AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Higher), June 2024: Question 1
13 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Investigate the refraction of light by a glass block and reflection of light by a curved surface, including describing the method, plotting data, and analyzing proportionality.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
01 A student investigated the refraction of light by a glass block.
Figure 1 shows the protractor used to measure the angles of incidence and the
angles of refraction.
Figure 1
01.1 What is the resolution of the protractor used to measure the angles?
[1 mark]
Resolution = °
Table 1 shows the results.
Table 1
Angle of incidence Angle of refraction
in degrees in degrees
10 6
20 12
30 18
40 23
50 28
60 3 32
01.2 Describe a method the student could have used to obtain the data in Table 1.
*02* You may include a labelled diagram.
[6 marks]
Figure 2 shows some of the results.
Figure 2
The student measured the angles of refraction for two additional angles of incidence.
Table 2 shows the additional results.
Table 2
Angle of incidence Angle of refraction
in degrees in degrees
70 35
80 5 37
01.3 Complete Figure 2.
You should:
• plot the results from Table 2
• draw the line of best fit.
[2 marks]
01.4 How does Figure 2 show that the angle of refraction is not directly proportional to
the angle of incidence?
[1 mark]
Figure 3 shows a diagram of a car headlight.
The headlight has a lamp, a reflective surface and a transparent cover.
Figure 3
01.5 Figure 4 shows a ray of light incident on the reflective surface.
Figure 4
Complete Figure 4 to show the reflected ray of light.
You should include the normal line at the point where the incident ray meets the
reflecting surface.
[2 marks]
01.6 Rays of light pass through the transparent cover of the headlight.
Which diagram shows how a ray of light passes through the transparent cover?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 1
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
01.1 1 (°) 1 AO3
4.6.1.3
RPA9
AO /
Question Answers Mark
Spec. Ref.
01.2 Level 3: The method would lead to the production of a valid 5–6 AO1
outcome. The key steps are identified and logically sequenced. 4.6.1.3
RPA9
Level 2: The method would not necessarily lead to a valid 3–4
outcome. Most steps are identified, but the method is not fully
logically sequenced.
Level 1: The method would not lead to a valid outcome. Some 1–2
relevant steps are identified, but links are not made clear.
No relevant content 0
Indicative content
Some indicative content could be indicated within a labelled
diagram
• place a glass block on a piece of paper
• draw around the glass block
• use the ray box to shine a ray of light through the glass block
• mark the ray of light entering the glass block
• mark the ray of light emerging from the glass block
• join the points to show the path of the complete ray through the
block
• and draw a normal line at 90 degrees to the surface
• use a protractor to measure the angle of incidence
• use a protractor to measure the angle of refraction
• use a ray box to shine a ray of light at a range of different angles
(of incidence)
• increase the angle of incidence in 10 degree intervals
• from an angle of incidence of 10 degrees to an angle of
incidence of 60 degrees
Methods involving mirrors and reflection score zero– – –
AO /
Spec. Ref.
01.3 points plotted correctly allow tolerance of ± half a small 1 AO2
square 4.6.1.3
RPA9 7
curve drawn passing through allow a line starting at the origin 1
points
AO /
Spec. Ref.
01.4 the line curves allow the line is not straight 1 AO3
4.6.1.3
allow line does not pass through RPA9
the origin if consistent with their
answer to question 01.3
AO /
Spec. Ref.
01.5 normal drawn 1 AO2
4.6.1.3
ray reflected so i = r judge by eye 1
AO /
Spec. Ref.
01.6 1 AO1
4.6.2.2
Total Question 1 13
How to answer it
Investigating Refraction and Reflection
What this question tests
This exam question tests your knowledge of Required Practical Activity 9 (RPA9): investigating the refraction of light through a glass block. It assesses your ability to identify instrument resolution, describe experimental methods step-by-step, plot and interpret graphical data (identifying non-linear relationships), apply the law of reflection (angle of incidence equals angle of reflection), and predict how light refracts through parallel-sided transparent blocks.
Resolution of a Protractor
✅ Correct Answer
1 (or 1° )
💡 Key Knowledge
The resolution of a measuring instrument is the smallest change in a quantity being measured that gives a perceptible change in the reading. On a standard protractor, the smallest scale division is 1 degree.
Describing a Practical Method (6 Marks)
✅ Correct Answer (Level 3: 5–6 Marks)
A logical, sequential method covering setup, tracing, and angle measurement:
- Place a glass block on a piece of white paper and draw around it.
- Use a ray box to shine a single ray of light into the glass block.
- Mark the path of the incident ray entering the block and the emerging ray leaving the block with crosses.
- Remove the block and join the points with straight lines to show the complete path through the block.
- Draw a normal line (at 90 degrees to the surface) using a protractor where the ray enters.
- Measure the angle of incidence and angle of refraction using a protractor.
- Repeat the process for a range of different angles of incidence (e.g., from 10° to 60° in 10° intervals).
🧠 Exam Technique & Level Control
- Level 1 (1–2 marks): Some basic steps mentioned, but out of order or incomplete.
- Level 2 (3–4 marks): Most key steps identified, but lacks full logical sequence or missing key details like drawing the normal.
- Level 3 (5–6 marks): Comprehensive, logically ordered method that another student could follow exactly to get valid results.
❌ Common Errors
- Describing an experiment using a plane mirror instead of a glass block scores zero marks.
- Failing to mention how the normal is drawn or how angles are measured with the protractor.
Completing a Graph
✅ Correct Answer
1. Correctly plot the points from Table 2 (70, 35) and (80, 37) within a tolerance of ± half a small square.
2. Draw a smooth curve of best fit passing through all points, starting at the origin (0,0).
🧠 Exam Technique
Use a sharp pencil for plotting points with crosses (x). Ensure your line of best fit is a smooth, continuous curve rather than dot-to-dot straight lines.
Interpreting Proportionality from a Graph
✅ Correct Answer
The line curves (or "is not a straight line").
💡 Key Knowledge
For two variables to be directly proportional, the graph must be a straight line passing through the origin. Because the points form a curve, angle of refraction is not directly proportional to the angle of incidence.
Ray Reflection and Normal Lines
✅ Correct Answer
1. Normal line correctly drawn perpendicular (90°) to the reflective surface at the point where the incident ray hits.
2. Reflected ray drawn such that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection ( i = r ) judged by eye.
❌ Common Errors
Drawing the normal at an angle rather than perpendicular to the curved mirror surface, or failing to make the reflection angles symmetrical.
Refraction Through a Transparent Cover
✅ Correct Answer
Tick the correct box showing a ray entering a rectangular block, bending towards the normal (entering denser medium), and exiting parallel to the original incident ray (bending away from the normal).
💡 Key Knowledge
When light passes through a parallel-sided transparent block:
- It bends towards the normal when entering a denser medium (air to glass/plastic).
- It bends away from the normal when exiting back into a less dense medium (glass/plastic to air).
- The emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray, just displaced sideways.
Topics
Physics · Required Practicals · Required Practicals · P6: Waves
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 2 (Higher), June 2024. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.