Wave interactions: OCR GCSE Physics A questions

Every OCR GCSE Physics A exam question on P5.3 Wave interactions, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 67 questions on Wave interactions, as a list

June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): Which diagram shows a ray of light passing through a concave lens? A B C D Your answer [1]
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q17(c) (3 marks): The student observes that the stickers only glow in the dark after being exposed to light for a few hours. Complete the sentences to explain the student’s obser
June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): The diagram shows a ray of light travelling from air into glass. A Air Glass Ray of light B C D Which line shows the refracted ray of light? Your answer [1]
June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q12 (1 mark): The diagram shows white light passing through a triangular glass prism. Air White light Spectrum of colours Triangular glass prism Which sentence describes why
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): Which ray diagram correctly shows rays of light passing through a lens with principal focus F? F A F B F C F D Your answer [1]
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): A shirt appears green in white light. Which colour will the shirt appear in red light? A Black B Blue C Green D Red Your answer [1]
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(a) (1 mark): A student draws a ray diagram to show the refraction of a light ray through a glass block. Z Y X X is the incident ray. What are the names of line Y and line Z?
June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(b) (6 marks): (b)* The student does an experiment to investigate the reflection of light from a plane mirror. The diagram shows the equipment the student uses. Ray box with o
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(a) (2 marks): A student draws a simple model of a retroreflector using two plane mirrors at right angles to each other. Fig. 18.2 shows the student’s model. Fig. 18.2 Mirror
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(b) (1 mark): The retroreflector was placed on a layer of dust on the surface of the Moon. Since 1969, the efficiency of the retroreflector has decreased and it reflects less
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(a) (1 mark): Draw the path of the refracted ray inside the glass block in Fig. 22.1. [1]
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(b) (2 marks): Explain why red light refracts as it enters the glass block. [2]
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(c)(i) (4 marks): Describe a method the student could have used to investigate this relationship. You can draw on Fig. 22.1 to help explain your answer. [4]
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(c)(ii) (2 marks): The student concludes that the angle of incidence is directly proportional to the angle of refraction. Show that the student is incorrect. Use data from the tab
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(d) (2 marks): The student replaces the red laser with a green laser and repeats the experiment for the same angles of incidence. The student notices that the angles of refrac
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(e) (2 marks): The student replaces the glass block with a glass lens and directs both the red and green lasers into the lens at the same time as shown in Fig. 22.2. Fig. 22.2
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): The diagram shows a ray of light hitting a rectangular glass block. Incident ray Normal 60° not to scale What is the angle between the normal line and the incid
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10 (1 mark): A student places a blue filter and a red filter in front of a source of white light. P Q White light Blue filter Red filter Which row is correct? Light seen at
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(a) (4 marks): A student shines three parallel rays of red light at different glass objects. Fig. 22.1 shows the glass objects. Fig. 22.1 Convex lens Concave lens Prism Rectan
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(c)(i) (1 mark): What is the colour of the shirt and the number when viewed under blue light? Colour of shirt Colour of number [1]
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(c)(ii) (1 mark): Another football player says, ‘Under red light, I cannot read the number on the shirt.’ Explain why. [1]
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): Ultrasound scans are used to take pictures of unborn babies. Before the ultrasound scan, gel is placed on the skin. Gel Which sentence explains why the scan onl
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(a) (4 marks): A student shines three parallel rays of red light at different glass objects. Fig. 16.1 shows the glass objects. Fig. 16.1 Convex lens Concave lens Prism Rectan
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(c)(i) (1 mark): What is the colour of the shirt and the number when viewed under blue light? Colour of shirt Colour of number [1]
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(c)(ii) (1 mark): Another football player says, ‘Under red light, I cannot read the number on the shirt.’ Explain why. [1]
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): The diagram shows an ultrasound wave hitting a steel block. Air (Low density) Steel (High density) Ultrasound wave What happens to the ultrasound wave? A It is
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6 (1 mark): A ray of light hits a surface. Incident ray 90 100 80 90 100 80 Surface What is the angle of incidence? A 26° B 64° C 76° D 116° Your answer [1]
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q13 (1 mark): A student shines a ray of red light at different shaped glass blocks. Which diagram shows a correct path for the ray? A B C D Your answer [1]
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q16(c) (3 marks): Fig. 16.1 shows a submarine under water. Fig. 16.1 Periscope Surface of water Submarine A periscope is used to look above the water. Fig. 16.2 shows the perisco
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q5 (1 mark): The diagram shows four possible paths for a ray of light from an object passing through a concave lens. A Concave Lens B Object C D Which letter shows the corre
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): A student investigates absorption of coloured light in a dark laboratory. The student shines green light onto a blue object. What colour does the object appear?
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q11 (1 mark): A student uses a ray box to shine a ray of light through a glass block. Which diagram shows a correct path for the ray? A B C D Your answer [1]
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): A student draws ray diagrams for some lenses. Which ray diagram is correct? A B C D Your answer [1]
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(a)(i) (1 mark): State one change that happens to light when it travels from water into air. [1]
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(a)(ii) (3 marks): Diagram in Fig. 22.1 shows a ray of light from a fish in a container of water. Complete the ray diagram in Fig. 22.1 to show the path of the ray after it leaves
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(b) (1 mark): Diagram in Fig. 22.2 shows three incident rays hitting the surface of the fish. Light is scattered from the surface of the fish. Complete the diagram in Fig. 22
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(c) (2 marks): The fish appears red under white light. Explain why the fish appears black under green light. [2]
November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): A student uses a glass prism to split white light into different colours. Red light White light Blue light Which statement describes the light in the prism? A B
November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(a)(i) (1 mark): State one change that happens to light when it travels from water into air. [1]
November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(a)(ii) (3 marks): Diagram in Fig. 16.1 shows a ray of light from a fish in a container of water. Complete the ray diagram in Fig. 16.1 to show the path of the ray after it leaves
November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(b) (1 mark): Diagram in Fig. 16.2 shows three incident rays hitting the surface of the fish. Light is scattered from the surface of the fish. Complete the diagram in Fig. 16
November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(c) (2 marks): The fish appears red under white light. Explain why the fish appears black under green light. [2]
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): A light ray passes from air into glass. Which diagram shows the refraction of this light ray? Air A Glass Air B Glass Air C Glass Air D Glass [1] Your answer
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(a) (2 marks): The diagram shows one light ray as it passes through the convex lens. Draw one more ray on the diagram to show where the image is formed. Label the image Y. F =
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21(b) (2 marks): The projector contains a white light source. Explain how this white light source can be used to get red light. [2]
November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q13 (1 mark): Look at the diagrams of a light ray reflecting from two identical surfaces. A B C D Which diagram is correct? Your answer [1]
November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(a) (2 marks): The diagram shows one light ray as it passes through the convex lens. Draw one more ray on the diagram to show where the image is formed. Label the image Y. F =
November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(b) (2 marks): The projector contains a white light source. Explain how this white light source can be used to get red light. [2]
November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q19(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain what happens to the ultrasound wave when it reaches the kidney. [2]
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): Which diagram shows reflection of a light ray using a plane mirror? A B C D Your answer [1]
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(a)(i) (2 marks): A student models the lens using two glass prisms and a glass block. Complete the ray diagram Fig. 18.2 to show how light rays travel through the model lens (gla
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how a convex lens can correct long-sighted vision. Use the model in Fig. 18.2 to help you. [2]
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q18(b) (2 marks): A student looks at coloured paper in different coloured light. Fig. 18.3 is a diagram of her experiment. Red light Blue light Red paper Red paper Fig. 18.3 She
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(a) (2 marks): Describe two possible effects on an electron in an atom when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation. 1 2 [2]
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(a) (2 marks): The student sends a ray of red light into a glass prism. Fig. 18.1 shows the light ray as it leaves the glass prism. On Fig. 18.1 complete the ray of light as i
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(b) (2 marks): Fig. 18.2 shows two mirrors placed at 90° to each other. A light ray hits one of the mirrors at 45°. On Fig. 18.2 complete the ray of light as it reflects from
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(c)(i) (1 mark): What colours are transmitted by filter X? [1]
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(c)(ii) (1 mark): What colours are absorbed by filter Y? [1]
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(d)(i) (1 mark): Explain why. [1]
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest two different colours of light that would cause the wall to appear black. and [1]
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(e)(i) (1 mark): Green light passes through the same lens as in Fig. 18.4. Complete the ray diagram in Fig. 18.5 for green light. The focal point for red light FR is shown. Posi
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(e)(ii) (1 mark): Explain your answer to (e)(i). [1]
June 2019, Paper 4 Higher, Q18(e)(iii) (2 marks): Is the lens in Fig. 18.4 and 18.5 suitable for correcting long-sight or short-sight? Tick (✓) one box. Long-sight Short-sight Explain your answer. [2]
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): Which light ray shows the correct reflection from the plane (flat) mirror? A B C D Mirror Your answer [1]
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): Look at the diagrams of a light ray as it passes from air through a glass block. A B C D Which diagram shows an incorrect refraction? Your answer [1]
June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q3 (1 mark): Look at the diagrams of a light ray as it passes from air through a glass block. A B C D Which diagram shows an incorrect refraction? [1] Your answer
June 2018, Paper 4 Higher, Q15 (1 mark): Look at the diagram of white light as it passes through a prism. Red Green White light Violet A spectrum of colours is seen. It ranges from red to violet. Why d

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