_______________________

Name:
_

Chapter 12 Waves 2
_______________________
Interference patterns Class:
_

_______________________
Date:
_

Time: 137 minutes

Marks: 110 marks

Comments:

Page 1 of 32
 Q1.
Two loudspeakers emit sound waves.

Which line in the table gives the correct frequency condition and the correct phase
condition for the waves from the loudspeakers to be coherent?
 
  Frequency condition Phase condition  

A same frequency variable phase difference

constant frequency
B constant phase difference
difference

constant frequency
C in phase
difference

D same frequency constant phase difference

(Total 1 mark)

Q2.

A double slit interference experiment is performed using monochromatic light of

wavelength λ. The centre of the observed pattern is a bright fringe. What is the path
difference between two waves which interfere to give the third dark fringe from the centre?

A       0.5 λ

B       1.5 λ

C       2.5 λ

D       3.5 λ
(Total 1 mark)
 Q3.
Two coherent sources generate sound waves of wavelength 0.40 m. The waves leave the
sources in phase. A detector some distance from the sources receives the sound waves.
The path difference between the detector and the sources is 0.90 m.

What is the phase difference between the waves arriving at the detector?
 
A zero
B 45°
C 90°
D 180°
(Total 1 mark)

Q4.

Point sources of sound of the same frequency are placed at S1 and S2. When a sound
detector is slowly moved along the line PQ, consecutive maxima of sound intensity are
detected at W and Y and consecutive minima at X and Z. Which one of the following is a
correct expression for the wavelength of the sound?

A       S1X – S1W

B       S1Y – S1X

C       S1X – S2X

D       S1Y – S2Y
(Total 1 mark)
Q5.
The diagram below shows the paths of microwaves from two narrow slits, acting as
coherent sources, through a vacuum to a detector.

(a)     Explain what is meant by coherent sources.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b)    (i)      The frequency of the microwaves is 9.4 GHz.

Calculate the wavelength of the waves.

wavelength = ____________________ m
(2)
 (ii)     Using the diagram above and your answer to part (b)(i), calculate the path
difference between the two waves arriving at the detector.

path difference = ____________________ m

(1)

(c)     State and explain whether a maximum or minimum is detected at the position shown
in the diagram above.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(d)     The experiment is now rearranged so that the perpendicular distance from the slits
to the detector is 0.42 m. The interference fringe spacing changes to 0.11 m.

Calculate the slit separation. Give your answer to an appropriate number of

significant figures.

slit separation = ____________________ m

(3)

(e)     With the detector at the position of a maximum, the frequency of the microwaves is
now doubled. State and explain what would now be detected by the detector in the
same position.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 14 marks)
Q6. The diagram shows a laboratory ultrasound transmitter emitting waves through two slits placed
0.20 m apart. A receiver, moving along line AB, parallel to the line of the slits, detects regular rises
and falls in the strength of the signal. A student measures a distance of 0.22 m between the first and
the third maxima in the signal when the receiver is 2.5 m from the slits.

(a)     (i)      Calculate the distance between successive maxima.

Distance between successive maxima ____________________

(1)

(ii)     Calculate the wavelength of the ultrasonic waves.

Wavelength ____________________
(2)

(b)     One of the slits is now covered. No other changes are made to the experiment.

State the differences between the observations made as the receiver is moved
along AB before and after this change. Explain the changes that you mention.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
Q7.
Just over two hundred years ago Thomas Young demonstrated the interference of light by
illuminating two closely spaced narrow slits with light from a single light source.

(a)     What did this suggest to Young about the nature of light?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b)     The demonstration can be carried out more conveniently with a laser. A laser
produces coherent, monochromatic light.

(i)      State what is meant by monochromatic.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii)     State what is meant by coherent.

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(iii)     State one safety precaution that should be taken while using a laser.

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(c)     The diagram below shows the maxima of a two slit interference pattern produced on
a screen when a laser was used as a monochromatic light source.

The slit spacing = 0.30 mm.

The distance from the slits to the screen = 10.0 m.

Use the diagram above to calculate the wavelength of the light that produced the
pattern.

answer = ____________________ m
 (3)

(d)     The laser is replaced by another laser emitting visible light with a shorter
wavelength.
State and explain how this will affect the spacing of the maxima on the screen.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q8.
A laser illuminates a pair of slits of separation 0.24 mm. The wavelength of light from the
laser is 6.3 × 10–7 m. Interference fringes are observed on a screen 4.3 m from the slits.

(a)     Calculate the fringe separation. Give an appropriate unit for your answer.

fringe separation ____________________

(3)

(b)     State the conditions necessary for two light sources to be coherent.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 5 marks)
Q9.
The diagram shows Young’s double-slit experiment performed with a tungsten filament
lamp as the light source.

(a)     On the axes in the diagram above, sketch a graph to show how the intensity varies
with position for a monochromatic light source.
(2)

(b)     (i)      For an interference pattern to be observed the light has to be emitted by two
coherent sources.
Explain what is meant by coherent sources.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii)     Explain how the use of the single slit in the arrangement above makes the light
from the two slits sufficiently coherent for fringes to be observed.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)
 (iii)    In this experiment light behaves as a wave.
Explain how the bright fringes are formed.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)

(c)     (i)      A scientist carries out the Young double-slit experiment using a laser that emits
violet light of wavelength 405 nm. The separation of the slits is 5.00 × 10–5 m.

Using a metre ruler the scientist measures the separation of two adjacent
bright fringes in the central region of the pattern to be 4 mm.

Calculate the distance between the double slits and the screen.

distance = ____________________ m
(2)

(ii)     Describe the change to the pattern seen on the screen when the violet laser is
replaced by a green laser. Assume the brightness of the central maximum is
the same for both lasers.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(iii)    The scientist uses the same apparatus to measure the wavelength of visible
electromagnetic radiation emitted by another laser.
Describe how he should change the way the apparatus is arranged and used
in order to obtain an accurate value for the wavelength.

______________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 13 marks)

Q10.
Monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm is used to illuminate a pair of slits 0.50 mm
apart. The fringes are observed at a distance of 1.50 m from the slits.

What is the separation of the fringes?

 
A 2.0 × 10−7 mm
B 1.8 × 10−3 mm
C 5.6 × 10−1 mm
D 1.8 mm
(Total 1 mark)

Q11.
(a)     A double slit interference experiment is set up in a laboratory using a source of
yellow monochromatic light of wavelength 5.86 × 10–7 m. The separation of the two
vertical parallel slits is 0.36 mm and the distance from the slits to the plane where
the fringes are observed is 1.80 m.

(i)      Describe the appearance of the fringes.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii)     Calculate the fringe separation, and also the angle between the middle of the
central fringe and the middle of the second bright fringe.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(iii)    Explain why more fringes will be seen if each of the slits is made narrower,
assuming that no other changes are made.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
 ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(8)

(b)     Light of wavelength 5.86 × 10–7 m falls at right angles on a diffraction grating which
has 400 lines per mm.

(i)      Calculate the angle between the straight through image and the first order
image.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii)     Determine the highest order image which can be seen with this arrangement.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(5)

(c)     Give two reasons why the diffraction grating arrangement is more suitable for the
accurate measurement of the wavelength of light than the two-slit interference
arrangement.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 15 marks)
 Q12.
When a parallel beam of monochromatic light is directed at two narrow slits, S1 and S2,
interference fringes are observed on a screen.

Which line in the table gives the changes that will increase the spacing of the fringes?
 
Distance from slits to
  Slit spacing  
screen

A halved halved

B halved doubled

C doubled halved

D doubled doubled
(Total 1 mark)

Q13.
Figure 1 shows an arrangement used to investigate double slit interference using
microwaves. Figure 2 shows the view from above.

Figure 1

Figure 2
  

The microwaves from the transmitter are polarised. These waves are detected by the
aerial in the microwave receiver (probe). The aerial is a vertical metal rod.

The receiver is moved along the dotted line AE. As it is moved, maximum and minimum
signals are detected. Maximum signals are first detected at points B and C. The next
maximum signal is detected at the position D shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows the distances between each of the two slits, S1 and S2, and the microwave
receiver when the aerial is in position D.
S1D is 0.723 m and S2D is 0.667 m.

(a)     Explain why the signal strength falls to a minimum between B and C, and between
C and D.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b)     Determine the frequency of the microwaves that are transmitted.

frequency = ____________________________ Hz
(3)
 (c)     The intensity of the waves passing through each slit is the same.

Explain why the minimum intensity between C and D is not zero.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d)     The vertical aerial is placed at position B and is rotated slowly through 90° until it
lies along the direction AE.

State and explain the effect on the signal strength as it is rotated.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 11 marks)

Q14.
A gravimeter is an instrument used to measure the acceleration due to gravity. The
gravimeter measures the distance fallen by a free-falling mirror in a known time.

To do this, monochromatic light is reflected normally off the mirror, creating interference
between the incident and reflected waves. The mirror is released from rest and falls,
causing a change in the phase difference between the incident and reflected waves at a
detector.

At the point of release of the mirror, the waves are in phase, resulting in a maximum
intensity at the detector. The next maximum is produced at the detector when the mirror
has fallen through a distance equal to half a wavelength of the light. The gravimeter
records the number of maxima detected in a known time as the mirror falls. These data
are used by the gravimeter to compute the acceleration of the free-falling mirror.

Figure 1 illustrates the phase relationship between the incident and reflected waves at the
detector for one position of the mirror.
 Figure 1

(a)     Show that the wavelength of the light is 600 nm.

(3)

(b)     Determine the phase difference, in rad, between the incident and reflected waves
shown in Figure 1.

phase difference = ____________________________ rad

(2)

(c)     A maximum is detected each time the mirror travels a distance equal to half a
wavelength of the light.

In one measurement 2.37 × 105 maxima are recorded as the mirror is released from
rest and falls for 0.120 s.

Using an appropriate equation of motion, calculate the acceleration due to gravity

that the gravimeter computes from these data.

State your answer to 3 significant figures.

wavelength of the light = 600 nm

acceleration due to gravity = ____________________________ m s–2

(3)
 (d)     Figure 2 is a graph that the gravimeter could produce to show how the distance
travelled by the mirror varies with time as it falls.

Figure 2

Determine the gradient of the line when the time is 0.12 s.

gradient = ____________________________
(2)

(e)     State what this gradient represents.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q15.
Monochromatic light of wavelength 490 nm falls normally on a diffraction grating that has
6 × 105 lines per metre. Which one of the following is correct?
 
A The first order is observed at angle of diffraction of 17°.
The second order is observed at angle of diffraction of
B
34°.
C The third and higher orders are not produced.
A grating with more lines per metre could produce
D
more orders.
(Total 1 mark)
 Q16.
A light source emits light which is a mixture of two wavelength, λ1 and λ2. When the light is
incident on a diffraction grating it is found that the fifth order of light of wavelength λ1
occurs at the same angle as the fourth order for light of wavelength λ2. If λ1 is 480 nm what
is λ2?
 
A 400 nm

B 480 nm

C 600 nm

D 750 nm
(Total 1 mark)

Q17.
A student has a diffraction grating that is marked 3.5 × 103 lines per m.

(a)     Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the number of lines per metre suggested by
this marking.

percentage uncertainty = ____________________ %

(1)

(b)     Determine the grating spacing.

grating spacing = ____________________ mm

(2)

(c)     State the absolute uncertainty in the value of the spacing.

absolute uncertainty = ____________________ mm

(1)
(d)     The student sets up the apparatus shown in Figure 1 in an experiment to confirm
the value marked on the diffraction grating.

Figure 1

The laser has a wavelength of 628 nm. Figure 2 shows part of the interference
pattern that appears on the screen. A ruler gives the scale.

Figure 2

Use Figure 2 to determine the spacing between two adjacent maxima in the
interference pattern. Show all your working clearly.

spacing = ____________________ mm
(1)

(e)     Calculate the number of lines per metre on the grating.

number of lines = ____________________

(2)
 (f)    State and explain whether the value for the number of lines per m obtained in part (e)
agrees with the value stated on the grating.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(g)   State one safety precaution that you would take if you were to carry out the
experiment that was performed by the student.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 10 marks)

Q18.
The figure below shows a spectrometer that uses a diffraction grating to split a beam of
light into its constituent wavelengths and enables the angles of the diffracted beams to be
measured.

(a)     Give one possible application of the spectrometer and diffraction grating used in this
way.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

 
(1)

(b)     (i)      When the spectrometer telescope is rotated from an initial angle of zero
degrees, a spectrum is not observed until the angle of diffraction θ is about
50°. State the order of this spectrum.

______________________________________________________________
(1)
 (ii)     White light is directed into the spectrometer. Light emerges at A and B. State
one difference between the light emerging at B compared to that emerging at
A.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(c)     The angle of diffraction θ at the centre of the observed beam B in the image above
is 51.0° and the grating has 1480 lines per mm.

Calculate the wavelength of the light observed at the centre of beam B.

wavelength ____________________ m
(3)

(d)     Determine by calculation whether any more orders could be observed at the
wavelength calculated in part (c).

 
(2)
(Total 8 marks)
Mark schemes

Q1.
D
[1]

Q2.
C
[1]

Q3.
C
[1]

Q4.
D
[1]

Q5.
(a)    same wavelength / frequency  

constant phase relationship   allow ‘constant phase difference’ but not ‘in
phase’
2

(b)    (i)      ( λ =   )
Use of speed of sound gets zero

3.00 × 108 = 9.4 (109) λ    OR     

= 3.2 × 10−2 (3.19 × 10−2 m)      

Allow 0.03
2

(ii)     3.2 × 10−2        (m)    ecf from bi

Don’t allow ‘1 wavelength’, 1λ, etc
Do not accept: zero, 2 , 360 °
1

(c)     maximum (at position shown)  

allow constructive superposition.
‘Addition’ is not enough

constructive interference / reinforcement  

ecf for ‘minimum’ or for reference to wrong maximum

 (the waves meet) ‘in step’ / peak meets peak / trough meets trough / path difference
is (n) λ / in phase  
3

(d)       s =  
Don’t allow use of the diagram shown as a scale diagram

     ecf bi
Do not penalise s and w symbols wrong way round in
working if answer is correct.

= 0.12 (0.1218 m)  
Correct answer gains first two marks.

= any 2sf number  

Independent sf mark for any 2 sf number
3

(e)     a maximum    

Candidates stating ‘ minimum ’ can get second mark only

(f × 2 results in) λ/2  

path difference is an even number of multiples of the new wavelength ( 2n λ new )  

allow ‘path difference is nλ’ / any even number of multiples of the new λ quoted e.g.
‘path difference is now 2 λ’
3
[14]

Q6.
(a)     (i)      fringe spacing = 0.11 m

B1
1

(ii)     λ = (fringe spacing from a(i)) *d/D [ecf] = 0.11 × 0.2/2.5

M1

= 8.8 × 10–3 m

A1
2

(b)     three maximum from

mention of single-slit difraction after

good diagram of diffraction intensity
mention of interference fringes/two-slit before
interference/superposition/Young’s slits or alternative before
good physics description of superposition
e.g. interference between overlapping waves from each slit
 good physics description of diffraction
equally separated fringes before
central maximum is twice width of others after
decrease in intensity for each successive maxima after
change in spacing after
fainter from middle outwards after

B3
3
[6]

Q7.
(a)     showed that light was a wave (rather than a particle)/wave nature
(of light) (1)
1

(b)     (i)      single wavelength (or frequency) (1)

1

(ii)     (waves/source(s) have) constant phase difference (1)

1

(iii)     any sensible precaution, eg do not look into laser/do not point
the laser at others/do not let (regular) reflections enter the
eye/safety signs/suitable safety goggles (1)
1

(c)     (0.16/8) = 0.02(0) (1)

=  (1) ecf from calculation of fringe spacing

= 6.0 × 10–7 m (1) (= 600 nm) ecf from calculation of fringe spacing
3

(d)     maxima closer together (1)

(quotes equation and states that) spacing is proportional to wavelength/

D and s are constant therefore as λ decreases so ω decreases (1)

or links smaller wavelength to smaller path difference (1)

2
[9]

Q8.
(a)     w = λD/s

C1

          correct substitution – condone wrong powers of ten

C1

          cao 11(.3) mm or equivalent; unit required

 A1
3

(b)     same frequency or wavelength

C1

          constant phase (relationship)

A1
2
[5]

Q9.
(a)     uniform width peaks ✓ (accurate to within ± one division)
peaks need to be rounded ie not triangular
the minima do not need to be exactly zero

a collection of peaks of constant amplitude or amplitude decreasing away from

central peak ✓
pattern must look symmetrical by eye
condone errors towards the edge of the pattern
double width centre peak total mark = 0
2

(b)     (i)      constant / fixed / same phase relationship / difference (and same

frequency / wavelength) ✓
in phase is not enough for the mark
1

(ii)     single slit acts as a point / single source diffracting / spreading light to

both slits ✓
OR
the path lengths between the single slit and the double slits are
constant / the same / fixed ✓
1

(iii)    superposition of waves from two slits ✓

phrase ‘constructive superposition’ = 2 marks

diffraction (patterns) from both slits overlap (and interfere constructively)

✓ (this mark may come from a diagram)

constructive interference / reinforcement (at bright fringe)

peaks meet peaks / troughs meet troughs ✓ (any reference to antinode
will lose this mark)

waves from each slit meet in phase

OR path difference = n λ ✓
4 max 3
 (c)     (i)      D = = ✓ do not penalise any incorrect powers of
ten for this mark
= 0.5 (m) ✓ (0.4938 m)
numbers can be substituted into the equation using any form
note 0.50 m is wrong because of a rounding error
full marks available for answer only
2

(ii)     fringes further apart or fringe / pattern has a greater width / is wider ✓

ignore any incorrect reasoning
changes to green is not enough for mark
1

(iii)    increase D ✓
measure across more than 2 maxima ✓
several / few implies more than two

added detail which includes ✓

explaining that when D is increased then w increases
Or
repeat the reading with a changed distance D or using different numbers
of fringes or measuring across different pairs of (adjacent) fringes
Or
explaining how either of the first two points improves / reduces the
percentage error.
no mark for darkened room
3
[13]

Q10.
D
[1]

Q11.
(a)     (i)      vertical or parallel (1)
equally spaced (1)
black and yellow [or dark and light] bands (1)

(ii)    

= 2.9 × 10–3 m (1)

tan θ = (1) gives θ = 0.18° (1)

(iii)    narrower slits give more diffraction (1)

more overlap (so more fringes) (1)
 fringes same width (1)
(max 8)

(b)     (i)      

× sin θ = 5.86 × 10–7 (1)

θ = 13.6° (1)

(ii)     θ = 90° and correctly used (1)

= 4.3 ∴ 4th order (1)

(5)

(c)     brighter images (1)

large angles (1)
sharper (or narrower) lines (1)
(max 2)
[15]

Q12.
B
[1]

Q13.
(a)     path difference for two waves ✔
Allow ‘waves travel different distances’
Condone out of phase

gives rise to a phase difference ✔

if phase and path confused only give 1 for first 2 marks

Destructive interference occurs ✔

allow explanation of interference
3

(b)     (Path difference =) 0.056 m ✔

Path difference = 2λ or wavelength = 0.028 m ✔e

Use of f=c/λ so f = 11(10.7) × 109 Hz ✔

Allow 2 max for 5.4 × 109 Hz or 2.7 × 109 Hz
Allow ecf
3

(c)     Intensity decreases with distance ✔

 One wave travels further than the other ✔

Amplitudes/intensities of the waves at the minimum points

are not equal ✔
Or “do not cancel out”
max 2

(d)     The signal decreases/becomes zero ✔

The waves transmitted are polarised ✔

zero when detector at 90° to the transmitting aerial/direction

of polarisation of wave ✔
max 3
[11]

Q14.
(a)     Period = 0.2 × 10–14 (s) read off

OR

Recognisable T substituted into T = 1 / f  ✔

An acceptable subject (period, time for one cycle, one cycle,
T, etc.)
Allow non-standard symbol with unit seen on time.
Allow this subtraction of two times seen in f = 1/T

Use of T = 1 / f and c = f λ  ✔

OR

Use of λ = cT
Use of here is:
Subject must be seen with substitutions or rearranged
equations with f = 1/T and λ = c/f
Condone power 10 error here
Condone lack of subject in vertical working where
rearranged equation with appropriate subject seen at
heading of column

6(.0) × 10–7 (m)  ✔

Number must be expressed as 6 × 10–7 or 600 × 10–9
or equivalent not enough to see only nano prefix.
3

(b)     (Determines a fraction of cycle)

✔
Condone their fraction × 2π or their decimal × 2π
For 1st mark
 2π/5 OR 0.4 π

OR

1.26 or 1.3   ✔
Allow 8π/5 OR 1.6 π
OR
5.03 or 5.0
2

(c)     (Distance =) 3 × 10–7 × 2.37 × 105 seen

OR

(Distance =) 0.07(11) (m) seen ✔

Subs into s = at2 ✔

Condone error in sub for s where formula has been
otherwise correctly manipulated with a (or g) as subject

9.88 (3 sf only) ✔
Alternative:

1st mark   average speed =

2nd mark   
3rd mark   9.88
3

(d)     Draws a tangent to the curve at approximately

t = 120 ms and attempts a gradient calculation ✔

Tangent must be a straight line that touches curve and
divergent from curve before 90 ms and after 150 ms

(Gradient =) 1.2 (range 1.1 to 1.3) ✔

Allow 1.2 × 10–3 (range 1.1 × 10–3 to 1.3 × 10–3 ) ✔
Ignore units on answer line
2nd mark is dependent on 1st mark
Max 1 mark for correct answer in range where tangent
satisfies above conditions but doesn’t quite touch curve
(half-square tolerance)
First alternative:
1st mark
Use of v = u +at with sub for a = 9.88 or 9.875 and t=0.12
2nd mark
1.2 or 1.19 or 1.185 only
Second alternative:
1st mark
 Use of s = 1/2at2 and ds/dt = at with sub for a = 9.88 or
9.875 and t = 0.12
2nd mark
1.2 or 1.19 or 1.185 only
4

(e)     (instantaneous) Velocity (of the mirror) or (instantaneous)

speed (of the mirror) ✔
Ignore any units quoted
Do not allow:
Average speed / constant speed
4
[8]

Q15.
A
[1]

Q16.
C
[1]

Q17.
(a)     2.9% ✓
Allow 3%
1

(b)      seen ✓

1

0.29 mm or 2.9 x 10-4 m✓ must see 2 sf only

1

(c)     ± 0.01 mm ✓

1

(d)     Clear indication that at least 10 spaces have been measured to give a spacing
= 5.24 mm✓
spacing from at least 10 spaces
Allow answer within range ±0.05
1

(e)     Substitution in d sinθ = nλ✓

The 25 spaces could appear here as n with sin θ as 0.135 /
2.5
1

d = 0.300 x 10-3 m so
number of lines = 3.34 x103✓
 Condone error in powers of 10 in substitution
Allow ecf from 1-4 value of spacing
1

(f)     Calculates % difference (4.6%) ✓

1

and makes judgement concerning agreement ✓

Allow ecf from 1-5 value
1

(g)     care not to look directly into the laser beam✓

OR
care to avoid possibility of reflected laser beam ✓
OR
warning signs that laser is in use outside the laboratory✓
ANY ONE
1
[10]

Q18.
(a)     one of:
(spectral) analysis of light from stars
(analyse) composition of stars
chemical analysis
measuring red shift \ rotation of stars ✓

insufficient answers:
‘observe spectra’, ‘spectroscopy’, ‘view absorption \ emission spectrum’,
‘compare spectra’, ‘look at light from stars’.
Allow : measuring wavelength or frequency from a named
source of light
Allow any other legitimate application that specifies the
source of light. E.g.
absorbtion \ emission spectra in stars,
‘observe spectra of materials’
1

(b)     (i)      first order beam

first order spectrum
first order image
✓
Allow ‘n = 1’ , ‘1’ , ‘one’, 1 st

(ii)     the light at A will appear white (and at B there will be a spectrum)

OR greater intensity at A ✓
1

(c)     ( d = 1 / (lines per mm × 10 ) 3

= 6.757 × 10 (m) OR 6.757 × 10 (mm) ✓

−7 −4

( nλ = d sin θ )
 = 6.757 × 10 × sin 51.0 ✓ ecf only for :
−7

    •    incorrect power of ten in otherwise correct calculation of d

    •    use of d = 1480, 1.48, 14.8 (etc)
    •    from incorrect order in bii

= 5.25 × 10 (m) ✓ ecf only for :

−7

    •    incorrect power of ten in otherwise correct d

    •    from incorrect order in bii
Some working required for full marks. Correct answer only
gets 2
Power of 10 error in d gets max 2
For use of d in mm, answer =
5.25 × 10 gets max 2
−4

n = 2 gets max 2 unless ecf from bii

use of d = 1480 yields wavelength of 1150m
3

(d)     n = d (sin90) / λ    OR n = 6.757 × 10 / 5.25 × 10 ✓ ecf both numbers from c
−7 −7

= 1.29 so no more beams observed ✓ or answer consistent with their working

OR

2 = d (sinθ) / λ OR sinθ = 2 × 5.25 × 10 / 6.757 × 10 ✓ ecf both numbers

−7 −7

from c

sinθ = 1.55 (so not possible to calculate angle) so no more beams ✓

OR sin (2 × (their λ / their d) ) ✓

−1

(not possible to calculate) so no more beams ✓ ecf

Accept 1.28, 1.3
Second line gets both marks
Conclusion consistent with working
2
[8]