AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2025: Question 1

13 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Investigate the reflection of light using a ray box, plot a graph of angles of incidence and reflection, identify wave features, and calculate wave properties.

Practise this question

Question

Question 1 contains seven parts. Figure 1 shows a ray box reflecting a ray of light off a mirror, with normal line and angles A and B marked. Part 01.1 asks what equipment measures angles A and B. Table 1 lists pairs of values for Angle A and Angle B in degrees: (0,0), (5,5), (11,11), (20,20), (29,29). Figure 2 is a graph with x-axis labeled 'Angle A in degrees' from 0 to 30. Part 01.2 asks to label the y-axis, plot data, and draw a line of best fit. Part 01.3 is a multiple-choice question on the relationship between angles A and B. Figure 3 shows a transverse wave labeled with arrows A, B, C, D. Parts 01.4 and 01.5 ask which letter represents amplitude and wavelength. Part 01.6 provides wave speed 0.125 m/s, frequency 2.5 Hz, the equation wavelength = wave speed / frequency, and unit selection options (m, Pa, kg/m). Part 01.7 asks to calculate the period using period = 1 / frequency.

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for Question 1: 01.1 requires 'protractor' (1 mark). 01.2 awards 1 mark for 'angle B in degrees / °' on y-axis, 2 marks for all points correctly plotted (tolerance ±0.5 small square, 1 mark for 3 correct), and 1 mark for straight line of best fit. 01.3 requires 'angle A is directly proportional to angle B' (1 mark). 01.4 requires 'A' (1 mark). 01.5 requires 'D' (1 mark). 01.6 awards 1 mark for substitution 0.125 / 2.5, 1 mark for 0.050, and 1 mark for unit 'm' (allow 5.0 cm). 01.7 awards 1 mark for substitution 1 / 2.5 and 1 mark for 0.40 (s). Total: 13 marks.

How to answer it

Reflection of Light & Properties of Waves

📋 What This Question Tests

Core foundational wave concepts: measuring angles with a protractor (RPA 9: Reflection), plotting experimental data and drawing a straight line of best fit, identifying direct proportionality, labelling parts of a transverse wave (amplitude and wavelength), and substituting numbers into the wave speed ( v = f × λ ) and wave period ( T = 1 / f ) equations.

Question 01.1

Measuring Angles of Light

Apparatus selection [1 mark]

✅ Correct Answer

Protractor

🧠 Exam Technique

Make sure to spell measuring instruments clearly. A ruler measures length/distance, while a protractor measures angles in degrees (°).

[1 mark] for naming a protractor.
Question 01.2

Plotting Reflection Data

Graph completion and line of best fit [4 marks]

✅ Correct Elements

  • y-axis label: Angle B in degrees or Angle B (°)
  • Points plotted accurately: (5, 5), (11, 11), (20, 20), (29, 29) to within ± ½ small square.
  • Line of best fit: A single, clean, straight line drawn with a ruler passing directly through (0,0) and the points.

❌ Common Errors

  • Forgetting the unit on the axis label (writing just "Angle B").
  • Joining points dot-to-dot with "sketchy" lines rather than using a sharp pencil and a ruler.
  • Plotting large, blurry blobs instead of precise small crosses ( × ).
[1 mark] y-axis labelled: angle B in degrees / °
[2 marks] All 4 remaining points correctly plotted (1 mark if 3 are correct)
[1 mark] Straight line of best fit drawn cleanly through the data
Question 01.3

Relationship Between Angle A and Angle B

Identifying relationships from graph data [1 mark]

✅ Correct Answer

Tick Box 1: Angle A is directly proportional to angle B.

💡 Key Knowledge: Direct Proportionality

Two quantities are directly proportional when:

  • The graph is a straight line.
  • The line passes directly through the origin (0, 0).
  • Whenever angle A doubles, angle B doubles. Here, Angle of Incidence = Angle of Reflection ( i = r ).
[1 mark] for selecting direct proportionality.
Questions 01.4 & 01.5

Transverse Wave Anatomy

Identifying Amplitude & Wavelength [2 marks total]

✅ Correct Answers

01.4 Amplitude: A [1 mark]

01.5 Wavelength: D [1 mark]

💡 Key Definitions

  • Amplitude: Maximum displacement of a point on a wave away from its undisturbed (rest) position. (Line A goes from equilibrium to crest).
  • Wavelength: The distance between the same point on two adjacent waves. (Line D spans from trough to trough).

❌ Common Misconceptions

  • Confusing C with amplitude: C represents the peak-to-trough height (total height), which is twice the amplitude.
  • Confusing B with wavelength: B is only half a wavelength (crest to trough horizontally).
[1 mark] for selecting A in 01.4
[1 mark] for selecting D in 01.5
Question 01.6

Calculating Wave Wavelength

Applying the rearranged wave speed formula [3 marks]

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

Given: wave speed = 0.125 m/s , frequency = 2.5 Hz

  1. Substitute values:
    wavelength = 0.125 / 2.5
  2. Calculate:
    wavelength = 0.05 (or 0.050 )
  3. Select correct unit:
    Wavelength is a distance/length: m

Wavelength = 0.05  |  Unit = m

❌ Units Trap

Students often lose the final mark by guessing units:

  • Pa (Pascals) is the unit of pressure.
  • kg / m is mass per unit length.
  • m (metres) is the standard SI unit for wavelength.
[1 mark] Correct substitution: 0.125 / 2.5
[1 mark] Correct value: 0.05 or 0.050 (or 5.0 cm)
[1 mark] Correct unit: m
Question 01.7

Calculating Wave Period

Using the period-frequency equation [2 marks]

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

Equation provided: period = 1 / frequency

  1. Substitute values:
    T = 1 / 2.5
  2. Evaluate on calculator:
    T = 0.4 (or 0.40 )

Period = 0.4 s

🧠 Exam Tip

Always write out your substitution step ( 1 / 2.5 ) before typing it into your calculator. If you hit a wrong button, you still lock in the method mark!

[1 mark] Correct substitution: 1 / 2.5
[1 mark] Correct answer: 0.4 or 0.40 (s)

Topics

Physics · Required Practicals · P6: Waves · Required Practicals

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.