KS3 Light 1

Q1.
Ann shines a ray of white light at a glass prism.
(a) Tick one box in each row to show if each sentence is true or false.
true false
The light refracts as it enters the prism.
The light refracts as it travels through the prism.
The light disperses as it leaves the prism.
The light forms a spectrum of colours on the screen.
2 marks
(b) Ann places two mirrors at 90° and shines a ray of light at mirror 1.
(i) On the diagram above continue the ray of light to show how it is reflected by
both mirrors. Use a ruler.
2 marks
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(ii) On the diagram above label the incident ray (i) and the reflected ray (r) for
the light striking mirror 2.
1 mark
(c) Ann shines the torch at a red book.
Explain why the object looks red in white light.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
2 marks
(d) In a dark room, Ann puts different coloured filters in front of the torch.
She records the colour the book appears.
Complete the table below to show the colour that the book would appear.
Tick one box in each row. The first one has been done for you.
What colour does the red book appear?

colour of filter
red green black
no filter
red filter
green filter
1 marks
maximum 8 marks
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Q2.
(a) The diagram below shows George using his laptop.
Light from the lamp is reflected by the laptop screen.
(i) On the diagram above draw a ray of light to show how George sees the light
from the lamp reflected by the laptop screen. Use a ruler.
Draw arrows to show the direction of light.

3 marks
(ii) With the laptop screen in the position shown in part a(i), George sees an
image of the lamp on the screen.
George tilts the screen forwards as shown below.
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When the screen is tilted forwards it is easier for George to see the words on
the screen.
What happens to the reflected ray of light when the screen is tilted?
...............................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) George listens to music on his headphones.
Complete the sentence below using words from the box.
chemical electrical gravitational potential
sound thermal
The useful energy change in the headphones is from ..................................
energy into .................................. energy.

1 mark
maximum 5 marks
Q3.
Tom is doing a bungee jump from a bridge.
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He is attached to one end of an elastic rope.
The other end of the rope is attached to the bridge.
Tom jumps from the bridge.
(a) (i) What force makes Tom fall towards the ground?
.........................................................
1 mark
(ii) Tom does not hit the river below the bridge.
What makes Tom stop falling before he hits the river?
.........................................................
1 mark
(b) The next person to do a bungee jump is Jill.
Jill weighs less than Tom.

Complete the sentence below using words from the box.
more than less than the same as
When Jill jumps, the rope will stretch ...........................................................
it did when Tom jumped.

1 mark
(c) Jill’s dad watches her doing the bungee jump.

He is standing a long way from the bridge.
Jill shouts ‘bungee’ at the same time as she jumps off the bridge.
Jill’s dad sees her jump before he hears her shout.
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(i) Why does Jill’s dad see her jump before he hears her shout?
...............................................................................................................
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1 mark
(ii) Tom is near Jill when she shouts. Her dad is far away.
Complete the sentence to describe how the shout will sound to Tom compared
with Jill’s dad. Use one word from the box.
louder higher lower quieter
The shout will sound ............................................ to Tom.

1 mark
(iii) What part of Tom’s ear vibrates when he hears Jill shout?
...............................................................................................................
1 mark
maximum 6 marks
Q4.
(a) When light travels from air to glass, it changes direction.
What is the name of this effect?
........................................................
1 mark
(b) The diagram below shows three rays of light A, B and C striking a glass block.
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The paths of A and B have been drawn.
Continue ray C to show its path through the block and out the other side.
Use a ruler.
2 marks
(c) The diagram below shows three rays of light, D, E and F, from a torch placed under
water.
The path of ray E is shown as it leaves the water and enters the air.
Continue the paths of D and F as they pass through the air.

Use a ruler.
2 marks
maximum 5 marks
Q5.
Nina’s bicycle has a front lamp and a rear lamp.
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Both lamps are connected to the same battery.
(a) The circuit diagram for the lamps is drawn below.
(i) On the circuit diagram above, place a letter A to show the position of a
switch to turn only the front lamp on and off.
1 mark
(ii) On the circuit diagram above, place a letter B to show the position of a
switch to turn both lamps on and off at the same time.
1 mark
(b) The bulb in the rear lamp gives out white light.
White light is a mixture of all the colours of light.
The plastic cover acts as a red filter.

Red light passes through the filter.
What happens to the other colours that do not pass through?
........................................................................................................................
1 mark
(c) Nina replaces the battery with a generator called a dynamo.
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When Nina pedals her bicycle, the back wheel turns the generator.
Complete the sentences below using words from the box.
chemical electrical gravitational
kinetic light sound thermal
As Nina pedals, ..................................... energy in her muscles is
changed to kinetic energy.
When the generator turns, kinetic energy is changed to useful
..................................... energy in the wires. This energy in the wires is
changed to useful ..................................... energy in the bulb.
When the lamps are on, some of the energy in the bulb is wasted as
..................................... energy.
4 marks
maximum 7 marks
Q6.
(a) The diagram below shows a fish tank.
The surface of the water acts like a mirror.

The fish can see the snail reflected in the surface of the water.
Draw a ray of light which passes from the snail, and reflects from the surface, to
show how the fish can see the snail. Use a ruler.
Put arrows on the ray of light.

3 marks
(b) Andrew is looking at the snail.
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When a ray of light passes from water to air it changes direction.
(i) Draw a ray of light from the snail to Andrew to show how Andrew can see
the snail. Use a ruler.
Put arrows on the ray of light.

2 marks
(ii) What is the name given to this change in the direction of a ray of light?
.............................................
1 mark
maximum 6 marks
Q7.
James shone a ray of light at a mirror as shown below.
diagram 1
He measured the angle of reflection for different angles of incidence.
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His results are shown below.
angle of incidence (º) 30 40 50 60 70
angle of reflection (º) 30 40 50 65 70
(a) Which angle of reflection was not measured accurately?
..................°
How can you tell this from the table?
.........................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) James set up a different experiment as shown below.
diagram 2
He measured the angle of refraction for different angles of incidence.
His results are shown in the graph.
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Use the graph to answer the questions below.
(i) When the angle of refraction is 20°, what is the angle of incidence?
..................°
1 mark
(ii) What conclusion could James draw from his graph?

Complete the sentence below.
When light passes from air into glass, the angle of incidence is
always .......................................................... the angle of refraction.

1 mark
(c) On diagram 2, draw a line to continue the refracted ray as it leaves the glass
block.
1 mark
maximum 4 marks
Q8.
(a) Peter had two different coloured tennis balls as shown below.
He shone white light through a red filter onto each ball.
(i) experiment 1
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The white ball appeared red.
Explain why this ball appeared red.
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2 marks
(ii) experiment 2
What colour did this ball appear?
..........................................................
Explain your answer.
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2 marks
(b) Peter set up a different experiment.

He cut three holes in a piece of card.
Two of the holes were covered by coloured filters as shown below.
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Peter placed a red filter between the piece of card and a white screen.
He shone white light at the piece of card with three holes in it.
What would Peter see on the screen?
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1 mark
maximum 5 marks
Q9.
Three pupils watched a firework display.
(a) A man lit the fireworks. He wore ear defenders.
Why should he wear ear defenders when he is close to loud fireworks?
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1 mark
(b) A rocket exploded making a loud sound and a bright flash.

Peter, Sabrina and Jan were standing at different distances from the rocket.
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When the rocket exploded, Jan heard the quietest sound.
Why did Jan hear the quietest sound?
........................................................................................................................
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1 mark
(c) Jan saw the flash before she heard the sound.
What does this tell you about the speed of light and the speed of sound?
........................................................................................................................
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1 mark
(d) Complete the sentences below using words from the list.
chemical electrical heat light sound
(i) Jan, Sabrina and Peter could see the rocket explode because it
gave out ................................... energy.

1 mark
(ii) They could hear the rocket explode because it gave out
........................................... energy.
1 mark
(e) When the rocket stopped burning it fell to the ground.

What force caused it to fall to the ground?
.............................................................
1 mark
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maximum 6 marks
Q10.
Gabby arranged a torch, two cards and a screen as shown below.
Light from the torch passed through holes in the cards and onto the screen.
(a) Why did a spot of light appear on the screen? Tick the correct box.
1 mark
(b) Gabby moved card B to one side as shown below.

The ray of light passed through the hole in card A and onto card B.
Continue the ray of light from the torch to show where it would hit card B.
Use a ruler.
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1 mark
(c) Gabby used a torch to shine a ray of light towards a mirror.

Continue the ray of light to show how it reflects off the mirror.
Add an arrow to show the direction of the reflected ray.
Use a ruler.
3 marks
(d) Gabby built a circuit like the circuit in her torch.
What could she do to the circuit to make this bulb brighter?

Tick the correct box.
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1 mark
maximum 6 marks
Q11.
Jenny dropped her torch down a drain.
The torch was still switched on but Jenny could not see it.
not to scale
(a) (i) Jenny lowered a mirror into the drain and placed it at position P.
At which angle should Jenny put the mirror to see the torch?
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1 mark
(ii) What happens to the light from the torch when it hits the mirror?
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) The diagrams below show the symbols for three parts of the torch circuit.
(i) On the line below each diagram, give the name of the part.
..................................... ..................................... ......................................

3 marks
(ii) In the space below, draw a circuit diagram to show how these three
parts are connected in a torch.
1 mark
maximum 6 marks
Q12.
The diagram shows a ray of light hitting the surface of a mirror made from thick glass.
The incident ray is both reflected and refracted.
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(a) (i) Give the letters of the two reflected rays.
............... and ...............

1 mark
(ii) Give the letter of one refracted ray.
...............
1 mark
(b) The incident ray is brighter than ray A.

Give one reason for this.
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1 mark
maximum 3 marks
Q13.
(a) A teacher shines a laser beam onto a classroom window. It reflects off the window
and onto a screen.
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On the diagram above, continue the laser beam to show its path as it reflects off the
window and onto the screen. Use a ruler.
Add arrows to show the direction of the laser beam.
2 marks
(b) (i) When a pupil plays her flute in the classroom the window vibrates.
Give the reason for this.
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1 mark
(ii) When the window vibrates, what happens to the laser beam that is reflected
off the window?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
(c) The teacher places a microphone near the pupil as she plays her flute. The diagram
below shows the pattern on an oscilloscope screen.
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The pupil then plays her flute at a higher pitch and more quietly.
Which diagram below shows the pattern that would be seen on the oscilloscope?
1 mark
maximum 5 marks
Q14.
Thunder and lightning happen at the same time.
(a) We see the flash of lightning before we hear the thunder.

Give the reason for this.
.....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) Omar investigated the movement of a storm. He measured the time between seeing
a flash of lightning and hearing the thunder.
He did this six times. Omar put his results in a table.
flash of time between seeing the

lightning lightning and hearing the
thunder, in seconds
A 8.0
B 5.0
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C 3.0
D 9.0
E 13.0
F 16.5
Omar drew a bar chart of his results as shown below.
(i) On the bar chart, draw a bar for flash D. Use a ruler.
1 mark
(ii) Which flash of lightning was closest to Omar?

Give the correct letter.
...................................................................
1 mark
(iii) Describe how the distance between the storm and Omar changed as the
storm moved between flash A and flash F.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Q15.
The diagram below shows the orbits of Neptune, Pluto and the Earth.
At two points, A and B, the orbits of Neptune and Pluto cross over each other.
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not to scale
(a) What force keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?
...................................................................
1 mark
(b) Give two reasons why it takes Pluto more time than Neptune to orbit the Sun.
1. ................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
2. ................................................................................................................
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2 marks
(c) (i) Tom can see the Sun because it is a light source. It gives out its own light.
Neptune and Pluto are not light sources but Tom can see them when he looks
through his telescope.
Explain why Tom can see Neptune and Pluto even though they are not light
sources.
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2 marks
(ii) Between points A and B, Pluto is nearer than Neptune to the Earth.
Tom noticed that Pluto is not as bright as Neptune, even when Pluto is closer
than Neptune to the Earth.
Give one reason why Pluto is not as bright as Neptune.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks
Q16.
Nadia is on her bicycle, waiting to pull out from a road junction.
Michael is driving his car round the bend. A row of houses stops Nadia from seeing
Michael's car.
not to scale
(a) At what position will Michael's car be when Nadia first sees it?
A B C D
1 mark
(b) A row of shops was built opposite the junction. The shops have glass windows which
act as a mirror.
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not to scale
Nadia could see Joan's motorbike reflected in the glass window.
(i) On the diagram above, draw a ray of light to show how Nadia can see Joan's
motorbike reflected in the glass window.
Add arrows to the ray. Use a ruler.
3 marks
(ii) How does the glass window help to reduce the number of accidents?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks
Q17.
Sunita puts on a pair of special glasses as shown below. The glasses have coloured
filters in them.
(a) Sunita looks at a lamp through the green filter. The lamp gives out white light,
but appears to be green.
Explain how this is possible.
.....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
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.....................................................................................................................
2 marks
(b) Sunita looks at a red lamp.
(i) What colour will the lamp appear to Sunita, if she looks at it through
the red filter?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
(ii) What colour will the lamp appear to Sunita, if she looks at it through the green
filter?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2 marks
Maximum 5 marks
Q18.
A teacher has a small torch. He switches it on and points it towards a mirror.
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(a) A ray of light from the torch reflects off the mirror. Use a ruler to draw the ray of light:
(i) from the torch to the mirror;

1 mark
(ii) reflecting off the mirror.

2 marks
Add arrows to the rays to show the direction of the light.
(b) A laser beam is a very bright and powerful beam of light. It is very dangerous to
point a laser beam towards people or animals.
Which part of the body can be most easily damaged by a laser beam?
....................................................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Q19.
(a) Peter tried to obtain a mixture of red and green light.
He used white light from a spotlight and slotted a red filter and a green filter in front
of it as shown below.
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The diagram below represents Peter’s experiment.
(i) No light reached the screen. Explain why.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2 marks
(ii) Peter cut a circular hole in the green filter. Describe what Peter would see on
the screen.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) Peter used two spotlights to shine a mixture of red and green light on to some red
curtains.
(i) What colour did the red curtains appear in this light?
...................................................
1 mark
(ii) Give the reasons why they appeared this colour.
.............................................................................................................
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2 marks
Maximum 6 marks
Q20.
In 1610, the Italian scientist, Galileo, observed four bright moons near Jupiter.
Each night the moons moved.
(a) (i) The Sun and stars are light sources, and the planets are seen by reflected
light. Explain how we can see the moons of Jupiter.
.............................................................................................................
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2 marks
(ii) The four moons are approximately the same distance from the Earth.
However, they do not have the same brightness.
Suggest one reason for this.
.............................................................................................................
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1 mark
(b) The table shows the distances of the four moons from the centre of Jupiter, and the
times of their orbits. Europa’s distance has been left out.
name of distance from time for one

moon Jupiter, in orbit, in
millions of km Earth days
o 0.42 1.8
Europa 3.6
Ganymede 1.07 7.2
Callisto 1.88 16.7
The graph was plotted using the information in the table.
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Use the graph to estimate Europa’s distance from Jupiter.
............................................................................................ millions of km
1 mark
(c) Galileo realised that Jupiter and its moons formed a model of our Solar System. In
this model:
what did Jupiter represent? .........................................................................
what did the moons represent? ...................................................................

1 mark
Maximum 5 marks
Q21.
Two identical triangular glass prisms were placed together. A narrow beam of white light
was shone into them as shown below.
(a) Draw the ray of light through the two prisms and on to the screen.
2 marks
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(b) The prisms were then separated and set up as shown in the diagram, with rays of
white light shining through them. The prisms split the white light into colours as
shown.
(i) A white screen was placed in position A as shown below.
The rays of red, green and blue light are shown.

Describe the appearance of the light on the screen.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
2 marks
(ii) The white screen was moved away from the prisms to position B as shown
below.
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The rays of red, green and blue light are shown.
Describe the appearance of the light on the screen.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
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2 marks
Maximum 6 marks
Q22.
Two cyclists are riding along a dark road at night. One is wearing black clothes and the
other is wearing light-coloured clothes.
A car is driving behind the two cyclists. Light from the car headlamp shines on the cyclists.
(a) What happens to the light when it reaches the light-coloured clothes?
……………………………………………………………………………………….
1 mark
(b) On the drawing above, draw a ray of light to show how light from the headlamp
reaches the driver so that he can see the cyclist in the light-coloured clothes.
Draw arrows to show the direction of the light.
3 marks
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(c) What happens to the light when it reaches the black clothes?
……………………………………………………………………………………….
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks
Q23.
An actor is on a stage in a theatre. A spotlight is shining on him.
(a) A ray of light travels from the spotlight to the actor.
(i) Which line shows the ray? Give the correct letter.
…………
1 mark
(ii) How long does the light take to travel from the spotlight to the actor?
about a hundred millionth of a second
about a tenth of a second
about a second
about ten seconds

1 mark
(b) The actor’s voice sounds different to the people in the front and back rows of
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the audience.
(i) How does the actor’s voice sound different to a person in the back row?
……………………………………….……………………………………….
……………………………………….……………………………………….
1 mark
(ii) Complete the sentence with longer, shorter or exactly the same.
When the actor is at the back of the stage, the time his voice
takes to reach the audience is .…………………………… .

1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Q24.
The diagram below shows the shapes and positions of five glass objects.
Harriet put a square of black card on top of each glass object.

She shone a ray of red light onto each object.
The diagrams below show the rays of light going under the cards and coming out again.
Which object is under each card? Write the correct letter below each diagram.
One has been done for you.
4 marks
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Maximum 4 marks
Q25.
When white light is shone through a glass prism the light bends and splits into the colours
of the spectrum.
(a) (i) What word describes the bending of light as it enters and leaves glass?
……………………………..………
1 mark
(ii) What word describes the splitting of light into the colours of the spectrum?
……………………………..………
1 mark
(b) Some leaves from a buttercup plant were ground up in a solvent and filtered to give
a green solution of chlorophyll. A glass container of this green solution was put in the
rays of coloured light.
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What change in the spectrum would you see on the screen?
……………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………….
2 marks
(c) Why is it necessary to grind up the buttercup leaves to release the chlorophyll from
the cells?
……………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………….
1 mark
(d) Buttercup plants grow mainly in open fields. Dog’s Mercury is a plant which grows
mainly in woodland. The graph shows how the rate of photosynthesis in these two
plants changes as the light intensity changes.
Why do Dog’s Mercury plants grow better than buttercups in woodland?

Use the graph to help you.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………….
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……………………………………………………………………………………….
1 mark
Maximum 6 marks
Q26.
A rocket was fired above a seaside town to call out the lifeboat crew.
The rocket exploded, giving out light and sound at the same time.
(a) Lisa was outside the town. She saw the flash of the rocket exploding and heard the
bang.
(i) Which sentence is true?

She heard the bang first.
She saw the flash first.
She heard the bang and saw the flash at the same time.
1 mark
(ii) Give the reason for your answer.
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) Some people were nearer to the rocket than Lisa. How did the sound seem to
them?
It was quieter.
It was louder.
It was higher pitched.
It was lower pitched.

1 mark
Maximum 3 marks
Q27.
Sophie places a coin at the bottom of an empty mug. She cannot see the coin with her
eye in the position shown.
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(a) Sophie fills the mug with water. Her head is in the same position as before, but now
she can see part of the coin.
Draw a ray of light on the diagram to show how Sophie can see part of the coin.
Use a ruler.
Draw an arrow on the ray to show its direction.
3 marks
(b) Sophie pours some concentrated blackcurrant juice into the water.
The blackcurrant drink acts like a red filter and makes the coin look red.
Explain how a red filter works.
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2 marks
Maximum 5 marks
Q28.
The diagram shows a lamp and a piece of cardboard. The piece of cardboard has a hole
in it. Light from the lamp passes through the hole and forms a bright spot on a wall.
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(a) (i) Which point on the wall, A B, C, D or E, is lit up by the lamp?
......................
1 mark
(ii) Explain why the other points on the wall are not lit up by the lamp.
............................................................................................................
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1 mark
(b) A piece of clear green plastic is placed over the hole.

What is the colour of the light which shines on the wall?
............................................……
1 mark
(c) The diagram shows a ray of light from a lamp hitting a mirror.
Which arrow, P, Q, R or S, shows the reflected ray?
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......................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Q29.
Speed cameras are used to detect motorists who break the speed limit. A number of lines
2 m apart are painted on the road. As a speeding car crosses the painted lines, the
camera takes two photographs, 0.5 s apart.
(a) (i) How far did the car move between the two photographs?
Give the correct unit.
............................................................................................................
............................................................................................................
1 mark
(ii) How fast is the car in the photographs moving?
............................................................................................................
..................................................................................................... m/s
1 mark
(b) It takes 0.0002 s to take each photograph.

How far does the car move while the speed camera is taking one photograph?
......................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................… m
1 mark
(c) The speed camera gives out bright flashes to provide enough light for the
photographs.
How does the light from the flash get back to the camera to produce the
photographs?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Q30.
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The human eye detects red light, blue light and green light. A combination of red, green
and blue light is seen as white. We ‘see’ other colours when different combinations of red,
blue and green enter the eye. This is shown in the table.
light entering colour ‘seen’ by the

the eye eye
no light black
red red
blue blue
green green
red + blue magenta
blue + green cyan
red + green yellow
red + blue + green white
(a) Some magenta paint is illuminated by a combination of red, green and blue light.
Explain why the paint appears magenta.
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2 marks
(b) A mixture of cyan paint and yellow paint appears green in a combination of
red + blue + green light. Explain what happens to:
(i) the red light? .......................................................................................

1 mark
(ii) the blue light? .....................................................................................
1 mark
(iii) the green light? ...................................................................................
1 mark
(c) Most colours of paint can be obtained by mixing different combinations of cyan,
magenta and yellow paints.
What combination of these paints makes:
(i) blue paint?
............................................................................................................
1 mark
(ii) red paint?
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1 mark
Maximum 7 marks
Q31.
A man was hammering nails into a wooden fence post.
The drawing shows the hammer just before it hit a nail.
(a) The hammer hit the nail. What is the direction of the force of the hammer on
the nail?
Draw an arrow on the diagram to show this.
1 mark
(b) What effect did this force have on the nail?
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
(c) How did the speed of the hammer change when the hammer hit the nail?
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
(d) The hammer hit the nail again. The hammer was moving faster this time.
The size of the force of the hammer on the nail was different.
In what way was it different?
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
(e) Mark could see the man mending the fence. The man was at the other end of
a large field. Mark saw the man hit a nail with the hammer. One second later
he heard the sound.
Why did Mark hear the sound after he saw the hammer hit the nail?
......................................................................................................................
Page 43 of 91
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
(f) Mark walked half way across the field, nearer to the man. Again he saw the
hammer hit a nail, then heard the sound.
This time, how long was the gap between seeing and hearing the hammer hit
the nail?
longer than one second
one second
less than one second
there was no gap

1 mark
Maximum 6 marks
Q32.
James’s coin has rolled under a cupboard. It is dark under the cupboard, and he cannot
see the coin even though the light is on.
The diagram shows his problem.
(a) Explain why a shadow forms under the cupboard.
......................................................................................................................
Page 44 of 91
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) James uses a mirror to shine light from the light bulb onto the coin.
He holds the mirror so that it touches the floor at point X.
(i) The symbol for a mirror is
Copy the symbol onto the diagram at point X to show the correct angle
for the mirror.
1 mark
(ii) On the diagram, draw the ray of light from the bulb to the coin.
Draw an arrow on the ray to show which way the light is travelling.
Use a ruler.
2 marks
(iii) Use the correct word to complete the sentence.
At the mirror, the light is ......................................................................

1 mark
Maximum 5 marks
Q33.
(a) The diagram below shows a ray of red light entering a glass block.
(i) Most of the light goes into the glass block, but some does not.
What happens to the light which does not go into the glass block?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
(ii) As the light goes into the glass block, it changes direction.
What is the name of this effect?
Page 45 of 91
.............................................................................................................
1 mark
(b) The diagram below shows white light passing through a prism and forming a
spectrum on a white screen.
The spectrum contains light of all colours. Red is at one end of the spectrum.
Write blue, green and violet below in the order of the spectrum.
1 mark
(c) A pupil puts a green filter in the ray of white light. What happens to the
spectrum on the screen?
The whole spectrum turns green.
The green part of the spectrum disappears, but

the other colours stay the same.
The green part of the spectrum stays the same,

but the other colours disappear.
The whole spectrum disappears.
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Q34.
(a) Diagram 1 shows a light bulb X, a piece of card and a white screen. Two light rays
have been drawn from the bulb to the screen.
Page 46 of 91
diagram 1
Five points, A, B, C, D and E, have been labelled on the screen.

Give the letter of one point which is in shadow.
............................................................
1 mark
(b) Bulb Y is added. Diagram 2 shows two light rays from each bulb.
diagram 2
Look at diagram 2.
(i) Which point on the screen will be in the darkest shadow?
Page 47 of 91
Give the letter. ..................................
1 mark
(ii) Give the letter of one point on the screen which will be lit up by both bulbs.
...........................................................
1 mark
(iii) Which point on the screen will be lit up by bulb X only?
Give the letter. ..................................

1 mark
(c) Bulb Y is connected in parallel with bulb X. Draw a circuit diagram below to
show how the two bulbs and the battery are connected.
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks
Q35.
On 11th August 1999 there will be an eclipse. The shadow of the Moon will pass over part
of the Earth.
(a) The diagram below shows the Moon, the Moon’s shadow and the Earth.
not to scale
On the diagram, draw an arrow pointing towards where the Sun must be.
Page 48 of 91
1 mark
(b) At about midday the Moon’s shadow will pass over Cornwall in England.
Where, in the sky, is the Sun at midday?
towards the North
towards the West
towards the East
towards the South

1 mark
(c) The map shows the shape of the Moon’s shadow and the path it will take
across Cornwall.
The Moon’s shadow will take about 2 minutes to move across a house in Falmouth.
It will take less than 2 minutes to move across a house in Padstow.
Explain why it will take less time for the Moon’s shadow to move across a
house in Padstow than to move across one in Falmouth.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
1 mark
(d) Why does the Moon’s shadow move over the surface of the Earth?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
Page 49 of 91
1 mark
Maximum 4 marks
Page 50 of 91
Mark schemes
Q1.
(a) •
true false
for all four correct, award two marks

for any two or three correct, award one mark
for one correct answer, award no marks
if more than one box is ticked in any row, do not give credit
for that row
2 (L6)
(b) (i) •
award one mark for approximately equal angles of incidence

and reflection at mirror 1
award one mark for a continuous ray that is reflected off
mirror 1 and mirror 2
both rays are required for the mark rays must been drawn
as straight lines
ignore any arrows
2 (L7)
(ii) • rays ‘i’ and ‘r’ correctly labelled on diagram as shown above
both rays, correctly labelled, are required for the mark
1 (L7)
(c) any two from
• white light is a mixture of colours
• the red book absorbs all of the colours of light except red
accept ‘the other colours are absorbed’
Page 51 of 91
• only red light is reflected
‘red light is reflected’ is insufficient
2 (L7)
(d) •
red green black
red filter
green filter
both ticks are required for the mark

if more than one tick is placed in any row, award no mark
1 (L7)
[8]
Q2.
(a) (i) • a continuous straight line from the lamp to the screen and from
the screen to George’s eye
1 (L5)
• angle of incidence approximately equal to the angle of reflection
accept a reflection anywhere between the dotted lines

on the laptop screen
1 (L5)
• arrows in the correct direction on the incident and reflected ray

accept one arrow on a continuous ray showing reflection
1 (L5)
(ii) the reflected ray or the light image misses George’s eyes
accept ‘the ray of light is reflected at a different angle’
accept ‘it moves down’
‘the lamp is not shining in his eye’s is insufficient
do not accept responses referring to scattering
‘it changes’ is insufficient
do not accept ‘the ray of light is reflected above his eye’
1 (L6)
(b) from electrical energy to sound energy

both answers are required for the mark
answers must be in the correct order
1 (L5)
[5]
Page 52 of 91
Q3.
(a) (i) any one from
• weight
accept ‘gravity’
• gravitational force
1 (L4)
(ii) the rope or elastic

accept ‘bungee’
do not accept ‘air resistance’
accept ‘upward force’
do not accept ‘upthrust’
accept ‘tension’
1 (L3)
(b) less than

1 (L3)
(c) (i) any one from
• light travels faster than sound

accept ‘light travels faster’
‘light is fast’ is insufficient
• sound travels slower than light

accept ‘sound travels slower’
‘sound is slow’ is insufficient
accept ‘light is faster than sound’
‘light travels before sound’ is insufficient
1 (L4)
(ii) louder
1 (L3)
(iii) eardrum
accept ‘drum’
accept ‘hammer’ or ‘anvil’ or ‘stirrup’
accept ‘small bones’
accept ‘ossicles’
1 (L3)
[6]
Q4.
(a) refraction or refracting
1 (L6)
Page 53 of 91
(b) • a ray bending towards the normal at the first surface
accept a ray that is within the shaded area
both sections of the ray must be straight and continuous
ignore any arrows
• an emerging ray bending away from the normal at the second surface
accept an emerging ray that is within the shaded area

the emergent ray does not have to be parallel to the incident
ray
2 (L7)
(c) • a continuous straight line for ray D

ignore any arrows
ignore any reflected rays
• a continuous ray F that bends away from the normal
accept a ray drawn within the shaded area

do not accept an emergent ray that does not refract
2 (L7)
[5]
Q5.
(a) (i) •
accept a switch drawn and labelled A marked

on any part of the circuit highlighted
do not accept a switch at either function
the switch must be labelled for the mark
1 (L5)
(ii) •
Page 54 of 91
accept a switch drawn and labelled B marked
on any part of the circuit highlighted
do not accept a switch at either junction
the switch must be labelled for the mark
1 (L5)
(b) • they are absorbed

accept ‘they are blocked or
filtered out’
‘they are filtered’ is insufficient
1 (L6)
(c) • chemical
1 (L6)
• electrical
1 (L5)
• light
1 (L5)
• thermal
‘heat’ is insufficient as the question asks for
a word from the box
1 (L5)
[7]
Q6.
(a) • a straight line from the snail to the surface and
from the surface to the fish
the line must reach the fish within the tolerance
shown below the ray must be continuous
ignore an incident ray towards the snail
ignore rays refracted at the surface
1 (L5)
• the angle of incidence should be approximately

equal to the angle of reflection
the line must reach the surface of the
water within the tolerance shown below
1 (L6)
• arrow pointing towards the fish or away from the snail

accept a single arrow in the correct direction
on either the incident or the reflected ray
if two arrows are drawn, they must both be
in the correct direction
Page 55 of 91
1 (L5)
(b) (i) • a ray from the snail to Andrew’s eye bending at the surface
both parts of the ray must be straight and
must slope upwards and to the right
the ray must be continuous
ignore any incident rays drawn towards the snail
the ray must bend further away from the normal
at the surface as it goes from water to air
1 (L6)
• an arrow pointing towards Andrew on any part of the ray

if two arrows are drawn, they must both be in the
correct direction
1 (L6)
(ii) • refraction
1 (L6)
[6]
Q7.
(a) • 65
it is different from the angle of incidence or all the others are the same
accept ‘number 4’ or ‘the fourth’
Page 56 of 91
accept ‘it is not 60°’ or ‘it should be 60°’
accept ‘the angle of reflection and the angle
of incidence should be the same’
accept ‘it is 5° out’
accept ‘they are not the same’
both the answer and the correct explanation
are required for the mark
award a mark for ‘60°’ if the explanation is correct
‘they go up in tens’ is insufficient
‘it does not fit the pattern’ is insufficient
1 (L5)
(b) (i) • a number from 30 to 32

1 (L5)
(ii) • greater than

accept ‘greater’ or ‘bigger’
1 (L5)
(c)
accept a continuous straight line that bends away from the

normal
accept a line without an arrow
The ray need not be parallel to the incident ray
1 (L6)
[4]
Q8.
(a) (i) • only red light passes through the filter
accept ‘the other colours are filtered out
or absorbed’
‘red light passes through’ is insufficient
a mark for this answer may be awarded in either a i
or a ii provided there is no contradiction
1 (L7)
• the ball reflects red light

accept ‘white objects reflect all colours’
1 (L7)
(ii) black
Page 57 of 91
accept ‘you cannot see it’
1 (L7)
any one from
• the green ball does not reflect red light or the light that
passes through the filter
• the ball absorbs red light

accept ‘no green light reaches the ball’
1 (L7)
(b) two red spots

accept ‘red black red’
‘two spots’ is insufficient
‘red spots’ is insufficient
do not accept ‘only red light’
1 (L7)
[5]
Q9.
(a) any one from
• loud sounds can damage hearing

accept ‘they could damage his hearing’
• to protect his ears

accept ‘loud sounds can damage the ear’
• loud sounds can burst the eardrum

accept ‘it could make him deaf’
accept ‘they are very loud’
‘they are loud’ is insufficient as
‘loud’ is given in the question
1 (L3)
(b) any one from
• the further the sound travels the quieter it gets

accept ‘the sound or energy spreads out’
• she was furthest away

accept ‘she was further away’ or ‘she was far away’
accept ‘some of the sound is absorbed’
1 (L3)
(c) any one from
• the speed of light is greater than the speed of sound

accept ‘sound travels more slowly’

accept ‘light gets there before sound’
Page 58 of 91
1 (L4)
(d) (i) • light

1 (L3)
(ii) • sound
1 (L3)
(e) gravity
accept ‘weight’
1 (L4)
[6]
Q10.
(a) • Light travels in straight lines.
if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L3)
(b)
accept a continuous line drawn across card A

and reaching card B
award a mark for a straight line from the existing ray
passing through the hole in card A and reaching card B
the ray must not go beyond card B
1 (L3)
(c)
award one mark for a continuous straight line that

reflects off the mirror
award one mark for an angle of reflection approximately
equal to the angle of incidence
award one mark for a correct arrow on the reflected ray
3 (L4)
(d) Add another battery.

Page 59 of 91
1 (L3)
[6]
Q11.
(a) (i)

1 (L3)
(ii) It is reflected
accept ‘it reflects’
accept ‘it bounces off’
1 (L4)
(b) (i) • bulb

accept ‘lamp’ or ‘light’
1 (L3)
• battery or cells
accept ‘cell’
1 (L3)
• switch
1
(ii) a series circuit drawn with the correct symbols such as
accept ‘ ‘ for ‘ ‘
accept ‘ ‘ or ‘ ‘
accept curved wires
1 (L4)
[6]
Q12.
(a) (i) A and C
answers may be in either order
1 (L6)
(ii) any one from
• B
• D
1 (L6)
Page 60 of 91
(b) any one from
• not all the light is reflected
• some of the light is refracted
• some of the light is absorbed
• light is scattered by the glass

accept ‘it splits into two rays’ or ‘it splits’
1 (L6)
[3]
Q13.
(a) the angles of incidence and reflection must be equal
1 (L5)
the ray must be continuous and straight with an arrow

in the correct direction
accept one arrow in the correct direction on either

the incident or the reflected ray
the ray must hit the screen in the middle 2 cm
1 (L5)
(b) (i) any one from
• sound waves travel to the window or glass

accept ‘sound travels to the window’
• vibrations pass through the air
• sound waves or vibrations hit the window

accept ‘sound hits the window’
1 (L5)
(ii) the beam will vibrate or move or jump about

accept ‘scatter’ for vibrate
accept ‘it would go to other places in the room’
accept ‘it would go in different directions’
accept ‘it shakes’ or ‘it wobbles’
do not accept ‘it is blurred’
Page 61 of 91
‘it goes in a different direction’ is insufficient
1 (L5)
(c) B
1 (L6)
[5]
Q14.
(a) any one from
• sound travels more slowly than light

accept ‘sound travels slower’
accept ‘light is faster than sound’
do not accept ‘light travels fast’ or ‘sound travels slow’
do not accept ‘light travels before sound’
1 (L4)
(b) (i) a bar halfway between 8 and 10 seconds

the top of the bar must be in the middle third between
8 and 10
1 (L3)
(ii) C
accept ‘3.0’
1 (L3)
(iii) any one from
• the storm became closer then moved further away

accept ‘the storm passed over’ or ‘it passed by’
• towards then away from Omar

accept ‘at Flash A Omar was closer and at Flash F
Omar was further’
• the distance decreased then increased

accept ‘it increased’
accept ‘it went further away’
1 (L4)
[4]
Q15.
(a) gravitational pull of the Sun or the Sun’s gravity
accept ‘gravity’
accept ‘weight’
1 (L5)
(b) any two from
Page 62 of 91
• its average speed is lower
accept ‘its speed is slower’ or ‘it travels more slowly’
• for most of its orbit the Sun’s gravity is less

accept ‘the pull of the Sun is weaker’ or ‘gravity is less’
• its orbit is longer

accept ‘it travels further’ or ‘the orbit is bigger’
• for most of its orbit it is further from the Sun

accept ‘it is further from the Sun’ or ‘further away’
2 (L6)
(c) (i) light from the Sun

1 (L6)
reflects off Pluto and Neptune or the planets or them

accept for two marks ‘sunlight reflects off them’
award the second mark only for ‘the Sun reflects off the
planets’
1
(ii) any one from
• it is smaller
accept ‘it is small’
• it reflects less light
• it absorbs more light

accept ‘it is darker and smaller’
do not accept ‘it is further away ( from the Earth) ‘
or ‘it is further from the Sun’
do not accept ‘it is darker’
1 (L6)
[6]
Q16.
(a) B
1 (L5)
(b) (i)
a continuous straight line from Joan’s motor bike to the glass,
Page 63 of 91
and then from the glass to Nadia’s head
the incident ray and the reflected ray must touch the
glass at the same point
1 (L5)
angle of incidence must be approximately equal to the angle

of reflection
the incident ray must hit the mirror within the tolerance
shown
1 (L5)
an arrow pointing away from Joan’s motor bike on either

section of the ray
1 (L5)
(ii) any one from
• traffic coming round the bend or at the junction will be seen
• Nadia or Joan or you can see round the bend

1 (L5)
[5]
Q17.
(a) any one from
• white light is a mixture of colours
• white light contains green light

1 (L7)
the green light passes through

accept for two marks ‘all the other colours are absorbed
or filtered out’
accept for two marks ‘only the green light passes through’
1
(b) (i) red

because red light passes through the filter
both the colour and explanation are required for the mark
1 (L7)
(ii) black
accept ‘she cannot see it’
1 (L7)
any one from
• because red light will not pass through
• a green filter absorbs red light

accept ‘only green light passes through’
1
[5]
Page 64 of 91
Q18.
(a) (i) a straight line from the torch to the mirror
1 (L3)
(ii) a straight ray which reflects off the mirror with the angle of
reflection approximately equal to the angle of incidence
do not accept dotted lines
the incident ray must be continuous with the reflected ray
1 (L3)
an arrow on either the incident ray or the

reflected ray pointing in the correct direction
1 (L3)
(b) the eye

accept any named part of the eye
1 (L4)
[4]
Q19.
(a) (i) Answers must refer to the colour of light and the correct filter.
• only red light passes through the red filter

accept ‘the green light is absorbed
or stopped or filtered out by the red filter’
accept ‘red light is filtered by the red filter’
1 (L7)
• the red light is absorbed or stopped by the green filter

accept ‘only green light can pass through the green filter’
1 (L7)
(ii) a circle of red light

accept ‘red light’
1 (L7)
(b) (i) red

do not accept ‘dark red’ or ‘brownish red’
or ‘greeny red’
1 (L7)
(ii) the green light is absorbed

1 (L7)
the red light is scattered

accept ‘the red light is reflected’
accept for both of the explanation marks ‘only the red
light is reflected’ or ‘all except the red light is absorbed’
1 (L7)
[6]
Q20.
(a) (i) any two from
Page 65 of 91
• light from the Sun
do not accept ‘light from the Sun and stars’
• reflected from the moons’ surfaces

do not accept ‘the Sun reflects off the surface’
• travels from the moons to the eyes

accept ‘they reflect sunlight’ for both marks
2 (L6)
(ii) any one from
• they reflect different amounts of light

accept ‘they have different albedos’
accept ‘some are dark’ or ‘they are different colours’
• they are not the same size

accept ‘one could be partly in the shadow of Jupiter
or another moon’
1 (L7)
(b) 0.68
the unit is not required for the mark
accept answers from 0.65 to 0.70
1 (L7)
(c) the Sun

planets
1 (L6)
[5]
Q21.
(a) one mark for the ray bending the correct way at the first surface and
passing through the prisms in a straight line
1
one mark for the ray emerging parallel to incoming ray
ray must emerge from the lower edge

1
(b) (i) blue in centre

1
any one from
Page 66 of 91
• spectrum spreading out from centre in both directions
do not accept ‘rainbow’
• red at the top and bottom

1
(ii) green in the centre

1
magenta at the top and bottom

1
[6]
Q22.
(a) it is reflected
accept ‘it is scattered’
accept ‘it reflects or bounces off’
1 (L5)
(b) one mark is for a ray from the headlamp to the light-coloured clothes
and from them to the driver’s eye
both parts of the ray are required
accept small discontinuities in the ray
accept rays which are almost straight but
which have not been drawn with a ruler
do not accept dotted lines
1 (L5)
• one mark is for accurately drawing the correct ray

this is a dependent mark do not award this mark unless
the first mark was also awarded
the ray must touch the headlamp, touch the cyclist’s clothes,
and touch the driver’s eye the ray must be continuous
both parts of the ray must be drawn with a ruler
1 (L5)
• an arrow showing that the light enters the eye or leaves the headlamp
accept a correct arrow on an incomplete line
1 (L5)
(c) it is absorbed
accept ‘it absorbs’
accept ‘most is absorbed’
accept ‘it is not reflected’
accept ‘only some is reflected’
1 (L5)
[5]
Q23.
(a) (i) B
1 (L3)
(ii) about a hundred millionth of a second
Page 67 of 91
1 (L4)
(b) (i) quieter

accept ‘softer’ or ‘fainter’
accept ‘they cannot hear him’
do not accept ‘lower’
1 (L3)
(ii) longer
accept ‘more’
1 (L3)
[4]
Q24.
(a) Q
accept a drawing of the correct object
1 (L6)
(b) P
accept ‘R’
1 (L6)
(c) S
1 (L6)
(d) R
1 (L6)
[4]
Q25.
(a) (i) refraction
1 (L6)
(ii) dispersion
1 (L7)
(b) One mark is for what would be seen on the screen.

The second mark is for the explanation.
• only the green part would be seen

accept ‘only the green’
1 (L7)
• other colours are absorbed or removed by the green solution

accept ‘only green can go through’
1 (L7)
(c) any one from
• to break down the cell walls
Page 68 of 91
• to break open the cells
• because the green substance is inside the cells or chloroplasts

accept ‘to break up the chloroplasts’
accept ‘to break down the cuticle’
do not accept ‘to break them down’
1 (L7)
(d) A comparison between the rate of photosynthesis in Dog’s Mercury

and buttercup must be made.
any one from
• Dog’s Mercury has a higher rate of photosynthesis than buttercups

in low light
accept ‘Dog’s Mercury has a higher rate of photosynthesis
in low light’
accept ‘it can photosynthesise better than buttercups in the
shade’
accept ‘Dog’s Mercury can make more food in the shade’
do not accept ‘it can photosynthesise in the dark’
• buttercups have a lower rate of photosynthesis than Dog’s Mercury in low light
accept ‘buttercups have a lower rate of photosynthesis in
lower light’
• buttercups reach their maximum rate of photosynthesis at higher light intensities
• Dog’s Mercury reaches its maximum rate of photosynthesis at lower light

intensities
1 (L7)
[6]
Q26.
(a) (i) She saw the flash first.
if more than one box is ticked award no mark
1
(ii) any one from

accept ‘the flash travelled faster than the bang’
• sound travels more slowly than light

accept ‘the bang travelled more slowly than the flash’
do not accept ‘the flash or light travels very fast’
do not accept ‘sound takes time to travel’
1
(b) It was louder.

1
[3]
Page 69 of 91
Q27.
(a) one mark for a ray from coin to eye, bending at the surface of the water,
and not passing through the mug
both parts of the ray must slope upwards to the left
accept small discontinuities in the ray accept rays
which are almost straight but which may have not
been drawn with a ruler
1
one mark for accurately drawing the correct ray

do not award this mark unless the first mark was also
awarded the ray must touch the coin, touch the pupil
of the eye, and must be continuous
both parts of the ray must be drawn with a ruler
1
one mark for an arrow showing that the light enters the eye
1
(b) red light passes through

answers may be in either order accept ‘the filter
or drink does not affect the red light’
do not accept ‘it reflects red light’
1
the other colours are absorbed

accept ‘only the red light passes through the filter’
or ‘every colour except red is absorbed’ for both marks
do not accept ‘the light turns red’
1
[5]
Q28.
(a) (i) B
1
(ii) any one from

• light travels in straight lines
• light will not pass through the cardboard

accept ‘the cardboard blocks the light’
or ‘the cardboard is opaque’
• they are in the shadow of the cardboard
do not accept ‘they are in the shadow’
1
(b) green
1
(c) Q
1
[4]
Page 70 of 91
Q29.
(a) (i) 16 m
unit required for the mark
1
(ii) 32
consequential marking applies
accept answer to(a)(i) ÷ 0.5
1
(b) 0.0064
accept ‘6.4 mm’ or ‘0.64 cm’ consequential marking applies
accept answer to (a)(ii) × 0.0002 s
1
(c) it is scattered from the car or the road or the lines

accept ‘it is reflected’ or ‘it bounces off
1
[4]
Q30.
Answers may be in either order
(a) it absorbs the green light

accept ‘the green light is not reflected’
1
it scatters the red and the blue light

both colours are required for the mark
accept ‘it reflects the red and the blue light’
accept ‘the eye receives only red and blue light’
accept ‘it reflects only the red and the blue light’
or ‘it absorbs only the green light’ for both marks
1
(b) (i) it is absorbed by the cyan paint

do not accept ‘it is absorbed’
1
(ii) it is absorbed by the yellow paint

do not accept ‘it is absorbed’
1
(iii) it is scattered or reflected by both paints

accept ‘it is scattered or reflected’
1
(c) (i) cyan and magenta

colours may be in either order
1
(ii) magenta and yellow

colours may be in either order
1
[7]
Page 71 of 91
Q31.
(a) arrow pointing downwards
the arrow may be drawn anywhere on the drawing.
1 (L3)
(b) it moved it downwards

accept ‘it flattened the head’ or ‘it bent it’
or ‘it heated it up’
or ‘drove it into the wood’ or ‘it moved it’
1 (L3)
(c) it got less or it slowed down

accept ‘it stopped’ or ‘it decelerated’
1 (L3)
(d) it was bigger

1 (L3)
(e) sound travels more slowly than light or light travels faster than sound
accept ‘sound is slower than light’
accept ‘the sound took more time to reach him’
or ‘it took more time to travel’
do not accept ‘the sound took time to reach him’
or ‘it took time to travel’
do not accept ‘sound travels slowly’
or ‘because he was a long way away’
1 (L4)
(f) less than one second

1 (L4)
[6]
Q32.
(a) any one from
• light cannot go through the cupboard
• light cannot bend round the cupboard

accept ‘the cupboard stops or blocks or absorbs the light’
do not accept ‘the cupboard reflects the light’
accept ‘light travels in straight lines’
1 (L4)
(b) (i) mirror symbol is at approximately 45° to the floor
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the mirror must slope downwards to the right the hatching
marks must be on the underside of the mirror
do not accept rectangular drawings of a mirror
1 (L4)
(ii) at least one arrow showing the direction of the ray is required
to award both marks
ray from bulb to any part of mirror

1 (L3)
ray from mirror to coin

1 (L3)
(iii) reflected
the ray must be straight and must touch both the bulb
and the mirror the ray need not be vertical
accept a ray drawn to the mirror regardless of
where the mirror has been drawn
the ray must be straight and must touch both the
mirror and the coin
the ray must touch the mirror at the same point as
the ray from the bulb
accept a ray drawn from the mirror regardless
of where the mirror has been drawn
accept ‘reflecting’
do not accept ‘scattered’ or ‘absorbed’
or ‘refracted’ or ‘bounced off’
1 (L3)
[5]
Q33.
(a) (i) any one from
• it is reflected
accept ‘bounces off’
• it is scattered
accept ‘it is absorbed by the air’
do not accept ‘it is absorbed by the glass’
or ‘it is absorbed’ or ‘it goes into the air
1 (L5)
(ii) refraction
1 (L5)
(b) green
blue
violet
all three colours in the correct order are required for the
mark
accept ‘orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet’ in the
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correct
order
1 (L5)
(c) The green part of the spectrum stays the same, but the other
colours disappear.
i.e. a tick in the third box if more than one box is ticked,
award no mark
1 (L6)
[4]
Q34.
(a) C or D
accept either C or D indicated on the diagram
1 (L3)
(b) (i) C
1 (L4)
(ii) A or E
accept either A or E indicated on the diagram
1 (L4)
(iii) B
1 (L4)
(c)
or
accept a single cell
accept other recognised symbols for bulbs junction
symbols are not required
1 (L5)
[5]
Q35.
(a) horizontal arrow pointing to the left
the arrow may be drawn anywhere on the diagram
1 (L5)
(b) towards the South

1 (L5)
(c) any one from
• the part of the shadow which passes over Padstow is narrower
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• the part of the shadow which passes over Falmouth is wider or bigger
1 (L5)
(d) any one from
• the Moon moves around the Earth
• the Earth spins on its axis

accept ‘the Earth turns or rotates or goes round’
do not accept ‘the Earth moves around the Sun ‘
or ‘the Earth moves’ or ‘the Sun moves’
1 (L5)
[4]
Page 75 of 91
Examiner reports
Q7.
Facility values
Tier 3-6 Tier 5-7
L3 L4 L5 L6 L5 L6 L7
a 0.19 0.48 0.68 0.90 0.77 0.83 0.93
bi 0.10 0.25 0.48 0.62 0.66 0.72 0.82
bii 0.01 0.13 0.32 0.56 0.43 0.62 0.79
c 0.03 0.05 0.18 0.37 0.27 0.38 0.67
Q8.
Facility values
Tier 5-7
L5 L6 L7
ai1 0.09 0.30 0.68
ai2 0.03 0.09 0.34
aii1 0.15 0.26 0.63
aii2 0.02 0.10 0.43
b 0.04 0.17 0.54
Q9.
Part (a) was well answered by most pupils at all levels. The most common answers to
gain credit were references to loud sounds bursting the eardrum or causing deafness. At
all levels some pupils did not gain the mark because they simply described the sound
made by the fireworks as loud which was in the question.
Part (b) was answered well by most pupils, with over 80% of pupils at each level gaining
the mark for recognising that Jan heard the quietest sound because she was furthest
away. A small number of pupils at all levels said that the sound was quieter in addition to
Jan being further away from the fireworks.
Virtually all pupils at levels 5 and 6 gained the mark in part (c). Pupils at levels 3 and 4
also did relatively well with 50% and 80% respectively gaining the mark. Those pupils who
did not gain credit often referred to the speed of the flash instead of the speed of light.
Parts (di) and (dii) were answered very well by pupils at all levels with a very small
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minority choosing incorrect options from the list provided. The most frequently chosen
incorrect option for part (di) was chemical; no incorrect option was more common than the
others for part (dii).
Part (e) differentiated well between levels 3, 4 and 5, but less so between levels 5 and 6.
A significant number of pupils at all levels, but particularly at levels 3 and 4, gave an
answer referring to energy from the list of words provided in part (d) and not a force as
required.
Facility values
Tier 3-6
L3 L4 L5 L6
a .86 .90 .94 .92
b .87 .95 .94 .94
c .52 .82 .97 .99
di .80 .88 .96 .99
dii .91 .97 .97 .99
e .43 .68 .80 .92
Q10.
In part (a), at least 50% of all pupils at each level gave the correct answer. Over a quarter
of pupils at all levels incorrectly chose the answer light can travel through empty space,
possibly misunderstanding the difference between a gap between the cards and a
vacuum.
In part (b) only about a third of pupils at level 3 drew the correct line for the ray. At all
levels a significant number of pupils forced the ray to go through the hole in card B or
drew the line passing through card B, neither of which gained the mark. Many pupils did
not use a ruler to draw the ray and some were penalised if the line was not sufficiently
straight.
Part (c) was particularly well answered by pupils above level 3. Pupils at all levels were
least successful at drawing approximately equal angles of incidence and reflection despite
drawing rays that were continuous, straight and with a correct arrow. Half of pupils at level
3 and a quarter at level 4 did not gain any of the three marks available.
Almost all pupils at level 6 correctly identified adding another battery as the way to make
the bulb brighter I part (d). The most frequently selected incorrect option was add another
bulb; this was selected by about a quarter of pupils at level 3.
Facility values
Tier 3-6
L3 L4 L5 L6
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a .58 .68 .68 .77
b .20 .41 .63 .79
c1 .28 .58 .83 .95
c2 .24 .44 .58 .72
c3 .28 .51 .74 .86
d .55 .81 .93 .99
Q11.
Part (a)(i) discriminated well between the levels, with 45% of Level 3 pupils being awarded
the mark compared to 95% of Level 6 pupils. Pupils at Level 3 frequently chose to tick
either the second or the third boxes, and pupils at Level 4 frequently chose to tick the
second box. Few pupils at any level chose to tick the last box.
Part (a)(ii) was answered well by pupils at all levels, with roughly 80% of pupils at Level 3
being awarded the mark. At all levels the majority of pupils gave the answer reflected, and
relatively few gave the less technical answer bounces off.
Part (b)(i) was answered well by pupils at all levels. At all levels pupils found the second
symbol – representing a battery or cells – most difficult to identify.
Part (b)(ii) was the most difficult part of the question for pupils at all levels with only about
65% being able to draw a correct circuit containing the three symbols. At Levels 3 and 4 a
number of pupils drew circuits that contained gaps and so failed to gain the mark.
Q12.
Sc4 3 marks Facility: 0.17 (Tier 3-6) / 0.44 (Tier 5-7)
The facility on part (ai) was disappointing at the target level, with only pupils at Level 7
having much success, just over a third gaining the mark. Although 69% of pupils correctly
identified ray A, only around 22% selected ray C, which was also required for the mark.
Responses at the lower levels were spread fairly evenly across all four options.
Part (aii) proved much more accessible, 19% giving a correct response at Level 3,
increasing to 84% at Level 7. Of the two correct answers, ray B was by far the most
popular choice of refracted ray.
Part (b) discriminated fairly well above Level 4, with responses spread across the variety
of sufficient responses. The most popular of these was to explain that the incident ray
splits into two rays, although at Level 7 it was also common for pupils to mention
refraction.
Facilities by tier and level achieved
3-6 5-7
Item 3 4 5 6 5 6 7
ai .02 .01 .03 .11 .06 .14 .35
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aii .16 .29 .42 .65 .60 .71 .86
b .00 .01 .08 .27 .24 .41 .70
Q13.
Sc4 5 marks Facility: 0.54 (Tier 3-6) / 0.74 (Tier 5-7)
Part (a) was well answered by many pupils, 16% of those at Level 3 gaining both marks,
increasing to 77% at Level 7. Those who lost a mark were most likely to do so by not
drawing equal angles of reflection and incidence or by not drawing a correct arrow.
Both parts (bi) and (bii) discriminated well at the lower levels, although performance was
generally better on part (bii). In part (bi) 11% of pupils, including 18% of Level 7 pupils,
simply repeated the window vibrates from the question.
Part (c) discriminated fairly well between levels and the facility at the target level was
good. The most common incorrect response was diagram D, representing a sound played
more loudly and at a lower pitch.
Facilities by tier and level achieved
3-6 5-7
Item 3 4 5 6 5 6 7
a1 .44 .69 .86 .91 .85 .90 .93
a2 .22 .50 .70 .80 .76 .84 .92
bi .15 .37 .59 .77 .64 .71 .82
bii .31 .55 .70 .76 .65 .65 .75
c .12 .29 .43 .60 .57 .71 .89
Q14.
Pupils’ performance on this question was variable, with parts (bi) and (bii) being answered
well. Part (a) discriminated clearly across the levels with nearly all those attaining level 6
stating that light travels faster than sound. A third of those attaining level 3 omitted this
part. In part (bi) most pupils used the information in the table to draw a correct bar on the
chart. Part (bii) was answered well by those attaining levels 5 and 6; the most common
error was to select bar F. Part (biii), which required students to interpret the bar chart,
discriminated well across the levels. Only a quarter of pupils attaining level 3 correctly
deduced that the storm eventually moved further away compared with three-quarters of
pupils attaining level 6.
Facility values
Part Omit (%) Facility
(a) 11 0.61
(b)(i) 3 0.88
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(b)(ii) 1 0.73
(b)(iii) 14 0.52
By level
Part 3 4 5 6
(a) .17 .47 .80 .93
(b)(i) .71 .84 .92 .95
(b)(ii) .46 .65 .85 .92
(b)(iii) .23 .39 .61 .81
Q15.
Pupils’ performance on this question was variable. Part (a) was answered well with nearly
all pupils taking the 5-7 tier stating that gravity is the force that keeps planets in orbit
around the Sun. The first part of (b) was answered well with most pupils reasoning that
Pluto’s orbit time was greater than that of Neptune because it was further away from the
Sun. Far fewer pupils were able to suggest a second reason such as the Sun’s gravity
being less or the speed being slower. In part (ci) most pupils attaining levels 6 and 7
explained in terms of reflection why Neptune and Pluto can be seen but far fewer pupils
were able to explain why Pluto is not as bright as Neptune in part (cii). The most common
mistake was to say that Pluto is ‘further away’ although the diagram shows that Pluto is
sometimes closer than Neptune.
Facility values
Tier 3 – 6 Tier 5 – 7
Part Omit % Facility Omit % Facility
(a) 23 0.61 2 0.96
(b) 1 18 0.76 1 0.98
(b) 2 29 0.27 6 0.55
(c)(i) 1 35 0.38 1 0.8
(c)(i) 2 41 0.24 4 0.69
(c)(ii) 34 0.19 4 0.5
By level
Tier 3 – 6 Tier 5 – 7
Part 3 4 5 6 5 6 7
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(a) .22 .54 .81 .92 .88 .97 .99
(b) .38 .83 1.24 1.54 1.35 1.61 1.71
(c)(i) .09 .23 .77 1.36 1.06 1.54 1.87
(c)(ii) .04 .12 .19 .42 .31 .54 .73
Q16.
Overall pupils’ performance on this question was weak. In part (a) approximately a third of
pupils taking the 3-6 tier and just over half of those taking the 5-7 tier chose the correct
point for where the car could first be seen. The most common error was to select position
‘D’, the point at which the car had just turned the corner. In part (bi) most pupils attaining
levels 3 and 4 did not draw a continuous ray. Fewer than half of all pupils drew a diagram
in which the angle of incidence equalled the angle of reflection and few pupils attaining
levels 3 and 4 added arrows to the rays. Over half the pupils at levels 5, 6 and 7 drew
arrows suggesting the rays travelled from Nadia to the car. Only half the pupils attaining
levels 6 and 7 correctly stated that the glass window would enable Nadia to see around
the corner. Boys were better than girls at drawing continuous rays at the correct angles,
but girls were much better than boys at showing the correct direction of travel of the light.
Facility values
Tier 3 – 6 Tier 5 – 7
Part Omit % Facility Omit % Facility
(a) 1 0.37 0 0.58
(b)(i) 1 4 0.30 0 0.49
(b)(i) 2 1 0.28 4 0.41
(b)(i) 3 29 0.25 14 0.49
(b)(ii) 3 0.37 0 0.51
By level
Tier 3 – 6 Tier 5 – 7
Part 3 4 5 6 5 6 7
(a) .28 .37 .43 .55 .44 .62 .73
(b)(i) .42 .57 .91 1.38 .94 1.48 2.05
(b)(ii) .18 .36 .50 .58 .50 .51 .64
Q17.
Part (a) of this question was answered very well by pupils attaining level 7 but was
answered very poorly by pupils at level 5. Overall just under a half of pupils stated that
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the green filter allows green light to pass through with just over a half of pupils stating that
white light is made up a mixture of colours. One in six pupils omitted this part of the
explanation. Just on a half of all pupils were able to state both reasons in order to gain
the two marks for a full explanation. In part (bi) very few pupils attaining level 5 were able
to state the colour the lamp would appear to be when viewed through a red filter and
explain why it would be this colour. One third of pupils overall did not give a correct
reason, and a further sixth of pupils gave the inadequate reason that ‘the filter is red’. Part
(bii) was answered well by pupils attaining level 7, the majority of whom stated the lamp
would appear black and gave a creditworthy explanation for this.
Facility values
Part Omit (%) Facility
(a) 1 2 0.47
(a) 2 16 0.53
(b)(i) 1 0.42
(b)(ii) 1 4 0.42
(b)(ii) 2 8 0.35
By level
Part 5 6 7
(a) .24 .88 1.63
(b)(i) .12 .40 .68
(b)(ii) 1 .13 .34 .69
(b)(ii) 2 .06 .28 .63
Q18.
Pupils answered this question well. In part (a), nearly all drew the incident ray with the
necessary precision and placed an arrow pointing in the correct direction on either the
incident or reflected ray. However fewer pupils drew the reflected ray correctly. Boys
significantly outperformed girls on this item. In part (b), nearly all pupils identified the eye
as the part of the body which could be easily damaged by a laser.
Facility values
Omit (%) Facility
(a) 1 1 0.92
(a) 2 4 0.63
(a) 3 9 0.85
(b) 1 0.97
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Q19.
In general pupil performance on this question was not good. Pupils achieving level 7
answered part (a)(i) well, but approximately a quarter of pupils gave only one part of the
answer for why no light reached the screen and therefore gained only one mark. In part
(a)(ii), most pupils stated that when a hole is cut in the green filter, red light will fall on the
screen. In part (b)(i) only a third of pupils gave the correct answer, ‘red’. Approximately a
quarter of pupils gave only one part of the explanation for why the red curtains appeared
red and again gained only one mark for part (b)(ii).
Facility values
Omit (%) Facility
(a)(i) 1 3 0.45
(a)(i) 2 27 0.46
(a)(ii) 0 0.84
(b)(i) 2 0.41
(b)(ii) 1 5 0.33
(b)(ii) 2 23 0.27
Q20.
Only pupils achieving level 7 gave good answers to parts (a)(i) and (a)(ii)and only half the
pupils interpreted the graph sufficiently precisely to be awarded a mark in part (b). Pupils’
performance was much better in part (c) with over four fifths of pupils able to say that
Jupiter is analogous to the Sun and her moons analogous to the planets in the solar
system.
Facility values
Omit (%) Facility
(a)(i) 1 5 0.61
(a)(i) 2 10 0.41
(a)(ii) 3 0.24
(b) 1 0.40
(c) 5 0.81
Q22.
Pupils achieving level 3 did poorly in all parts of this question. In part (a) over half the
pupils at levels 3 and 4 did not state that light coloured clothing reflects light. The majority
of pupils failed to gain full marks for part (b) because their diagrams were not precise
enough. Common errors included rays not drawn with a ruler or rays which failed to touch
either the headlamp or the driver’s eye. However most pupils showed correctly the
direction in which the light travels. In part (c) most pupils at levels 6 and 7 stated that light
Page 83 of 91
is absorbed by black clothes. Pupils at levels 3 and 4 showed little understanding of this
concept.
Facility values
Tier 3 – 6 Tier 5 – 7
Item Omit (%) Facility Omit (%) Facility
(a) 10 0.51 1 0.85
(b) 1 18 0.31 3 0.63
2 18 0.14 3 0.41
3 27 0.58 2 0.90
(c) 14 0.37 0 0.80
Facility values by level
Tier 3-6 Tier 5-7
Item Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7
(a) 0.17 0.27 0.60 0.84 0.73 0.89 0.97
(b) 3 0.35 0.66 1.40 2.10 1.49 2.06 2.41
(c) 0.06 0.16 0.50 0.81 0.64 0.86 0.96
Q23.
Part (a)(i) was answered well, 94% of pupils identified the line representing a ray of light
travelling from the spotlight to the actor. In part (a)(ii) just over half the pupils chose the
correct time for the light to travel from the spotlight to the actor. Almost three-quarters of
pupils at level 3 did not state in part (b)(i) that the actor’s voice would be quieter at the
back. In part (b)(ii) about two thirds of pupils identified that it would take longer for the
actor’s voice to reach the audience when he was further from them.
Facility values
Item Omit (%) Facility
(a) (i) 0 0.94
(ii) 0 0.55
(b) (i) 2 0.53
(ii) 1 0.66
Page 84 of 91
Tier 3-6
Item Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
(a) (i) 0.85 0.94 0.98 0.99
(ii) 0.20 0.44 0.68 0.83
(b) (i) 0.24 0.44 0.6 0.80
(ii) 0.48 0.55 0.74 0.85
Q24.
Generally, pupils’ performance on all parts of this question was good, with pupils generally
able to match the change in direction of the light rays with the correct device from the
range of options given.
Facility values
Tier 3-6 Tier 5-7
(a) 13 0.60 0 0.86
(b) 13 0.62 0 0.93
(c) 13 0.54 0 0.86
(d) 13 0.43 0 0.71
Tier 3-6 Tier 5-7
Item Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7
(a) 0.39 0.54 0.77 0.82 0.73 0.83 0.86
(b) 0.39 0.57 0.80 0.94 0.89 0.92 0.97
(c) 0.26 0.48 0.73 0.87 0.74 0.86 0.91
(d) 0.15 0.32 0.50 0.63 0.52 0.66 0.79
Q25.
Overall, pupils’ performance on this question was not good. In part (a)(i), just over half of
pupils could give the term refraction. Performance was worse on part (a)(ii) with only 11%
of pupils correctly naming the phenomenon as dispersion and a third of pupils not
attempting this part. In part (b) approximately a third of pupils knew that only the green
part of the spectrum would be seen when the dispersed light was passed through a green
filter.
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Part (c) was not done well with approximately a fifth of pupils taking the tier and fewer
than half of the pupils achieving level 7, gaining the mark. This may be because pupils did
not know that the cell wall needs to be broken to release the chlorophyll suggesting that
pupils who have carried out this procedure in the laboratory do not understand its
purpose. Part (d), which tested pupils on their ability to interpret a graph relating light
intensity and rate of photosynthesis, was generally poorly answered with only a quarter of
pupils at level 7 gaining the mark. Most pupils who answered incorrectly made no
reference to the graph.
Facility values
(a) (i) 16 0.57
(ii) 32 0.11
(b) 1 3 0.33
2 15 0.48
(c) 10 0.21
(d) 2 0.11
Tier 5-7
Item Level 5 Level 6 Level 7
(a) (i) 0.33 0.59 0.88
(ii) 0.02 0.09 0.19
(b) 2 0.35 0.88 1.29
(c) 0.10 0.20 0.46
(d) 0.01 0.09 0.3
Q26.
This question was answered well by all pupils especially those gaining level 4 and above.
The most common error in part (a)(i) was that pupils thought that light and sound travel at
the same speed. In part (a)(ii) pupils gaining level 3 often repeated the stem of the
question. Over 80% of pupils answered part (b) correctly, the most common error was to
select ‘high pitched’. Although very few pupils failed to attempt the multiple choice parts of
the question, more pupils did not try to write an explanation for part (a)(ii).
Facility values
Page 86 of 91
(a) (i) 0 0.77
(ii) 4 0.59
(b) 0 0.83
Q27.
This question was answered poorly by all but those pupils achieving the highest levels.
(a) Few pupils gaining levels 3, 4 and 5 were able to draw the ray from the coin to the
eye. The most common errors were a lack of accuracy, e.g. the ray did not bend in
the correct direction; or it was drawn at an inappropriate angle so that the ray
missed the eye. In some cases the arrow on the ray pointed in the wrong direction.
(b) Part (b) was also answered extremely poorly with many pupils taking the 3-6 tier
failing to attempt this question. However pupils gaining level 7 performed slightly
better on this part in comparison to part (a). Common errors indicated that pupils
failed to understand the idea that light passes through a coloured filter and were not
able to explain how a filter works in this context. Many pupils wrote it reflects back,
reflects the red, reflects off of the side of the mug or gives off red light.
Facility values
Level 3 – 6 Level 5 – 7
(a) 1 7 0.18 0 0.53
2 8 0.09 1 0.41
3 9 0.16 2 0.42
(b) 1 29 0.13 3 0.63
2 38 0.09 7 0.49
Q28.
The latter parts of this question were answered well but many pupils got part (a)(i) wrong
as they chose C, the mid-point, as their answer. In part (a)(ii) few pupils made explicit
reference to the idea that light travels in straight lines but gained marks with explanations
such as light will not pass through the cardboard. Errors by pupils who failed to gain a
mark for part (a)(ii) included the suggestion that the hole was not big enough or that the
hole was in the wrong place.
Facility values

(a) (i) 0 0.48
(ii) 2 0.47
(b) 1 0.87
Page 87 of 91
(c) 0 0.74
Q29.
Part (b) required pupils to calculate the distance travelled by the car. Pupils found this
calculation more difficult than the calculation of speed in part (a) with only 31% of them
deriving the correct answer in comparison to 58% being able to correctly calculate speed.
Pupils were better at recalling the speed equation than they were at manipulating it.
Part (c) required pupils to understand that light is reflected from the number plate. On the
whole this was done well with 95% of pupils achieving level 7 answering correctly.
Facility values
(a) (i) 0 0.58
(ii) 2 0.61
(b) 8 0.31
(c) 13 0.71
Q31.
This question was well answered by most pupils, and in particular parts (a), (b), (c) and (f)
were well done. In part (c) the most common error was that the hammer got faster rather
than slowing down. In (d), about 40% of the pupils did not give answers about the size of
the force and provided responses to do with speed or with the effect of the force on the
nail. In part (e) many pupils failed to make the necessary comparison between the speed
of light and sound, most of them answering solely in terms of sound travelling; the rigour
of the mark scheme may have contributed to the difficulty of this question as a comparison
had to be made to gain the mark. Some pupils said that Mark heard the hammer strike
after he saw it because he was far away, which restated the information in the question
without explaining it. In part (f) the most common error was to assume that the time delay
remained at one second, suggesting that a link between speed and time had not been
made, at least where sound is concerned.
Facility Values
Question Target Marks facility value facility value facility value PoS
level boys girls all reference
Tier: 3-6 6 0.65 0.56 0.61
a 3 1 4/2c
b 3 1 4/2c
c 3 1 4/2c
d 3 1 4/2c
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e 4 1 4/3c
f 4 1 4/3c
Q32.
Only pupils who achieved level 6 performed well on this question. The explanation of
shadow remains difficult for most pupils. In part (a) incomplete responses included ‘light
can’t go through’ or ‘the cupboard is in the way. Pupils may have found part (b) difficult
because they were required both to draw the mirror in the correct position and draw the
ray of light from the bulb to the coin. The most common error was to draw the mirror at
too steep an angle, although significant numbers of pupils either drew it with the hatching
on top or did not draw it at point X. In (b)(ii) very large numbers of pupils once again lost
marks for careless drawing, usually in the form of rays which did not touch the bulb, the
mirror or the coin. Part (b)(iii) was a more straightforward single response question
requiring pupils to state ‘reflection’ and was well answered.
Facility Values
Tier: 3-6 5 0.46 0.37 0.41
a 4 1 4/3b
bi 4 1 4/3e
bii 3 2 4/3a - 4/3e
biii 3 1 4/3e
Q33.
Pupils achieving level 6 and 7 performed well on this question. However, performance by
other pupils was variable. Part (a)(i) was generally well answered, although a number of
pupils gave ‘it is absorbed’ or ‘it goes into the air’ – answers which may well have
produced a supplementary question in a classroom situation, but which are not quite
precise enough in a written test. Part (a)(ii) was the most difficult part of the question and
many left this blank. Those pupils who did answer consistently used the term ‘refraction’.
Part (b) was the easiest part of the question, and it was noticeable that many pupils wrote
‘ROYGBIV’ somewhere on the page in addition to giving the correct answer on the answer
lines. In part (c) the most common error was to believe that a green filter turns the whole
spectrum green.
Facility Values
Tier: 3-6 4 0.25 0.23 0.24

5-7 0.57 0.48 0.53
ai 5 1 4/3e
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aii 5 1 4/3f
b 5 1 4/3g
c 6 1 4/3h
Q34.
Pupils achieving level 3 and 4 found this question very difficult. The three-dimensional
view of the bulbs and the two dimensional representation of the rays of light may have
contributed to the difficulties encountered by the pupils when answering parts (a), (b) (i)
and (ii). Performance on part (b) (iii) was very poor, with over 70% of pupils unable to
interpret the diagram. Part (c), which required pupils to draw a diagram of a parallel
circuit, was demanding. Pupils achieving level 3 and 4 found the question very difficult
indeed and performance by those achieving level 5 and 6 was only slightly better. The
most common errors were to draw the circuit connected in series, or to use drawings of
the battery and bulbs instead of the symbols.
Facility Values
Tier: 3-6 5 0.41 0.32 0.36
a 3 1 4/3b
bi 4 1 4/3b
bii 4 1 4/3b
biii 4 1 4/3b
c 5 1 4/1c - 0/4c
Q35.
In part (a) of this question, the most common error was to draw the arrow pointing to the
right instead of to the left, and in tier 3-6 this answer occurred almost as often as the
correct one. One possible explanation for this is that pupils are accustomed to drawing
rays which point away from the Sun, and it is possible that some pupils understood the
science but failed to read the question properly. A significant number of other pupils
taking tier 3-6 drew the arrow pointing up the page, and others drew it pointing down.
Part (b) was not well answered, with the most common answers being ‘towards the North’,
in both tiers. This may reflect confusion between upwards and North caused by the
conventional orientation of maps. The correct answer was the second most common in
tier 5-7, but not in tier 3-6, where ‘towards the West’ was a more popular choice.
Significant numbers of pupils gave inadequate answers to part (c), and some others gave
answers in terms of location, such as ‘because Padstow is further North’. A small number
wrote that Padstow is closer to the Sun, which may reflect confusion between North and
up. In part (d) many pupils read the question to mean ‘why does the Moon have a
shadow’, and gave explanations of how shadows form or answered ‘because they are in
line’. Many pupils did not register the word ‘move’ in the question.
Page 90 of 91
Facility Values
Tier: 3-6 4 0.27 0.21 0.24

5-7 0.54 0.42 0.48
a 5 1 4/3b
b 5 1 4/4a
c 5 1 4/2b
d 5 1 4/4a
Page 91 of 91

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Q1.

Ann shines a ray of white light at a glass prism.

The light refracts as it enters the prism.

The light refracts as it travels through the prism.

The light disperses as it leaves the prism.

The light forms a spectrum of colours on the screen.

(c) Ann shines the torch at a red book.

Explain why the object looks red in white light.

What colour does the red book appear?

Draw arrows to show the direction of light.

(b) George listens to music on his headphones.

Complete the sentence below using words from the box.

chemical electrical gravitational potential

The useful energy change in the headphones is from ..................................

energy into .................................. energy.

(b) The next person to do a bungee jump is Jill.

Jill weighs less than Tom.

more than less than the same as

When Jill jumps, the rope will stretch ...........................................................

it did when Tom jumped.

(c) Jill’s dad watches her doing the bungee jump.

louder higher lower quieter

The shout will sound ............................................ to Tom.

Continue the paths of D and F as they pass through the air.

(a) The circuit diagram for the lamps is drawn below.

The plastic cover acts as a red filter.

What happens to the other colours that do not pass through?

(c) Nina replaces the battery with a generator called a dynamo.

Complete the sentences below using words from the box.

chemical electrical gravitational

kinetic light sound thermal

As Nina pedals, ..................................... energy in her muscles is

changed to kinetic energy.

When the generator turns, kinetic energy is changed to useful

..................................... energy in the wires. This energy in the wires is

changed to useful ..................................... energy in the bulb.

The surface of the water acts like a mirror.

Put arrows on the ray of light.

(b) Andrew is looking at the snail.

Put arrows on the ray of light.

He measured the angle of reflection for different angles of incidence.

angle of incidence (º) 30 40 50 60 70

angle of reflection (º) 30 40 50 65 70

(a) Which angle of reflection was not measured accurately?

How can you tell this from the table?

(b) James set up a different experiment as shown below.

He measured the angle of refraction for different angles of incidence.

His results are shown in the graph.

(ii) What conclusion could James draw from his graph?

always .......................................................... the angle of refraction.

He shone white light through a red filter onto each ball.

What colour did this ball appear?

Explain your answer.

(b) Peter set up a different experiment.

What would Peter see on the screen?

(a) A man lit the fireworks. He wore ear defenders.

Why should he wear ear defenders when he is close to loud fireworks?

(b) A rocket exploded making a loud sound and a bright flash.

chemical electrical heat light sound