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2 marksProperties of Waves

CAPE Physics Unit 1 · May/June 2026 · Paper 2 · Question 2(d)(iv)

The angle of incidence is varied and the angle of refraction is measured, as shown in Table 1.

Explain why it is preferable to use red light instead of white light in the experiment.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 2(a)Draw and label the period and amplitude on the sketch of the sinusoidal waveform in Figure 3.[2 marks]
  2. 2(b)(i)Calculate the period of the motion of the block.[3 marks]
  3. 2(b)(ii)Deduce the amplitude of the oscillation and provide an explanation in terms of energy transformations in the oscillating spring-mass system.[4 marks]
  4. 2(b)(iii)Calculate the maximum speed, vₘ, of the oscillating block and state the position of the block when its maximum speed is attained.[3 marks]
  5. 2(b)(iv)Calculate the maximum acceleration, aₘ, of the oscillating block.[3 marks]
  6. 2(c)(i)On Figure 5, draw and label the normal.[1 mark]
  7. 2(c)(ii)On Figure 5, draw and label the angle of incidence, i.[1 mark]
  8. 2(c)(iii)On Figure 5, draw and label the angle of refraction, r.[1 mark]
  9. 2(d)(i)On the grid provided in Figure 6, plot a graph of sin i versus sin r and draw the line of best fit through the points.[4 marks]
  10. 2(d)(ii)Hence, determine the refractive index of Perspex.[3 marks]
  11. 2(d)(iii)State the THREE conditions under which total internal reflection occurs.[3 marks]

More practice: the rest of this paper · more Properties of Waves questions · all CAPE Physics Unit 1 past papers