CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 13
Science in context guidance destructive. A stable pattern interference
pattern is not possible.
• There are a number of jobs and workplace
4 The intensity would increase.
environments where continuous noise at
dangerously high volumes can occur. For 5
example, building sites, factories, working with a resultant
loud vehicles.
Displacement
• Sound levels that are 85db and over are 0
considered to be dangerously high. Time

• Noise-cancelling headphones have become b

very popular with travellers, particularly those resultant
Displacement

involved in long-distance flights, as the lack of

noise improves the quality of the passengers’ 0
sleep. They have also been trialled in intensive Time
care units. Disturbed sleep can have a negative
impact on a patient’s recovery time, and noise- c
resultant
Displacement

cancelling headphones (combined with low

lighting) have been shown to help with this.
0
Time

Self-assessment questions 
1 6  : dark fringe, because rays from slits 1 and 2
D
have a path difference of 1½λ
resultant  : bright fringe, because the path difference is 2l
E
7 The wavelength λ and the separation of slits a
Displacement

Distance remain the same

0
therefore, x ∝ D; doubling D means x must
also double
so, new separation of fringes will be 3.0 mm.
2  he grid spacing is much smaller than the
T 8 x = laD , therefore, x ∝
a  1
a
, so decreasing a
wavelength of the microwaves, so the waves do gives increased x
not pass through. However, the wavelength of
light is much smaller, so it can pass through b  lue light has shorter wavelength; x ∝ λ
B
unaffected. so x is less
3  wo loudspeakers with slightly different
T c x is directly proportional to D
frequencies might start off in step, but they
For larger D, x is greater, so there is a
would soon go out of step. The superposition
smaller percentage uncertainty in x
of the waves at a particular point might
be constructive at first, but would become

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

9 Rearrange λ = ax the measured second-order angle of 19°

D to give
−9
will give 543 nm. Hence, the diffraction
x = λaD = 589 ×010.0002× 1.20 = 3.5 × 10−3 m grating method is more accurate. In
practice, it is also much more precise
10 D and a are fixed, so x ∝ l because the fringes are bright and sharp
−7
 ew fringe separation = 4.5 × 10−7 × 2.4
n (well-defined).
6.0 × 10
= 1.8 mm For red light, rearrange d sin θ = nλ so
15 a 
(or wavelength is 34 of previous value, so –9
sin θ = ndλ = 1 × 700 × 10–6 = 0.350
2.00 × 10
spacing of fringes is 34 of previous value)
so, θred = 20.5°
11 For the second-order maximum, rays from
adjacent slits have a path difference of 2λ, so For violet light, rearrange d sin θ = nλ so
–9
they are in phase. sin θ = ndλ = 1 × 400 × 10–6 = 0.200
2.00 × 10
(Note: The angle at which the second-order so, θviolet = 11.5°
maximum is observed must be greater than therefore, angular separation
the first-order maximum because the path = 20.5° − 11.5° = 9.0°
difference between neighbouring rays is larger:
2λ instead of λ.) b  he third-order maximum for violet
T
light is deflected through a smaller angle
Rearrange d sin θ = nλ so sin θ =
12 a  than the second-order maximum for red
nλ 2 × 580 × 10 –9 light.
= = 0.348, so θ = 20.4°
d 3.33 × 10 –6
b For n = 3, sin θ = 0.522, so θ = 31.5°
Exam-style questions
For n = 4, sin θ = 0.697, so θ = 44.2°
1 B[1]
For n = 5, sin θ = 0.871, so θ = 60.6°
You cannot have sin θ > 1, so there are 11 2 a
Displacement

maxima: the zeroth-order maximum and

five on either side of this 0
θ increases, so the maxima are more
13 a  Distance
spread out and there may be fewer of
them (note: sin θ ∝ λ)
b d decreases, so again θ increases, the The dashed line represents the resultant
maxima are more spread out and there wave.[2]
may be fewer of them (note: sin θ ∝ 1/d)
(Your diagram should show a good
By calculation, use λ = ax
14 a  D
so fringe attempt to sum the two waves.)
–9
separation x = λaD = 546 × 10 ×–03.80 = 0.87 mm b  avelength is the same as that of the
W
0.50 × 10
so ten fringes have a total width of 8.7 longer wave.[1]
mm, but using a ruler, the student will 3 a 
More rounded[1]
measure 9 mm
b Even flatter[1]
b Separation of lines in grating
1 4  adio waves have a long enough
R
= cm wavelength, up to 1 km, that they can
3000
diffract round the hills.[1]
= 3.33 × 10−6 m
By calculation, rearrange d sin θ = nλ so  V waves have very short wavelength
T
2 × 546 × 10 –9
(centimetres or millimetres), so cannot
sin θ = ndλ = = 0.328 diffract round the hills.[1]
3.33 × 10 –6

so θ = 19.1°, but the student will 5 a  Using ax = ld[1]

measure 19° wavelength λ = ax = 1.58×.01.2 = 0.225 m ≈
d
c For the double-slit experiment, a 0.23 m[1]
measured width of 9 mm for ten fringes b v = fλ; 330 = f × 0.225[1]
will give a wavelength of 562 nm. For the f = 1470 Hz ≈ 1500 Hz[1]
diffraction grating experiment,

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

6  hen the waves are in phase, they add up

W iii nλ = d sin θ 
[1]
to give loud sound.[1] sin 19.5ο
n = 1, leading to λ = 5000 × 102 [1]
 hey gradually go out of phase, and when
T
they are in antiphase, the sound is at its λ = 6.68 × 10−7 ≈ 6.7 × 10−7 m[1]
quietest.[1] iv sin θ = nDl leading to
The waves gradually come back into phase
and become loud again.[1] sin θ = 2 × 6.68 × 10−7 × 5000 × 102 [1]
7
1
separation of slits d = 5000 = 2.0 × 10−4 cm  = 41.8 ° ≈ 42°[1]
θ
= 2.0 × 10−6 m[1] 10 a 
The superposition of two waves 180°
out of phase[1]
First maximum when n = 1:
λ 656 × 10 −9 to give (nearly) zero resultant.[1]
sin θ = = = 0.328[1]
d 2.0 × 10 −6 b λ = ax
D
leading to x = Dal
so, t = sin−1 0.328 = 19.1°[1] −2
= 1.212×.51.×510
× 10
−2 [1]
Second maximum when n = 2:
number of fringes in 45 cm distance =
2λ 2 × 656 × 10 −9
sin θ = = = 0.656 [1] 45 × 10 −2
= 3.125[1]
d 2.0 × 10 −6 x
so, θ = sin−1 0.656 = 41.0°[1] Three maxima[1]
8
8 a  Superposition is the algebraic summing c c = fλ leading to f = 13.5.0××1010−2 [1]
of the displacements[1] f = 2.0 × 1010 Hz[1]
of two (or more) waves.[1] 11 a 
Spreading out of a wave after passing
b λ = ax through a gap in a barrier[1]
D [1]
or around an object[1]
leading to
λ D 590 × 10 −9 × 1.8 × 12 b i, ii and iii
a = = [1]
x 16.8 × 10 −3
a = 6.3 × 10−4 m[1]
c i 
More fringes seen on screen or fringe
brightness decreases less from middle
to edge of screen[1]
Less bright[1]
ii Fringes wider / farther apart[1] 0

Same brightness[1] min

9 a 
Coherent: constant phase difference[1] 1
Monochromatic: very small or no
range of wavelengths/frequencies[1]
b i 
First order produced by waves with
path difference of one wavelength[1]
One mark for each line (the min
Second order produced by
line and the 1 line can be above the
waves with path difference of
central line)[3]
two wavelengths[1]
ii Any two from: c λ = ax
D [1]
−2 −2
Lines at end A are further apart or leading to = 18 × 1060 ××1012−2× 10 [1]
lines at end B are closer together[1] λ = 3.6 × 10−2 m (or 3.6 cm)[1]
Lines at end A are thinner or lines
at end B are wider[1]
Lines at end A are brighter or lines
at end B are dimmer[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
3 © Cambridge University Press 2020