodium surface. Ronald states the minimum pd will also increase. Explai
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): State what this pattern tells us about the behaviour of electrons. [1]
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how this pattern is formed. [2]
June 2024, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the speed at which an electron must be moving to have a de Broglie wavelength of 1.7 × 10–11 m. [2]
June 2023, Component 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Define the work function for a metal surface. [2]
June 2023, Component 3, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Most metals have a work function of a few eV. Using your values from part (a), show that microwaves will not produce the photoelectric effect whereas ultraviole
June 2023, Component 3, Q4(b)(iii) (5 marks): Gold has a work function of 5.1 eV. Calculate the maximum speed of electrons emitted from a gold surface when irradiated by photons of wavelength 200 nm. [5]
June 2023, Component 3, Q5 (6 marks): You are given a set of LEDs of known wavelengths and the following circuit. mA V safety LED resistor Explain how you would use this apparatus to measure the Pla
June 2023, AS Component 2, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Show that the number of photons emitted per second is 4 × 1015 s–1. [3]
June 2023, AS Component 2, Q2(c)(ii) (3 marks): The momentum of a photon is 5.3 × 10–27 kg m s–1. Calculate the force exerted by the light beam on a shiny surface if the beam strikes the surface at right angl
June 2023, AS Component 2, Q4(a) (6 marks): Describe how the following apparatus can be used to measure the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons and also, using light of different frequencies, the
June 2023, AS Component 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): Describe briefly how Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect has benefited society. [2]
June 2022, AS Component 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): Catherine uses a diffraction grating to observe the first order emission spectrum from a lamp containing gas atoms. Describe what she observes. [2]
June 2022, AS Component 2, Q4(b) (4 marks): Determine from the following energy level diagrams whether a photon of wavelength 565 nm is created from either sodium or cadmium atoms or both. [4] −9.50 eV −
June 2022, AS Component 2, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Show that the momentum of the gamma ray photon is 3.56 × 10−22 kg m s−1. [2]
June 2022, AS Component 2, Q4(d)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the total energy released in this emission. [3]
June 2022, AS Component 2, Q4(e) (2 marks): Evaluate the benefits for scientists and engineers of determining the value of physical constants such as the Plank constant and numbers such as π to a high deg
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q5(a) (6 marks): Describe the appearance of line emission spectra and absorption spectra, how they can be produced and explain the atomic processes responsible for their product
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q5(b) (4 marks): The energy levels of a gas are shown below. –1.31 eV – 3.12 eV – 5.41 eV Transitions between these energy levels provide two visible photon energies and one ult
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q6(a) (3 marks): Explain what is meant by the photoelectric effect. [3]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q6(b)(i) (4 marks): Calculate the number of photons per second incident on the photocell. [4]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the current, given that only 0.54 % of the incident photons lead to electrons that are collected at the anode. [2]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q6(c) (3 marks): Explain how the maximum kinetic energy of electrons can be measured using this apparatus. [3]
Autumn 2021, Component 3, Q8(c) (3 marks): The rapidly changing electromagnetic fields of microwaves are known to cause heating effects but are also thought, by some, to cause cancer. The Devon town of T
Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q5(b)(v) (3 marks): Soon after the collision in (b), one of the molecules gives out a photon of wavelength 589 nm. Evaluate whether or not the momentum of the photon significantly
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): State or calculate a typical photon energy of visible light. [1]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q1(b)(iii) (1 mark): Explain whether or not a microwave photon has a greater or smaller energy than a visible photon. [1]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q2(a) (3 marks): Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of an electron accelerated by a pd of 2 200 V. [3]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q2(b) (3 marks): Explain how electrons can be used in a laboratory to produce a diffraction pattern and the effect of increasing the pd on the diffraction pattern. [3]
Autumn 2020, Component 3, Q9(a) (5 marks): A sphere made of caesium is placed in space and illuminated by ultraviolet radiation of photon energy 10.3 eV. The work function of caesium is 2.1 eV. Explain i
June 2019, Component 1, Q8(d) (3 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph A little bit of information about stars by Ignasi Lluis Marxuach Figure 1 shows the three different rout
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Complete the table. [2] Wavelength λ of 1 Switching-on pd / V / m–1 LED / nm λ (± 10%) 465 2.15 × 106 2.78 ± 0.28 569 × 106 2.26 ± 660 1.52 × 106 1.91 ± 0.19 82
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the graph by plotting the two missing points whose values you have calculated together with their error bars. [2]
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): Draw the line of maximum gradient and the line of minimum gradient through the error bars. [2] 3.50 3.00 pd / V 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 0 0.5×106 1.0×106
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(b)(i) (5 marks): Use your two lines from (a)(iii) to obtain a value for the Planck constant along with its absolute uncertainty to an appropriate number of significant figures.
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(b)(ii) (4 marks): Explain to what extent Aled’s data displayed in the graph confirm the relationship. [4] eV = hc λ
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(c) (1 mark): Suggest one reason why choosing a constant current of 10.0 mA is better than using your eye to detect the emitted radiation for these LEDs. [1] THIS QUESTION CO
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(d)(i) (2 marks): Determine a value for the Planck constant. [2]
June 2019, Component 3, Q7(d)(ii) (3 marks): Determine a value of the work function of calcium and explain why no data points are possible below a frequency of 6.9 × 1014 Hz. [3]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(a) (2 marks): Calculate the ionisation energy of the lithium ion in joules. [2]
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(b) (3 marks): Calculate the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation emitted when an electron drops from the second excited state (n = 3) to the first excited state (n = 2
June 2019, Component 3, Q8(c) (3 marks): The emission and absorption spectra of another element are shown below. Emission spectrum Absorption spectrum Explain briefly the processes that give rise to th
June 2019, AS Component 2, Q6(a) (1 mark): State the ionisation energy of a sodium atom. [1]
June 2019, AS Component 2, Q6(b) (3 marks): White light passes through a cloud of sodium atoms. The light which emerges is found to have the continuous spectrum of white light but with dark lines crossing
June 2019, AS Component 2, Q6(c)(i) (3 marks): The spectrum of a star is shown below. The wavelength of one of the dark lines is 590 nm. Evaluate whether this is evidence for the presence of sodium in the st
June 2019, AS Component 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by the term work function, φ . [2]
June 2019, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Light of frequency 7.3 × 1014 Hz is incident on a sodium surface at a rate of 2.5 × 10–10 J s–1. Determine the number of photons per second incident on the sodi
June 2019, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(ii) (6 marks): A graph of Ek max against f for the sodium surface is given below. Ek max / 10–19 J 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 f/1014 Hz I. Calculate the work
June 2018, Component 2, Q7(d) (3 marks): Without calculation, explain how the de Broglie wavelength of the electron changes as it moves towards P. [3]
June 2018, Component 3, Q3(a) (3 marks): Explain why a current is detected by the ammeter. [3]
June 2018, Component 3, Q3(b) (3 marks): The work function of the metal surface is 2.7 eV and electrons are emitted with a maximum kinetic energy of 1.2 eV. Calculate the frequency of the incident phot
June 2018, Component 3, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain how you would modify and use the circuit opposite to measure the stopping potential. [3]
June 2018, Component 3, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): The metal surface of the photocell is radioactive and emits alpha particles some of which arrive at the collecting electrode. Explain briefly what effect this w
June 2018, Component 3, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): The light intensity inside a powerful laser is 2.0 × 1015 W and its wavelength is 1.05 μm. Show that this corresponds to approximately 1 × 1034 photons per seco
June 2018, Component 3, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Show that the momentum of a 1.05 μm photon is approximately 6 × 10–28 kg m s–1. [1]
June 2018, Component 3, Q4(c)(iii) (2 marks): Show that the force exerted on a 100.0% reflecting mirror by a beam of power 2.0 × 1015 W is approximately 1 × 107 N. [2]
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by the photoelectric effect. [1]
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Einstein’s photoelectric equation may be written as: Ekmax = hf – φ Explain this equation in terms of energy. [3]
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): Evaluate why the following circuit is incorrect and cannot be used to measure the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons. [4] V
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): Plot Ekmax (y-axis) against frequency (x -axis) on the grid below and draw a line of best fit through your data. [3] 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain whether or not your graph is in agreement with Einstein’s photoelectric equation. [3]
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate a value for the Planck constant using the gradient of your graph. [3]
June 2018, AS Component 2, Q3(c)(iv) (2 marks): An answer can be considered to be accurate if it is within 5% of the accepted value for the Planck constant. Evaluate whether your answer for the Planck constan
June 2017, AS Component 2, Q5(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain how this pattern is formed. [2]
June 2017, AS Component 2, Q5(d)(ii) (2 marks): The thin sheet of aluminium is replaced with a foil of copper. The distance between the copper atoms is smaller than in aluminium. Describe how you expect the p
June 2017, AS Component 2, Q6(a) (6 marks): Describe an experiment using a range of LEDs to determine the Planck constant. [6 QER]
June 2017, AS Component 2, Q6(b) (2 marks): A university research group uses a new experimental method to determine a value for the Planck constant that is higher than the accepted value of 6.63 × 10–34J
June 2016, AS Component 1, Q6(c) (3 marks): The diameter of Sirius is 2.40 × 109 m. Use the peak wavelength to estimate the number of photons per second emitted by Sirius. [3]
June 2016, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Any charge carried by the satellite could affect its sensitive electronic circuits. Satellites therefore need to be designed to minimise photoelectric emission
June 2016, AS Component 2, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): The satellite is coated with platinum, which has a work function of 5.24 × 10–19J. Determine the longest wavelength of incident sunlight that can eject an elect
June 2016, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Determine the number of photons incident on the solar cells per second if the intensity of the light rays incident on the panel is 1.39 × 103 W m–2 and the mean
June 2016, AS Component 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Hence or otherwise determine the pressure exerted by the photons on the solar panel. Assume that the panel absorbs all the photons. [2]
June 2016, AS Component 2, Q7(c) (2 marks): Discuss any ethical issues that can arise from continuing to develop satellite technology and space exploration in general by referring to the following informa

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