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Refraction of light: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 2.6 Refraction of light, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,173 questions

  1. Q6(a)(i)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 2, question 6(a)(i): Using calculated values, describe how the speed of the laser light varies as it follows the path above. [3]

  2. Q6(a)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · AS Unit 2

    4 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 AS Unit 2, question 6(a)(ii): When the beam enters the stream of water, it follows the path as shown above. Explain this process, making reference to the critical angle of the water–air boun

  3. Q7(a)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 7(a): State why no bending of the beam occurs as it enters the curved face of the block. [1]

  4. Q7(b)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 7(b): grid opposite. [2] sin θA 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 sin θP

  5. Q7(c)(i)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 7(c)(i): [3]

  6. Q7(c)(ii)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 7(c)(ii): Determine a value for the refractive index, n. [2]

  7. Q7(d)

    Summer 2024 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 AS Unit 2, question 7(d): case. [2]

  8. Q5(a)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 5(a): Define the refractive index of a material. [1]

  9. Q5(b)(i)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 5(b)(i): Show that the refractive index of material A is approximately 1.5. [2]

  10. Q5(b)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 5(b)(ii): Determine the time taken for the ray of light to travel through material A from X to Y. [3]

  11. Q5(c)(i)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 5(c)(i): Confirm that total internal reflection will occur at Y. [3]

  12. Q5(c)(ii)

    Summer 2023 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 AS Unit 2, question 5(c)(ii): On the diagram opposite continue the path of the light ray inside material A. [1]

  13. Q8(a)(i)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 2, question 8(a)(i): Explain how multimode dispersion arises in a glass fibre. [2]

  14. Q8(a)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 2, question 8(a)(ii): State what feature of a monomode fibre prevents multimode dispersion. [1]

  15. Q8(b)(i)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 2, question 8(b)(i): Calculate the largest angle, θ, to the axis (see diagram) at which light can travel for long distances through the core of a multimode fibre, if the refractive

  16. Q8(b)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 AS Unit 2, question 8(b)(ii): Explain what would happen to light entering the fibre at an angle to the axis greater than the angle calculated in (b)(i). [2]

  17. Q7(a)(i)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 2, question 7(a)(i): Determine the speed of light in the plastic using measurements made with a ruler from the diagram, and taking the speed of light in air to be equal to its speed

  18. Q7(a)(ii)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 2

    1 mark2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 2, question 7(a)(ii): Calculate the refractive index of the plastic. [1]

  19. Q7(b)(i)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 2

    3 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 2, question 7(b)(i): Evaluate whether or not overlap (or overtaking) of pulses will occur before the pulses have reached the other end of the fibre. [3]

  20. Q7(b)(ii)

    Summer 2019 · AS Unit 2

    2 marks2.6 Refraction of light
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2019 AS Unit 2, question 7(b)(ii): Part of the longest possible successful zig-zag route is shown below. cladding core (n = 1.520) 83° Diagram not drawn to scale Calculate the refractive index of
All 38 questions on Refraction of light, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Using calculated values, describe how the speed of the laser light varies as it follows the path above. [3]
  2. Summer 2025, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(ii) (4 marks): When the beam enters the stream of water, it follows the path as shown above. Explain this process, making reference to the critical angle of the water–air boun
  3. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q7(a) (1 mark): State why no bending of the beam occurs as it enters the curved face of the block. [1]
  4. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q7(b) (2 marks): grid opposite. [2] sin θA 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 sin θP
  5. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): [3]
  6. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Determine a value for the refractive index, n. [2]
  7. Summer 2024, AS Unit 2, Q7(d) (2 marks): case. [2]
  8. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(a) (1 mark): Define the refractive index of a material. [1]
  9. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the refractive index of material A is approximately 1.5. [2]
  10. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): Determine the time taken for the ray of light to travel through material A from X to Y. [3]
  11. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Confirm that total internal reflection will occur at Y. [3]
  12. Summer 2023, AS Unit 2, Q5(c)(ii) (1 mark): On the diagram opposite continue the path of the light ray inside material A. [1]
  13. Summer 2022, AS Unit 2, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain how multimode dispersion arises in a glass fibre. [2]
  14. Summer 2022, AS Unit 2, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): State what feature of a monomode fibre prevents multimode dispersion. [1]
  15. Summer 2022, AS Unit 2, Q8(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the largest angle, θ, to the axis (see diagram) at which light can travel for long distances through the core of a multimode fibre, if the refractive
  16. Summer 2022, AS Unit 2, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain what would happen to light entering the fibre at an angle to the axis greater than the angle calculated in (b)(i). [2]
  17. Summer 2019, AS Unit 2, Q7(a)(i) (3 marks): Determine the speed of light in the plastic using measurements made with a ruler from the diagram, and taking the speed of light in air to be equal to its speed
  18. Summer 2019, AS Unit 2, Q7(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the refractive index of the plastic. [1]
  19. Summer 2019, AS Unit 2, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Evaluate whether or not overlap (or overtaking) of pulses will occur before the pulses have reached the other end of the fibre. [3]
  20. Summer 2019, AS Unit 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Part of the longest possible successful zig-zag route is shown below. cladding core (n = 1.520) 83° Diagram not drawn to scale Calculate the refractive index of
  21. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q8(b) (2 marks): Figure 2 is less than 80 ° (paragraph 3). [2]
  22. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q8(c) (2 marks): (paragraphs 3 & 4 and Figures 2 & 3). [2]
  23. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q8(d) (4 marks): paragraphs 3 & 4 and Figures 2 & 3). [4]
  24. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q8(e) (3 marks): Rhys makes the following claim: “A multimode optical fibre that can transfer data at a maximum bit rate of 500 Mb s–1 over a distance of 1 km would be able to t
  25. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q8(f) (3 marks): A certain type of optical fibre has an attenuation of 0.8 dB/km. When the signal decreases to 6% of its original intensity it must be amplified or the signal wi
  26. Summer 2018, Unit 3, Q8(g) (4 marks): Aled claims that a core diameter of around 13 μm is thin enough for a monomode optical fibre because a wavelength in air of 1.3 μm is usually used in communicat
  27. Summer 2018, AS Unit 2, Q7(a)(i) (3 marks): A narrow beam of light enters a glass block of quarter-circle cross-section, as shown. The refractive index of the glass is 1.60. normal 30° 100mm nglass = 1.60
  28. Summer 2018, AS Unit 2, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the largest distance, x, along the bottom face of the block, at which the beam can enter the block normally, for it to emerge from the curved face. Yo
  29. Summer 2018, AS Unit 2, Q7(b) (6 marks): Explain how a multimode (thick) glass fibre transmits light, and why rapid streams of data cannot be transmitted successfully through long lengths of multimode
  30. Summer 2017, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the full name of the process by which the light changes direction in the prisms. [1]
  31. Summer 2017, AS Unit 2, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): The student wonders whether the periscope will still work properly if the lower prism is surrounded by water (nwater = 1.33). Determine whether or not it will,
  32. Summer 2017, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): A particular monomode fibre has a core of refractive index 1.515. Calculate the time it takes for a pulse of light to travel through 1.50 km of the fibre. [3]
  33. Summer 2017, AS Unit 2, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the advantage of a monomode fibre over a fibre with a much thicker core, for the transmission of a rapid stream of data. [3]
  34. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the speed of light in the plastic. [2]
  35. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the critical angle for light approaching air from the plastic. [1]
  36. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): The refractive index of the core is 1.530. Calculate the refractive index of the cladding. [2]
  37. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): Show that the zigzag route in the diagram is 1.0125 times longer than a straight path through the same length of fibre. [1]
  38. Summer 2016, AS Unit 2, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): The difference in times of travel for a data pulse by these two extreme routes is required to be no more than 7.5 ns. Determine whether or not 150 m of fibre wi

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