Q1.

(a) The diagram shows a ray of light reflecting several times between two
parallel mirrors.

(i) What relationship is there between the angle of incidence for the first
reflection and the angle of reflection for the last reflection?

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) At each reflection there is a small loss in the intensity of the light.
Suggest one reason why there is a small loss in the intensity of light
when it is reflected.

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) In the diagram below, the angle of incidence has changed, but the mirrors are
in the same positions.

State how this change in the angle of incidence would affect the intensity of
the emergent ray. Explain your answer.

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) The two mirrors are now moved so that they are at exactly 30° to each other.
The incident ray is parallel to one of the mirrors.

Page 1 of 46
 Draw the path of the ray of light on the diagram. Use a ruler and a protractor.
Label the emergent ray and draw an arrow to show its direction.
2 marks
Maximum 5 marks

Q2.
Light shines onto a ball. Naomi is looking at the ball.

(a) Describe how light from the lamp lights up the ball and makes it visible to Naomi.

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

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

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

......................................................................................................................
2 marks

(b) (i) Naomi uses different colours of light and different coloured balls.

Complete the table to show the colours that the balls appear to Naomi.

Page 2 of 46
 2 marks

(ii) Why does a black object appear black in any light?

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) Choose from the following terms to complete the sentences below.

less than equal to greater than

At a plane mirror, the angle of incidence is ..................................

the angle of reflection. The distance from the object to the mirror is

................................ the apparent distance from the mirror to the image.

2 marks

(d) A beam of white light shines onto a sheet of white paper. An identical beam of
light shines onto a mirror. The light is scattered from the paper and reflected from
the mirror.

Describe how scattering by paper and reflection by a mirror are different from
each other.

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

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

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

......................................................................................................................
2 marks
Maximum 9 marks

Q3.
The diagram shows a lighthouse on a rock.
It is night-time and there are boats at A, B, C, D and E.

Page 3 of 46
 (a) On which boat, A, B, C, D or E, would the light from the lighthouse be brightest?

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) Each boat makes a shadow on the water.

(i) Draw a cross (X) on the diagram to show where the shadow of boat A will be.
1 mark

(ii) Explain why the shadow forms there.

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) The weather changes and the fog horn on the lighthouse makes a loud sound.
On which boat, A, B, C, D or E, would the sound of the fog horn be quietest?

..........................................................................................................................
1 mark

(d) Inside the lighthouse there is a powerful lamp and some mirrors.

The diagram shows the lamp and a mirror. A ray of light from the lamp is shown.
Carefully draw the ray which is reflected from the mirror. Use a ruler.

2 marks
Maximum 6 marks

Q4.
Satellites can sometimes be seen in the night sky. They look like stars slowly moving
across the sky.

(a) We can see stars because they are light sources. They give out their own light.
Satellites do not give out their own light. Explain why satellites can be seen in the
clear night sky.

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

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

......................................................................................................................
2 marks

Page 4 of 46
 (b) Sometimes a satellite suddenly stops being visible. However, you can usually see it
again in another part of the sky later the same night. This can happen when there
are no clouds in the sky and the satellite is overhead.

Why does the satellite suddenly stop being visible?

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) Give one use of satellites in orbit around the Earth.

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks

Q5.

The diagram shows rays of light coming from a point source, reflecting in a plane mirror,
and entering a person's eye. The person sees an image of the light source at a point
behind the mirror.

(a) On the diagram, draw construction lines to find the position where the image
appears. Label the image I.
1 mark

(b) (i) The person moves further away from the mirror.
How does this affect the position of the image relative to the mirror?

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) The point source of light is moved closer to the mirror, How does this affect the
position of the image?

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

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

Page 5 of 46
 1 mark

The diagram shows two rays of light coming from a small fish in some water. The rays
enter a person's eye.

(c) The person sees an image of the fish under the water.
On the diagram, draw construction lines to find the position of the image.
Label the image I.
1 mark

(d) In some parts of the world, people catch fish using spears.
When they see the image of a fish in the water, where should they aim?

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks

Q6.
It is night-time and the desk lamp is on. Light shines onto the key.

Page 6 of 46
 (a) (i) Draw one ray of light on the diagram to show the light shining from the lamp
onto the key. Use a ruler.
Put an arrow on the ray to show the direction of the light.
2 marks

(ii) There is a patch of light on the wall. This light has been reflected from
the key. Draw a reflected ray of light on the diagram.
Use a ruler.
1 mark

(b) There is a dark shadow on the table beside the mug.

Explain how this shadow is formed.

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

....................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks

Q7.
(a) Aisha drops a stone into a pond. She hears the sound and she watches ripples
spreading out across the pond.

Page 7 of 46
 Sound, ripples on water, and light travel at different speeds.

(i) Which travels fastest: sound or ripples on water or light?

...........................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Which travels most slowly: sound or ripples on water or light?

...........................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) Which sentence about sound is correct?

Tick the correct box.

Sound cannot travel through air.

Sound cannot travel through stone.

Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.

Sound cannot travel through water.

1 mark
Maximum 3 marks

Q8.
David lives in Britain. He sees that the Sun seems to move across the sky.

(a) Where does the Sun rise in the morning?

Tick the correct box.

Page 8 of 46
 in the north in the south

in the west in the east

1 mark

(b) (i) At what time of day is the Sun highest in the sky?

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) In which direction will David see the Sun when it is highest in the sky?
Tick the correct box.

towards the north towards the south

towards the west towards the east

1 mark

(c) Where does the Sun set in the evening?

Tick the correct box.

in the north in the south

in the west in the east

1 mark

(d) Explain why the Sun seems to move across the sky.

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

.....................................................................................................................
1 mark

(e) Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to get to the Earth.

How long does light from other stars take to get to the Earth?
Tick the correct box.

more than 8 minutes

8 minutes

Page 9 of 46
 less than 8 minutes

zero minutes
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks

Q9.
A ray of blue light falls on a glass prism as shown in the diagram.

(a) On the diagram, draw the path of the blue ray through the prism and from the
prism to the screen. Use a ruler.
2 marks

(b) The blue ray is replaced by a ray of white light.

(i) What would you now see on the screen?

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

A red filter is placed between the prism and the screen.

(ii) What would you now see on the screen?

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(iii) Explain how the red filter causes the change.

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks

Q10.
The diagram shows a regular hexagonal glass prism. A ray of light passes through the
centre of the hexagon.

Page 10 of 46
(a) The diagram below shows the same prism in a different position.
The ray of light is aimed at the centre of the hexagon.

Complete the ray as it passes through the prism and show its direction when it
emerges. Use a ruler.
2 marks

(b) A ray of light is aimed at the centre of the hexagonal prism, which is slowly
rotating.

Describe how the spot of light on the screen moves:

(i) as point A approaches the incident ray;

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) as point A crosses the incident ray;

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(iii) as the prism continues rotating until it reaches the position shown in part (a)
above.

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

.............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks

Page 11 of 46
Q11.
Shadow puppets are sometimes used in children’s shows.

(a) Where will the shadow of the puppet’s foot be on the screen?

Tick the correct box.

1 mark

(b) How is the shadow of the puppet formed?

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) When the light is turned on, the shadow and the brightly lit part of the screen can be
seen immediately.

What does this tell you about the speed of light?

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 3 marks

Q12.
A white box of photographic paper has written on it, in large red letters:

Page 12 of 46
 (a) The box of paper is in a photographic darkroom where the only light is from a red
lamp.

(i) What colour does the white box appear?

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) What colour does the red writing appear?

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) The red lamp is now switched off and a green lamp is switched on.

(i) What colour does the red writing appear in green light?

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Explain why the writing appears to be this colour.

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

............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks

Q13.
Two mirrors at 90° to each other always reflect a ray of light back parallel to the incident
ray.

(a) (i) In the diagram below, a ray of light strikes mirror 1 at an angle of 45°.

Complete the diagram to show how the mirrors reflect the ray.
Use a ruler and a protractor.

1 mark

(ii) In the next diagram, a ray of light strikes mirror 1 at a different angle.

Complete the diagram to show how the mirrors reflect the ray.
Use a ruler and a protractor.

Page 13 of 46
 1 mark

(b) Bicycles must have a reflector fixed to the rear mudguard or to the seat.

The diagram shows part of a bicycle reflector and an incident ray of light. The light
passes through the flat surface and is reflected from the small ‘mirrors’.

(i) In which direction is the ray of light reflected?

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) At night, car drivers can easily see bicycle reflectors in the beam from their
headlights.
Explain why.

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

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(iii) Why is a plane mirror not suitable as a bicycle reflector?

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

............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks

Q14.

Page 14 of 46
A spinning mirror can be used to measure the speed of light. The experiment is shown
below.

Ray 1 is incident on the spinning mirror.

Ray 2 is the reflection of ray 1 from the spinning mirror.

Ray 3 is the reflection of ray 2 from a small fixed mirror 2.0 m away. It travels back
along the same path as ray 2.

(a) Describe how the small fixed mirror is positioned so that the light is reflected back
along the same path.

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

When ray 3 reaches the spinning mirror, it is again reflected to form ray 4. Its path is very
close to ray 1 and therefore it has not been drawn on the diagram. Much less light travels
along ray 4 than along ray 1.

(b) Suggest one reason why less light travels along ray 4 than along ray 1.

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

Ray 4 does not travel back along exactly the same path as ray 1 because the spinning
mirror has moved between the two reflections.

(c) The spinning mirror rotates 40 times per second.

(i) How long does it take to turn through an angle of 1°?

Give the correct units.

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

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) The mirror is found to have turned through an angle of 0.0002° between the
two reflections. What is the time interval between the reflections? Give the
correct units.

Page 15 of 46
 ............................................................................................................

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(d) The distance between the fixed mirror and the spinning mirror is 2.0 m. What value
does this experiment give for the speed of light? Show your working and give the
correct units.

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

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

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

......................................................................................................................
2 marks
Maximum 6 marks

Q15.

It is a sunny day. Alika is using the sunlight to signal to Sarah.

(a) What simple object could Alika use to send bright flashes of sunlight to
Sarah?

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(b) What does this object do to the rays of the sun?

Page 16 of 46
 ......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 2 marks

Q16.
The drawing shows a torch.

(a) The torch is switched on but does not work.

Tick three things which could be wrong.

there is no battery the glass is broken

the plastic case is broken the switch is broken

the bulb is broken the battery is cold

3 marks

The beam of light from another torch is shone onto a mirror.

The drawing below shows this.

(b) The light beam is reflected from the mirror.

Which line, A, B, C or D, shows its direction? ..............................................

1 mark
Maximum 4 marks

Q17.
The diagram shows a firework rocket.

Page 17 of 46
(a) Three forces act as the rocket flies through the air.
Which arrows show the directions of these three forces?

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

3 marks

(b) When there is no fuel left, the rocket falls to the ground.

(i) Give the name of the force which pulls it down.

............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Give the name of the force which acts against the motion of the rocket.

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(c) Another rocket was sent high into the air. It exploded with a loud bang and a
bright flash of light.

Put a tick in the box by the correct statement.

the bright flash of light was seen first

Page 18 of 46
 the loud bang was heard first

the flash of light was seen and the bang

was heard at the same time
1 mark

Give a reason for your answer.

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 7 marks

Q18.
A pupil is observing the behaviour of a woodpecker. He uses a periscope to look over a
wall at a tree, and waits for the bird to land on the trunk.

The pupil can only watch one part of the tree trunk at a time.

(a) Tick the box to show the point on the tree trunk which he can see using the
periscope in the position shown.

Page 19 of 46
 point A

point B

point C

point D

point E
1 mark

(b) Draw the path of the ray of light to show how the pupil sees this point. Use a
ruler. Show the direction of the ray of light.
3 marks

(c) What should the pupil do to the periscope to watch point C?

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

......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks

Q19.
(a) Fill in the table about receptors. The first answer has been done for you.

RECEPTORS IN THE SENSITIVE TO

Eyes Light

Skin

Sound

Tongue
(3)

(b) Describe, in as much detail as you can, how information is transmitted from light
receptors in the retina to the brain.

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

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

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

Page 20 of 46
 .....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q20.
The drawing below shows a light-sensitive (receptor) cell from the eye. The structures
labelled A, B and C, can be found in most animal cells.

(a) Name the structures labelled A, B and C.

A .................................................................................

B .................................................................................

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

(b) Describe, as fully as you can, what happens in the nervous system when this
receptor cell is stimulated by light.

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

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

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

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q21.
(a) Light waves transfer energy.

(i) Complete the following sentence.

The oscillations producing a light wave are ........................................................

to the direction of the energy transfer by the light wave.

(1)

(ii) The apparatus in the diagram shows that light waves transfer energy.

Page 21 of 46
 Describe how switching the desk lamp on and off shows that light waves
transfer energy.

You do not need to describe the energy transfers.

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

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

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

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

(b) A student holds a wrist watch in front of a plane mirror. The student can see an
image of the wrist watch in the mirror.

The diagram shows the position of the wrist watch and the mirror.

Draw a ray diagram showing how the image of the wrist watch is formed.

Mark the position of the image.

(4)

(c) The image of the wrist watch seen by the student is virtual.

What is a virtual image?

Page 22 of 46
 ........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

Q22.
(a) Water waves are transverse waves. Sound waves are longitudinal waves.

(i) Explain the difference between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave.

You may include labelled diagrams in your answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(ii) Name one type of wave that may be either transverse or longitudinal.

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

(b) The diagram shows water waves in a ripple tank moving towards a gap in a barrier.

The water waves diffract as they pass through the gap.

Complete the diagram to show the diffracted water waves.

Page 23 of 46
 (1)

(c) A television is switched on inside a room. A person outside the room can hear the
television, but only when the door is open.

When the door is open, the person can hear the sound but cannot see the
television.

Explain why.

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

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

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

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

Page 24 of 46
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) (i) they are the same or equal
1

(ii) any one from

• some light is scattered by uneveness of the surface

accept ‘scattering’

• some light is absorbed in the mirror

accept ‘absorption by the mirror’
do not accept ‘absorption in the air’ or ‘absorption’
accept ‘some is internally reflected between the two
surfaces of the glass or mirror’
do not accept ‘not all of the light is reflected’
1

(b) the intensity would be greater because there are fewer reflections
both the effect and the reason are required for the mark
1

(c)

the first mark is for drawing the path of the ray

both parts of the path are required for this mark
the rays must touch the mirrors within the tolerances shown
the second mark is for indicating that the ray emerges along
the same line as the incident ray but in the opposite direction
either the label or the arrow is sufficient
2
[5]

Q2.
(a) the light is scattered by the ball
accept ‘it is scattered or reflected
or bounces off the ball’
1 (L5)

some of the light from the ball enters Naomi’s eye

Page 25 of 46
 accept ‘it goes into or gets to her eye’
1

(b) (i)
colour colour the colour
of ball of the the ball
light appears to
Naomi

white red red do not accept ‘pink’ or ‘light red’ 1 (L6)

green white green do not accept ‘light green’ 1 (L6)

(ii) any one from

• it absorbs all the light

accept ‘it absorbs light’

• it does not scatter any light

accept ‘it does not reflect light’
1 (L6)

(c) equal to
1 (L6)

equal to
accept ‘equals’ or ‘the same as’
1 (L6)

(d) one mark is for describing scattering and one mark is for
describing reflection

scattering sends or reflects light in all directions

accept ‘scattered light goes all over the place’
or ‘the light from the paper goes off in lots of rays’
or ‘no image can be seen in the paper’
1 (L6)

reflection sends light in one direction or to one point

accept ‘the light from the mirror is all in one ray or beam’
or ‘reflected light goes at one exact angle’
or ‘an image can be seen in the mirror’
1 (L6)
[9]

Q3.
(a) A
1 (L3)

(b) (i) the centre of a cross (X) drawn in the shaded area between
boats A and B

Page 26 of 46
 do not accept the centre of the cross below the water line
or above the shaded area
1 (L3)

(ii) any one from

• light cannot go through the boat

accept ‘the boat is opaque’ or ‘the boat absorbs
or blocks or stops or reflects the light’

• light travels in straight lines

accept ‘light cannot bend round the boat’
1 (L4)

(c) E
1 (L3)

(d) the reflected ray touches the incident ray at the surface of the mirror
1 (L4)

a horizontal line as the reflected ray

if the reflected ray has been drawn without using a ruler,

do not award this mark
accept responses in which a normal has been drawn and
the angles of incidence and reflection are approximately
equal, even if the reflected ray is not horizontal.
1 (L4)
[6]

Q4.
(a) they reflect or scatter light
accept ‘light reflects off it’ or ‘light reflects on it’
do not accept ‘light reflects onto it’
or ‘light shines on them’
1 (L5)

from the Sun

1 (L5)

(b) it goes into the shadow of the Earth

accept ‘it is eclipsed’ or ‘it is not in the sunlight’

Page 27 of 46
 or ‘it is no longer reflecting the sunlight’
accept ‘it goes into the shadow of the Moon’
or ‘it goes in front of the Moon’
do not accept ‘it goes behind the Moon’
or ‘the Moon gets in the way’
or ‘the satellite tumbles’
1 (L6)

(c) any one from

• weather forecasting

• navigation or position finding

• communications
accept ‘satellite TV’ or ‘TV’ or ‘telephone’ or ‘radio’

• astronomy or looking at the stars

• to take pictures of the Earth

accept ‘spying’ or ‘surveillance’ or ‘to see
changes in the environment or in land-use’
accept ‘for defence’ or ‘as weapons’
1 (L5)
[4]

Q5.
(a)

either the dashed construction lines - - - - or the dotted lines

......
must be drawn
accept a combination of construction lines and arcs of
circles,
drawn with a compass, which enable the image to be
located correctly construction lines may be dotted, dashed
or continuous
accept a dot instead of the letter I to indicate the position
of the image
award no mark if construction lines are not drawn
or if the position of the image is not very close to the
correct position
1

Page 28 of 46
 (b) (i) it is in the same place
accept ‘it does not’
1

(ii) it is closer to the mirror

accept ‘closer to the eye’ or ‘it is closer’
1

(c)

construction lines may be dotted, dashed or continuous

accept a dot instead of the letter I to indicate the position of
the image
award no mark if construction lines are not drawn or if the
position of the image is not very close to the correct position
above the fish
1

(d) below the apparent position of the fish

accept ‘below the image’ or ‘lower in the water’
or ‘below where they see the fish’
accept ‘in front of the image’
do not accept ‘below the fish’
1
[5]

Q6.
(a) (i) the first mark is for a continuous straight line from the
rim of the lamp to the key the line must reach the key
1 (L4)

the second mark is for the arrow on the line

the arrow must point away from the lamp
1 (L4)

(ii) the mark is for a straight line from the key to the patch of light
the line must both touch the key and reach the patch of light

Page 29 of 46
 do not accept broken lines
accept the reflected ray drawn from any part of
the key irrespective of the first ray
the reflected ray need not have an arrow
1 (L4)

(b) any one from

• light cannot bend around the mug

accept ‘light travels in straight lines’

• light cannot go through the mug

accept ‘the mug absorbs or scatters the light’
or ‘the mug is opaque’ or ‘the mug is in the way of the light’
do not accept ‘light reflects off the mug’
1 (L4)
[4]

Q7.
(a) (i) light
1 (L4)

(ii) ripples on water or ripples

1 (L4)

(b) Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.

if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L4)
[3]

Q8.
(a) in the east
if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L4)

(b) (i) any one from

• 12.00 or twelve o’clock

Page 30 of 46
 • 1.00 or one o’clock or 13.00
accept answers between 11.50 and 13.30
to allow for variations between local time and GMT or BST

• midday or noon
do not accept ‘lunch time’
1 (L4)

(ii) towards the south

if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L4)

(c) in the west

1 (L4)
if more than one box is ticked, award no mark

(d) any one from

• because the Earth rotates or spins

accept ‘because the Earth moves round
or goes round or spins and moves’

• because the Earth turns around its axis

do not accept ‘because the Earth moves’
or ‘because the Earth goes round the Sun’
1 (L4)

(e) more than 8 minutes

if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L4)
[6]

Q9.
(a) one mark is for a ray which bends to the right when it enters the prism
the ray must be within the limits shown

1 (L6)

one mark is for a ray which bends downwards when it leaves the prism
the ray must be within the limits shown
award no marks if the lines are not straight
1 (L6)

(b) (i) a spectrum

accept ‘all the colours’ or ‘the colours of the rainbow’

Page 31 of 46
 do not accept ‘a rainbow’ or ‘colours’
1 (L6)

(ii) a red spot or a red line

accept ‘red light’ or ‘red’ or ‘all the colours
except red would disappear’
do not accept ‘a red screen’
1 (L6)

(iii) it absorbs or stops all the other colours

accept ‘it only lets red light pass’
do not accept ‘it lets red light pass’
1 (L6)
[5]

Q10.
(a)

one mark is for the part of the ray inside the prism,
which should be within the range shown by the dotted lines.
one mark is for the part of the ray to the right of the prism,
which should be parallel to the incident ray disregard any
arrows
2

(b) (i) it moves downwards

accept ‘down’
1

(ii) it jumps back up the screen

‘moves up the screen quickly’
do not accept ‘moves up the screen’
accept ‘disappears or spills and reappears
at the top of the screen’
do not accept ‘disappears’ or splits’
1

(iii) it moves downwards

accept ‘down’
1
[5]

Q11.
(a) C
if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L4)

(b) any one from

Page 32 of 46
 • the puppet stops the light
accept ‘light does not bend round the puppet’

• the light cannot go through the puppet

• light travels in straight lines

• the light cannot go round the puppet

do not accept a straight line drawn from the light to
point C unless referred to as part of the explanation
1 (L4)

(c) any one from

• it is very fast

• it is very high
accept ‘it is fast or high’
do not accept ‘faster than sound’
1 (L4)
[3]

Q12.
(a) (i) red
do not accept ‘pink’ or ‘pinky red’
1 (L7)

(ii) red
accept ‘dark red’
1 (L7)

(b) (i) black

do not accept ‘green’ or ‘brown’
or ‘browny black’ or ‘dark colour’
1 (L7)

(ii) any one from

• red ink absorbs green light

• red ink only reflects red light

• no green light is reflected from the ink

accept ‘no light is reflected’
accept ‘there is no red light in green’
do not accept ‘there is no red in green’
1 (L7)
[4]

Q13.
(a) answers should be straight lines which meet mirror 2 with tolerances
indicated by the hatching behind the mirror

(i)

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 both rays required for the mark
reflections at surfaces of the mirrors positioned within
the range shown with reflected ray parallel to incident ray
disregard any arrows
1 (L7)

(ii)

both rays required for the mark

reflections at surfaces of the mirrors positioned within
the range shown with reflected ray parallel to incident ray
disregard any arrows
1 (L7)

(b) (i) parallel to the incident ray or back towards the source
accept ‘back the same way’
accept correctly drawn rays on the diagram
do not accept ‘reflected back or upwards or to the left’
1 (L7)

(ii) light is reflected back towards car or driver or headlights

1 (L7)

(iii) light would probably not be reflected back towards car or driver
accept ‘light is reflected in a different direction or away’
do not accept ‘it would dazzle the driver’
1 (L7)
[5]

Q14.
(a) at 90° or at right angles or perpendicular or normal to ray 2
accept ‘the ray’ or ‘ray 3’ for ray 2
1

(b) any one from

• half or some of the light from ray 1 hits the back of the spinning mirror

• most of the light reflected from the spinning mirror misses the

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 small or fixed mirror
accept ‘some of the light goes in a different direction’

• some light is absorbed at each reflection

• some light is scattered from air particles

accept ‘the beam diverges’ or ‘the light spreads out’
1

(c) (i) 6.9 × 10–5 s

accept ‘l/(360 × 40) s’
accept ‘0.000 069 s’ or ‘69 μs’
the unit is required for the mark
1

(ii) 1.4 × 10–8 s

consequential marking applies in this part of the question
accept 0.0002 × answer to (i)
the unit is required for the mark
accept ‘0.000 000 013 s’ because some calculators
do not round up in this mode
1

(d) distance travelled = 4.0 m

accept ‘2 × 2.0 m’
1

speed = 2.9 × 108 m/s or 2.9 × 108 m/s–1

consequential marking applies in this part of the question

the unit is required for the mark
accept 4 ÷ answer to (c) (ii), with the correct unit,
for both marks
accept 2 ÷ answer to (c) (ii), with the correct unit,
for the second mark only
accept ‘2.9 × 108 m/s’ or ‘3 × 108 m/s’ for both marks
1
[6]

Q15.
(a) mirror or something shiny
accept ‘reflector’ or ‘her watch’ or any named shiny object
do not accept ‘torch’ or any named light source
1

(b) reflects them

accept ‘bounces the light off’
1
[2]

Q16.
(a) there is no battery

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 if more than three boxes are ticked deduct
1

the switch is broken

one mark for each incorrectly ticked box;
1

the bulb is broken

minimum mark zero
1

(b) B
if more than one letter is given award no mark
1
[4]

Q17.
(a) A D E
letters may be written in any order if more than three
letters are given deduct one mark for each incorrect letter;
minimum mark zero
3

(b) (i) gravity or weight

1

(ii) air resistance or drag

accept ‘friction’ or ‘wind resistance’
do not accept ‘wind’ or ‘upthrust’
1

(c) the bright flash of light was seen first

if more than one box is ticked award no mark
1

light travels faster than sound

accept ‘the sound takes longer to reach you
or ‘light travels faster’
do not accept ‘the sound takes time to reach you’
or ‘light travels fast’
1
[7]

Q18.
(a) point E
if more than one box is ticked award no mark
1

(b) continuous ray from point to eye

accept a ray coming either from point E
or from the answer to (a)
1

straight lines to the mirrors at appropriate angles

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 reflections must be at the surfaces of the mirrors and lines
must not extend behind the mirrors
the angle between the incident and the reflected rays should
be approximately 90°
this mark may be awarded even if the reflection from the
second mirror to the eye is not given
1

arrow anywhere along ray pointing from tree to eye

1

(c) any one from

• move bottom of periscope towards wall

accept ‘tilt it’ or ‘change the angle’

• make it upright

• lift it higher
accept ‘move it up’ or ‘push periscope
further over the wall’
accept ‘change angle of top mirror’
or ‘change angle of mirrors
do not accept ‘move it’
1
[5]

Q19.
(a) pressure / temperature / hot / cold / touch / pain
ear / cochlea
chemicals / taste / named taste e.g. salt
(reject skin receptors e.g. hot, cold)
for 1 mark each
3

(b) impulses / electrical pulse / electrical signal

(reject information, message, pulse, signal)
via sensory neurones (ignore relay neurone, synapse)
(in) optic nerve
(allow 1 mark for via nerves or neurone if neither second nor third mark scored,
reference to spinal cord disqualified route mark)
for 1 mark each
3
[6]

Q20.
(a) A – cell membrane
B – cytoplasm
C – nucleus
each for 1 mark
3

(b) (nerve) impulse sent along nerve fibre to brain

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 each for 1 mark
3
[6]

Q21.
(a) (i) perpendicular
accept correct description 1
1

(ii) light off – no / slow rotation

1

light on – fast(er) rotation

accept starts rotating
ignore references to energy transfers
1

(b) one ray drawn from wrist watch and reflected by mirror
accept solid or dashed lines
1

two rays drawn from wrist watch and reflected by mirror with i = r for both rays
judge angles by eye
1

one ray traced back behind mirror

accept solid or dashed lines
1

image in correct position

judged by eye
accept image marked where two reflected rays traced back
cross behind the mirror
1

(c) cannot be formed on a screen

accept image formed behind the mirror

or

rays of light seem to come from it but do not pass through it

1
[8]

Q22.
(a) (i) the oscillation / vibration (causing the wave)
a movement causes the wave is insufficient
1

for a transverse wave is perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

answers given in terms of direction of wave travel and not
energy transfer for both types of wave, score 1 mark for
these two mark points
1

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 and for a longitudinal wave is parallel to the direction of energy transfer
the marks may be scored by the drawing of two correctly
labelled diagrams ie

two labelled diagrams showing the general form of a

transverse and longitudinal wave gain 1 mark if no other
mark has been awarded eg

(ii) mechanical wave

accept specific examples, eg waves on a spring / slinky /
seismic / earthquake waves
accept water waves
do not accept shock waves
1

(b) semicircular waves drawn

judged by eye
do not need to be full semicircles
ignore any rays
1

(c) sound (waves) will diffract (towards the person)

1

or

light (waves) do not diffract (towards the person)

(because) width of door way similar to / less than wavelength of sound (waves)

or

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(because) width of doorway much greater than wavelength of light (waves)
a general statement that waves (only) diffract when the width
of a gap is similar to the wavelength of the waves can be
awarded 1 mark
1
[7]

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Examiner reports

Q2.
Pupils were asked, for the first time in the key stage 3 tests, to describe the difference
between reflection and scattering of light. Pupils could generally provide a description of
how light from a lamp makes an object visible but very few pupils referred to scattering in
their answers. Many who gave answers did not refer to the light entering the individual’s
eye. A high proportion of pupils who took the tier 3–6 paper did not attempt the question
that asked how scattering from objects and reflection from a mirror are different from each
other. A significant number of the pupils who attempted this question either provided
imprecise or incomplete answers referring either to scattering or to reflection but not to
both, perhaps assuming that the second half of the answer was obvious.

The example below illustrates how some pupils provided incomplete responses referring
either to scattering or to reflection of light but not to both, even though the question asked
how these were different from each other and two marks were allocated to the question.

___________________________________________________________________

Because a mirror reflects the light at the same angle it came in at.

___________________________________________________________________

Q3.
When required to provide an explanation of how a shadow formed, about one quarter
responded with a description stating what happened rather than offering an explanation.
In addition, a significant number provided vague or inadequate answers, such as because
it’s in the way.

Most pupils know where shadows are formed in relation to an object. However, previous
reports have noted the difficulty which pupils have in explaining the formation of shadows
and, as shown in the first example overleaf, this was again evident.

___________________________________________________________________

Explain why the shadow forms there.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

because there is no light on the otherside so it is dark which forms a shadow from
the boats siloete

___________________________________________________________________

As in previous years, ray diagrams were inaccurately drawn. The examples below show a
correct answer and a common incorrect answer.

Correct answer Incorrect answer

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Q4.
More than 75% of pupils demonstrated a good knowledge of the use of satellites in orbit
around the Earth.

Almost 75% of pupils showed a good understanding of the uses of satellites and most
identified that satellites reflect or scatter light. However, when asked why satellites
sometimes disappear from view, few pupils got the source of the light correct, with the
Moon being a popular incorrect answer. Others suggested the stars or that the solar
panels turned to a different angle.

Q6.
As in 1995 and 1996, many pupils lost marks in drawing ray diagrams due to careless
drawing rather than to errors in their understanding of the behaviour of light. A significant
number of responses consisted of arrows which correctly showed the direction in which
the light was travelling, but were not drawn straight. As shown in the two examples below,
other incorrect responses showed rays that did not touch either the lamp or the key, or
used broken lines to represent the rays.

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 In 1996, some pupils gave descriptions rather than explanations when answering
questions requiring explanations. This was much less the case in the 1997 tests. In
1996, a question requiring pupils to explain how a shadow was formed produced a
particularly large number of descriptions. In 1997, on a similar question, the proportion of
pupils giving descriptions of the shadow or answers in terms of a silhouette was 13%,
compared to 66% in 1996.

Q7.
No specific comment made.

Q8.
As in previous years, questions on The Earth and beyond were generally not well
answered. Fewer than half of pupils entered for tier 3-6 knew that the Sun rises in the
East and sets in the West. Only about 20% knew that, in Britain, the Sun is towards the
South when it is at its highest in the sky, and over 40% incorrectly thought that the answer
was towards the North. This may indicate that some pupils associate north with upwards.
About 30% of pupils believed that the apparent movement of the Sun across the sky is
caused by the Earth’s movement around the Sun.

Q9.
Pupils were required to draw on a diagram to show how blue light is refracted as it passes
through a prism. Few pupils were able to complete the diagram correctly to gain both of
the available marks. Some pupils did not complete the ray diagram carefully enough,
some by not using a ruler, some by drawing broken lines, and others by drawing rays
which did not connect with each other at the air-glass boundaries. A typical example of
this is shown below.

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Other pupils’ responses were more clearly scientifically inaccurate, indicating that their
understanding of this part of the Programme of Study was insecure. Some drew the ray
passing into and out of the prism without being refracted, and others drew the ray leaving
the prism as parallel to the incident ray. Such answers may suggest that pupils are either
unfamiliar with the process of refraction, or that they have confused what happens to light
as it passes through a prism with what happens as light passes through a rectangular
glass block. Examples of both these types of incorrect responses are shown below.

Most pupils, in both tiers, did not know that a spectrum would be formed on the screen as
a result of white light passing through a prism. The two most common incorrect answers
were nothing and a white spot. Whilst over 50% of pupils could successfully describe the
effect of a colour filter on white light, few were able to explain how the filter produces this
effect. The most common incorrect answer is shown in the example below.

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 ___________________________________________________________________

‘it changes the colour of light hitting the screen It makes it a different colour’

___________________________________________________________________

Q10.
No specific comment made.

Q11.
In some answers, descriptions rather than explanations were provided. For example, over
two-thirds of pupils did not explain the formation of a shadow of a puppet in a way that
showed that they understood light was blocked. Many gave answers which simply
described where the shadow was formed, as illustrated in the first example below.
However, some pupils were able to give clear explanations, as the second and third
examples show.

___________________________________________________________________

With the bright light shining on it then the shadow goes onto the screen.

The light can not get through the puppet so it makes a shadow.

by the light (only in straight lines) being blocked by the puppet making the shadow.

___________________________________________________________________

Q12.
No specific comment made.

Q13.
In some cases pupils showed that they had grasped the scientific principle on which the
question was based but were not successful in applying the principle. A majority was able
to show knowledge of how light is reflected from a plane mirror but few could use this in
an explanation of how a bicycle reflector works. The example below illustrates a
successful answer to this question.

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 Some pupils did not follow the instruction to use a ruler and protractor to mark the path of
reflected light. This led to inaccurate drawing. The following example illustrates how this
resulted in the pupil not appreciating that, after two reflections, the reflected ray is parallel
to the incident ray. Pupils who did not realise this found it difficult to complete the
question.

Q14.
No specific comment made.

Q15.
Most pupils gave correct answers to both parts of this question.

Q16.
Most pupils gave the correct answers to both parts of this question.

Q17.
About 50% of pupils gained all three marks in part (a) with almost all pupils correctly
identifying at least one of the forces acting on the rocket. Few pupils were able to name
correctly the two forces required in part (b). Whilst part (c) was answered correctly by over
50% of pupils, those pupils who did not identify that ‘the bright flash of light was seen first’,
offered contused reasons for their choice.

Q18.
Most pupils showed understanding that the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of
incidence, but few were able to indicate the direction of travel of the light which enabled
the bird to be seen.

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