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Read the following passage and answer the accompanying questions - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 11 - 2016

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Read the following passage and answer the accompanying questions. The story of theories of light simply demonstrates the ways in which theories are used as scientif... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Read the following passage and answer the accompanying questions - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 11 - 2016

Step 1

State the laws of refraction.

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Answer

The laws of refraction state that:

  1. The incident ray, the refracted ray, and the normal all lie in the same plane.
  2. The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is constant:

n=sinisinrn = \frac{\sin i}{\sin r}

where nn is the refractive index.

Step 2

Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of a virtual image in a magnifying glass.

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Answer

To draw the ray diagram:

  1. Place the object (e.g., an arrow) within the focal point of the converging lens.
  2. Draw one ray from the top of the object directly to the lens that travels straight through and another ray from the top of the object that goes through the lens and diverges away.
  3. Extend the diverging ray backward to intersect the line of the straight ray, where the virtual image is formed.

Step 3

Explain what is meant by the term wavelength.

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Answer

Wavelength is defined as the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs of a wave. It is a measure of how long one cycle of the wave is and is usually denoted by the symbol λ\lambda.

Step 4

As part of his investigations into light, Newton dispersed light with a prism. List the colours observed by Newton, in order, starting with the colour that was refracted the least.

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Answer

The colours observed by Newton in order from least to most refracted are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Step 5

In Young's experiment to demonstrate the wave nature of light he needed two coherent sources of light. How might he have produced these sources?

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Answer

Young might have produced coherent sources of light by using:

  1. Two double slits, allowing wavefronts to originate from each slit and maintain a constant phase difference.
  2. A single source of light passed through a beam splitter to create two coherent beams.

Step 6

Calculate the energy of a photon of green light, which has a wavelength of 510 nm.

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Answer

To calculate the energy:

  1. Use the formula:

E=hcλE = \frac{hc}{\lambda}

where:

  • h=6.63×1034 J sh = 6.63 \times 10^{-34} \text{ J s} (Planck's constant)
  • c=3.00×108 m/sc = 3.00 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s} (speed of light)
  • λ=510 nm=510×109 m\lambda = 510 \text{ nm} = 510 \times 10^{-9} \text{ m}

Calculating gives:

E=(6.63×1034)(3.00×108)510×109=3.89×1019 JE = \frac{(6.63 \times 10^{-34})(3.00 \times 10^8)}{510 \times 10^{-9}} = 3.89 \times 10^{-19} \text{ J}

Step 7

Quantum mechanics is used to explain how electrons in atoms produce line emission spectra. Describe how these spectra are produced.

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Answer

Electrons gain energy to move to higher energy levels. They do this when they absorb energy from an external source, such as heat or light. When electrons return to lower energy levels, they emit energy in the form of light or electromagnetic radiation, creating distinct lines in the spectrum known as line emission spectra.

Step 8

State two differences between photons and electrons.

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Answer

  1. Photons have no mass, while electrons have mass.
  2. Photons have no charge, whereas electrons carry a negative charge.

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