Optics (AQA GCSE Physics)

Exam Questions

1 hour10 questions
1a2 marks

Sketch a concave lens and the symbol used to represent it, clearly labelling each.

1b2 marks

A convex lens is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

screenshot-2023-03-13-at-16-18-15

It has a focal length of 5 cm. Each larger box represents a distance of 2 cm.

Draw the principal focus on each side of the lens on Figure 1.

1c3 marks

Draw light rays from the object to locate and draw the image on the other side of the lens.

1d3 marks

Describe the image.

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2a3 marks

A young girl is studying insects in her garden using a magnifying glass.

Complete the sentences. 

Choose answers from the box. 

Each answer can be used once, more than once or not at all.

the same size as larger than smaller than

     

If magnification is greater than 1, the image is .............................. the object.

   

If magnification is less than 1, the image is .............................. the object.

   

If magnification is equal to 1, the image is .............................. the object.

2b3 marks

Figure 1 shows the object and the image under the magnifying glass.

Each larger box represents a distance of 2 cm.

Figure 1

screenshot-2023-03-13-at-16-19-29

   

Calculate the magnification and explain why it has no units.

   

Magnification = ....................................
2c3 marks

Draw a light ray from the object on Figure 1 to determine the focal length of the lens used in the magnifying glass. 

   

Focal length = .................................... cm
2d2 marks

After a lesson on magnification, the young girl realises the image she saw in her magnifying glass was upright and virtual.

Explain what this means.

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3a2 marks

Define specular reflection.

3b2 marks

Define diffuse reflection.

3c3 marks

Figure 1 shows white light being shone at two filters (filter 1 and filter 2). No light passes through filter 2.

Figure 1

6-3-e-3c-two-colour-filters

State the filter type of filter 1 and explain why the light is blue once it has passed through filter 1.

3d1 mark

Suggest a filter type for filter 2.

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1a3 marks

A convex lens is used to create an image of a nearby object. The lens and object are placed as shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1

fig-1-6-3-medium-aqa-gcse-physics

Complete Figure 1 to show how and where the image is formed.

1b2 marks

An eye has a convex lens to form an image that is processed by the brain.

Describe how the image formed by an eye is different from the image formed in a mirror.

1c3 marks

Describe what is meant by the focal length of a lens and what two factors determine this length.

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2a2 marks

Figure 1 below shows light of various colours hitting an object.

Figure 1

fig-1-q2a-6-3-medium-aqa-gcse-physics

Some of the light is reflected, some is absorbed and some is transmitted.

Describe how the appearance of the object would change when viewed from

(i) above

(ii) below

(You should assume that there are no other sources of illumination.)

2b2 marks

Colour filters are often used on cameras. Figure 2 below shows a blue colour filter used with red, blue and green monochromatic light incident upon it.

Figure 2

fig-2-q2b-6-3-medium-aqa-gcse-physics

Draw the light ray that is transmitted through this filter.

2c2 marks

State what happens to the other light rays when they are incident upon the filter. Explain why.

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3a2 marks

Figure 1 shows a magnifying glass used to magnify the Save My Exams logo.

Figure 1

fig-1-q3a-medium-aqa-gcse-physics

State what type of lens is used in a magnifying glass and why this image can only be seen by the observer of the magnifying glass

3b3 marks

The image height is 60 mm when viewed through the magnifying glass of magnification 3.

Calculate the object height before it was magnified. Give the unit. 

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4a2 marks

Figure 1 shows light entering and passing through a lens.

Figure 1

fig-1-q4-6-3-medium-aqa-gcse-physics

State whether the lens is concave or convex. Give a reason for your answer.

4b2 marks

The lens in Figure 1 is now replaced with one that is more curved.

State and explain what happens to point X for this new lens.

4c3 marks

The same lens in Figure 1 is used to create an image of an object that is brought close to the lens, as shown in Figure 2. F marks the principal focus on the lens.

Figure 2

fig-2-q3-6-3-medium-aqa-gcse-physics

Complete the ray diagram in Figure 2 to show how and where the image is formed. 

4d3 marks

State three features of the image drawn in Figure 2.

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1a3 marks

Lenses can be used to help people see clearly.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a convex lens.

 Figure 1

6-3-h-1a-figure-2-2triangles-1circle-a

A student models the lens using two glass prisms and a glass block.

Complete the ray diagram Figure 2 to show how light rays travel through the model lens (glass prism and glass block).

Figure 2

6-3-h-1a-figure-2-2triangles-1circle-1

1b2 marks

A student looks at coloured paper in different monochromatic light.


Figure 3
is a diagram of her experiment.

Figure 3
  

6-3-h-1b-coloured-paper

He looks at red paper with red light. The paper appears red.

State the colour that the red paper appears to be in green light.

Explain your answer.

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2a2 marks

A student investigates reflection and refraction of light rays.

The student sends a ray of red light into a glass prism.

Figure 1 shows the light ray as it leaves the glass prism.

Figure 1

fig-18-1-paper4-june2098-ocr-gcse-physics

On Figure 1 complete the ray of light as it travels towards and through the glass prism.

2b2 marks

Figure 2 shows two perpendicular mirrors.

A light ray hits one of the mirrors at 45°.

Figure 2

fig-18-2-paper4-june2098-ocr-gcse-physics

On Figure 2, complete the path of the light ray reflecting from both mirrors.

2c2 marks

White light is made of different colours.

White light passes through a transparent filter X.

Filter X absorbs green, red, indigo and violet light.

The light then passes through another transparent filter Y, as shown in Figure 3. 

Figure 3

6-3-h-2c-twofilters

The light that leaves filter Y is blue.

State the colours that are transmitted by filter X and the colours that are absorbed by filter Y.

2d4 marks

An optician uses orange and indigo light to test vision.

Figure 4 is a ray diagram showing orange light passing through a lens.

Figure 4

 

6-3-h-2d-colour-refract-a

In Figure 5, indigo light passes through the same lens as in Figure 4.

Figure 5

6-3-h-2d-colour-refract-b

Complete the ray diagram in Figure 5 for indigo light. The focal point for orange light forange is shown.

Explain your answer.

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3a3 marks

Figure 1 shows a ray of light striking a plane mirror at point A.

Figure 1
  

6-3-h-3a-reflect40

Complete the light ray diagram with a normal and a reflected ray at A.

State the value of the angle of incidence for the ray of light at point A.   

   

Angle of incidence = .................................... °
3b4 marks

Figure 2 shows an object AL positioned 50cm from a convex lens. Both principal focuses of the lens are labelled f.

Figure 2

6-3-h-3b-lensal

Two rays from point L of the object are incident on the lens.

On Figure 2, continue the paths of these two rays to show where the image of AL is formed by the lens. Represent this image with an arrow from the principal axis.

3c6 marks

Higher Only

A wave, in air, is incident on still water. Figure 3 shows the wavefronts at the air-water boundary. The arrow shows the direction of transfer of energy.

Figure 3
 

6-3-h-3c-wavefronts

The wave undergoes reflection and refraction at the air-water boundary.

On Figure 3 draw the wavefronts of the reflected and refracted waves.

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