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Optical Fibres and Light Behavior in Physics

The document consists of a series of physics questions related to optics, including topics like optical fibers, refractive index, total internal reflection, and the behavior of light through lenses. It includes diagrams for students to complete and calculations for determining speeds of light in various mediums. The questions aim to assess understanding of concepts such as critical angle, image formation, and the properties of light.

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11 views11 pages

Optical Fibres and Light Behavior in Physics

The document consists of a series of physics questions related to optics, including topics like optical fibers, refractive index, total internal reflection, and the behavior of light through lenses. It includes diagrams for students to complete and calculations for determining speeds of light in various mediums. The questions aim to assess understanding of concepts such as critical angle, image formation, and the properties of light.

Uploaded by

iphysics2010
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1 (a) (i) A ray of light passes through a length of curved optical fibre.

Draw a diagram showing the fibre and the path of the ray of light.

[1]

(ii) Describe one use of optical fibres in medicine. You may draw a diagram.

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

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

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

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

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

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

................................................................................................................................ [3]

For more help please visit our website [Link]


[Link]
(b) Draw a straight line from each wave on the left to the most appropriate speed.

90 m / s
(9 × 10)

6000 m / s
light in air (6 × 103)

100 000 m / s
(1 × 105)
microwaves in
a vacuum
1 000 000 m / s
(1 × 106)

300 000 000 m / s


sound in steel
(3 × 108)

60 000 000 000 m / s


(6 × 1010)
[3]

(c) The refractive index of a block of glass is 1.5.

Use your value for the speed of light from (b) to calculate the speed of light in this block.

speed = ................................................................. [2]

[Total: 9]

For more help please visit our website [Link]


[Link]
2 (a) Explain what is meant by

(i) total internal reflection,

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

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) critical angle.

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

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light, travelling in air, incident on a glass prism.

60°

30°

Fig. 7.1

(i) The speed of light in air is 3.0 × 108 m / s. Its speed in the glass is 2.0 × 108 m / s.

Calculate the refractive index of the glass.

refractive index = ...........................................................[2]

[Link]
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(ii) Show that the critical angle for the glass-air boundary is 42°.

[1]

(iii) On Fig. 7.1, draw carefully, without calculation, the continuation of the ray through the
prism and into the air. [3]

[Total: 8]

For more help please visit our website [Link]


[Link]
3 (a) Fig. 7.1 represents an object O placed in front of a converging lens.

O
P Q R S

Fig. 7.1

(i) State a full description of the image I.

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Using the letters on Fig. 7.1, identify the focal length of the lens.

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) On Fig. 7.1, draw an eye suitably placed to view the image I. [1]

(b) Fig. 7.2 shows an object O placed to the left of a converging lens. A principal focus of the lens
is at the position marked F.

Fig. 7.2

(i) On Fig. 7.2, draw two rays to locate the image of object O. Draw the image.
(ii) On Fig. 7.2, draw one other ray from the upper tip of O to the image.
[4]

[Total: 8]

[Link]
For more help please visit our website [Link]
4 The refractive index n of glass in air is 1.5.

(a) (i) State the equation that relates the speed of light in air va, the speed of light in glass vg
and n.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) The speed of light in air is 3.0 × 108 m / s.

Calculate the speed of light in glass.

speed = .........................................................[1]

(b) Light travelling in glass strikes the edge of the glass. Fig. 6.1 shows a ray of light at an angle
of 41° to the normal.

normal

air

glass
41°

Fig. 6.1

(i) The light passes from the glass into the air.

Calculate the angle that the ray makes with the normal in the air.

angle = .........................................................[2]

(ii) State what happens to light that strikes the edge of the glass at an angle to the normal
much larger than 41°.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
[Link]
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(c) Describe one example of how optical fibres are used in medicine.

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

[Total: 7]

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[Link]
5 A glass, converging lens is used as a magnifying glass to observe a red ant.

(a) Fig. 6.1 shows the lens, the principal axis, and the two principal focuses F1 and F2.

F1 F2
principal axis

lens

Fig. 6.1

(i) 1. On Fig. 6.1, mark a point on the principal axis, labelled A, to indicate a suitable
position for the ant.

2. On Fig. 6.1, mark a point on the principal axis, labelled E, to indicate a suitable
position for the observer’s eye.
[1]

(ii) Tick one of the boxes to indicate where, on the principal axis, the image of the ant is
located.

to the left of F1

between F1 and the lens

within the lens

between the lens and F2

to the right of F2
[1]

(iii) Underline two words in the list that describe the image produced by the magnifying
glass.

diminished inverted real


r upright virtual
[2]

For more help please visit our website [Link]


[Link]
(b) (i) The red light from the ant passes into the lens.

As the light enters the lens, state what happens to

1. its wavelength,

................................................................................................................................[1]

2. its frequency.

................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) State how the wavelength of violet light in air differs from the wavelength of red light in
air.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 7]

For more help please visit our website [Link]

[Link]
6 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a convex lens being used to produce an image of an object.

principal
focus
image object

Fig. 7.1

(i) Place three ticks in the table that describe this image.

can only be formed on a screen


diminished
enlarged
inverted
real
same size
upright
virtual
[3]

(ii) On Fig. 7.1, mark a letter E to indicate a possible position for an eye to be placed to
observe this image. [1]

(iii) State an application in which a convex lens is used in this way.

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

For more help please visit our website [Link]


[Link]
(b) In the space below, draw a ray diagram to locate the image of an object of height 1.0 cm
placed 5.0 cm from a convex lens of focal length 2.0 cm. Draw your diagram full size. You are
advised to locate the lens roughly in the centre of the space. Label the image.

[3]

[Total: 8]

For more help please visit our website [Link]


[Link]

Common questions

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Different wavelengths of light refract at different angles when passing through glass due to dispersion; shorter wavelengths (e.g., violet light) refract more than longer wavelengths (e.g., red light). This phenomenon, known as chromatic aberration, complicates optical instrument design, requiring corrections such as the use of achromatic lenses that combine materials with differing dispersive properties to focus all wavelengths at the same point .

When the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle, the light ray undergoes total internal reflection, meaning it is completely reflected back into the glass rather than passing into the air. If the angle of incidence is below the critical angle, the light partially refracts and exits into the air. At exactly the critical angle, the refracted ray skims the boundary surface .

Optical fibres are used in endoscopy, a medical procedure that allows doctors to view the interior of a patient's body without making large incisions. The flexible nature of optical fibres and their ability to transmit light efficiently make them ideal for this application, enabling high-resolution imaging of internal organs .

As light enters a denser medium, such as a lens, its speed decreases, causing its wavelength to shorten, although its frequency remains unchanged. This is because frequency is determined by the source and does not vary with changes in medium, while speed and wavelength are directly affected by the medium's refractive properties .

A convex lens used as a magnifying glass can produce a larger, upright, and virtual image of small objects, benefiting tasks requiring detailed observation. However, the limitations include a restricted field of view and decreased image clarity as magnification power increases. Proper positioning relative to the lens and object is crucial for optimal performance .

To construct a ray diagram for a convex lens, draw two rays from the top of the object: one parallel to the principal axis that passes through the lens' focus, and another through the lens' center, which continues straight. The intersection of these rays beyond the lens marks the top of the image. This technique helps determine the image's position, size, and characteristics such as real or virtual, and inverted or upright .

The refractive index, n, of a material is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (va) to the speed of light in the material (vg). The formula is n = va / vg . A higher refractive index indicates that light travels slower in the material than in a vacuum.

Total internal reflection occurs when a light ray traveling through a medium strikes a boundary with a less dense medium at an angle greater than the critical angle. The critical angle is the minimum angle of incidence at which total reflection occurs. Beyond this angle, the refracted ray is completely reflected back into the original medium .

Optical fibres provide higher efficiency in data transmission compared to copper wires due to their higher bandwidth and speed, lower attenuation, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. While the initial cost of deployment is higher, the long-term benefits of reliability and data integrity make optical fibres more effective for high-volume data transmissions .

Using the formula n = va / vg, where n is the refractive index, va is the speed of light in air, and vg is the speed of light in glass, we can rearrange to find vg = va / n. Thus, vg = 3.0 × 10^8 m/s / 1.5 = 2.0 × 10^8 m/s .

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