Q1.

(a) Tick (✓) the appropriate boxes in the table to indicate how the wavelength, frequency
and speed of light are affected when a ray of light travels from air into glass.

Wavelength Frequency Speed

increases

stays the same

decreases

(2)

(b) Figure 1 shows a right-angled glass prism in contact with a transparent substance
on one of the faces. One of the other angles of the prism is θ.

Figure 1

(i) A ray A enters perpendicularly to one face of the prism. It is partially refracted
and partially reflected at the interface between the glass and the transparent
substance. The angle of refraction is 65.0°. The ray eventually leaves at an
angle α to the surface of the transparent substance.

Determine the angle α.

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 angle α = ......................................... degree
(2)

(ii) Determine the angle θ in Figure 1.

angle θ = ......................................... degree

(2)

(c) Figure 2 shows another ray entering the prism.

Figure 2

(i) Identify the effect that takes place at X in Figure 2.

...............................................................................................................
(1)

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 (ii) Explain, with a diagram, how the effect that occurs at X is used to transmit
information along an optic fibre.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Q2.An optical fibre consists of a core, cladding and an outer sheath.

(a) State the purpose of the outer sheath in an optical fibre.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) For one fibre, the speed of monochromatic light in the core is 1.97 × 10 8 m s−1 and
the speed in the cladding is 2.03 × 10 8 m s−1.

Calculate the critical angle for this light at the interface between the core and the
cladding.

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 critical angle ....................................... degrees
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

Q3.(a) Describe the structure of a step-index optical fibre outlining the purpose of the core
and the cladding.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(b) A signal is to be transmitted along an optical fibre of length 1200 m. The signal
consists of a square pulse of white light and this is transmitted along the centre of a
fibre. The maximum and minimum wavelengths of the light are shown in the table
below.

Colour Refractive index of fibre Wavelength / nm

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 Blue 1.467 425

Red 1.459 660

Explain how the difference in refractive index results in a change in the pulse of
white light by the time it leaves the fibre.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Discuss two changes that could be made to reduce the effect described in part (b).

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q4.Monochromatic light may be characterised by its speed, frequency and wavelength. Which
of the following quantities change when monochromatic light passes from air into glass?

A Speed only.

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 B Speed and wavelength only.

C Speed and frequency only.

D Wavelength and frequency only.

(Total 1 mark)

Q5.Figure 1 shows a ray of light A incident at an angle of 60° to the surface of a layer of oil that
is floating on water.

refractive index of oil = 1.47

refractive index of water = 1.33

Figure 1

(a) (i) Calculate the angle of refraction θ in Figure 1.

angle ................................ degrees

(2)

(ii) Calculate the critical angle for a ray of light travelling from oil to water.

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 angle ................................ degrees
(2)

(iii) On Figure 1 continue the path of the ray of light A immediately after it strikes
the boundary between the oil and the water.
(2)

(b) In Figure 2 a student has incorrectly drawn a ray of light B entering the glass and
then entering the water before totally internally reflecting from the water–oil
boundary.

Figure 2

The refractive index of the glass is 1.52 and the critical angle for the glass–water
boundary is about 60°.

Give two reasons why the ray of light B would not behave in this way. Explain your
answers.

reason 1 ........................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

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 explanation .....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

reason 2 ........................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

explanation .....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 10 marks)

Q6.The diagram below shows three transparent glass blocks A, B and C joined together. Each
glass block has a different refractive index.

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 (a) State the two conditions necessary for a light ray to undergo total internal reflection
at the boundary between two transparent media.

condition 1 .....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

condition 2 .....................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) Calculate the speed of light in glass A.

refractive index of glass A = 1.80

speed of light ..................................... ms −1

(2)

(c) Show that angle is about 30o.

(2)

(d) The refractive index of glass C is 1.40.

Calculate the critical angle between glass A and glass C.

critical angle ................................. degrees

(2)

(e) (i) State and explain what happens to the light ray when it reaches the boundary

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 between glass A and glass C.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) On the diagram above continue the path of the light ray after it strikes the
boundary between glass A and glass C.
(1)
(Total 11 marks)

Q7.The diagram below shows a section of a typical glass step-index optical fibre used for
communications.

(a) Show that the refractive index of the core is 1.47.

(1)

(b) The refracted ray meets the core-cladding boundary at an angle exactly equal to the
critical angle.

(i) Complete the diagram above to show what happens to the ray after it strikes
the boundary at X.
(2)

(ii) Calculate the critical angle.

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 critical angle = .........................degrees
(1)

(iii) Calculate the refractive index of the cladding.

refractive index = .....................................

(2)

(c) Give two reasons why optical fibres used for communications have a cladding.

reason 1......................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................

reason 2......................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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