1

Wave nature of light

MC (20 marks)
1. Which of the following graphs correctly shows the variation of speed v against
frequency f of the electromagnetic waves in vacuum?
A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

2.. Given that the wavelengths of visible light range from 4 x 10 -7 m to 7 x 10-7 m,
which of the following combinations of wavelengths for infrared, red and violet
lights is possible ?
Infrared
Red light
Violet
A. 1 x 10-4 m
7 x 10-7 m
4 x 10-7 m
-7
-7
B. 1 x 10 m
7 x 10 m
4 x 10-7 m
C. 1 x 10-4 m
4 x 10-7 m
7 x 10-7 m
-7
-7
D. 1 x 10 m
4 x 10 m
7 x 10-7 m
E.
1 x 10-10 m
4 x 10-7 m
7 x 10-7 m
3. A radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 94 MHz. Given that the speed of radio
waves is 3 x 108 m s-1, find the wavelength of the radio waves.
A.
0.31m
B.
3.19 m
C. 31.91m
D.
3191m
E.
2.82 x 1016 m
4. Which of the following statements is/are true ?
(1) Light is a transverse wave.
(2) Light does not undergo diffraction.
(3) Light transmits energy.
A.
(2) only
B.
(3) only
D.
(1) and (3) only
E.
(1), (2) and (3)

C.

(1) and (2) only

5. Which of the following statements concerning infra-red radiation is correct ?

A.
Infra-red is red in colour.
B.
Infra-red can be detected by a Geiger-Muller counter.
C.
Infra-red can be used to sterilize drinking water.
D.
Infra-red is a longitudinal wave.
E.
Warm objects emit infra-red.
6.

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum is shown above. Which of the following

statements is/are correct?
(1) P is ultra-violet and Q is infra-red.
(2) The wavelength of P is shorter than that of Q.
(3) The speed of P in vacuum is higher than that of Q.
A.
(1) only
B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D.
(2) and (3) only
E. (1), (2) and (3)
7. Which of the following is not an application of the corresponding electromagnetic
wave?
Electromagnetic wave
Application
A.
Ultra-violet
Camera autofocusing
B.
Infra-red
Detecting survivors buried in landslides
C.
Microwaves
Satellite communication
D.
X-rays
Detecting weapons hidden in suitcases
E.
Radio waves
TV broadcasting
8. A short pulse of microwaves travelling at 3 x 108 m/s was used to detect the
position of a stationary weather balloon. It was found that the microwaves
reflected from the balloon were picked up 2 x 10-4 s after the pulse had been
emitted from the station. The distance of the balloon from the station was
A. 15 km
B. 30 km
C. 60 km
12
12
D. 1.5 x 10 m
E. 3.0 x 10 m
9. In a double slit experiment, light of wavelength 600 nm gave a fringe separation of
0.4mm on a suitably placed screen. If another source of light is used, while other
setups kept unchanged, there will be 10 fringes across a distance of 3.3 mm found
on the screen. The wavelength of the second screen is:
A. 495 nm
B. 550 nm
C. 660 nm
D. 727 nm
E. 7300 nm
10. A monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm is incident on a grating. The
grating has 3 10 5 lines per metre. How many bright fringes will be seen?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 10
D. 11
E. 20

Structure-type question (27 marks)

1(a) (i)

Interference can occur when waves emerge from two sources. State two
conditions necessary for optical interference to be observed. (2 marks)

(ii) With the aid of a labelled diagram showing the necessary apparatus, describe
how the wavelength of monochromatic light can be measured by
interference method. Explain carefully how the result is obtained from the
measurements. (6 marks)
(b) A parallel beam of light, the spectrum of which contains two prominent lines at
wavelengths of 450 nm and 675 nm, is incident normally on a ruled grating
which has 300 lines per millimetre.
(i) Find the highest order that the light of wavelength 450 nm that can be
observed through the grating. What is the colour of this light wave?
(2 marks)
(ii) Certain orders of diffraction of the 450 nm light coincide with certain other
orders of the 675 nm light. Determine the lowest non-zero order for each
wavelength for which this coincidence occurs.
(2 marks)
2. (HKCEE 99-10)

Peter lives in a house A on one side of a hill. A transmitting station T1 is located at

site P on the other side of the hill. (See Figure 11) The station transmits radio
waves of frequency 600 kHz and TV waves of frequency 500 MHz.
(Note : 1 MHz = 106 Hz.)
(a)

Given that the speed of electromagnetic waves is 3x108 ms-1, find the
wavelengths of the radio waves and TV waves. (3 marks)

(b) (i)
(ii)

Name the wave phenomenon which enables the waves transmitted by

T1 to reach Peter's house. (1 mark)
Peter finds that the radio reception is better than the TV reception.
Explain this phenomenon. (2 marks)

(c)

Peter is watching TV in his house. He finds that the reception is affected

when an aeroplane flies overhead. Explain this phenomenon. (2 marks)

(d) Another transmitting station will be build at site Q. (See Figure 11.) Mary
lives in a house B such that BP = 3.95 km and BQ = 3.20 km.
(i) Find the path difference at B from P and Q.
(1 mark)
*(ii) Mary listens to the radio in her house. How will the reception be
affected if both stations transmit identical radio waves at 600kHz?
Explain your answer. (Neglect the reflection of waves from the hill.)
(4
marks)
(e) The following table shows the broadcasting frequencies of RTHK Radio 1
(FM) in different districts:
District
Hong Kong north
Hong Kong south
Kowloon east
Kowloon west
Shatin, Ma On Shan
Tai Po, Fanling
Tuen Mun ,Yuen Long

Frequency/MHz
92.6
93.6
94.4
92.9
93.5
93.2
93.4

State one advantage of broadcasting at different frequencies in different

districts. (2 marks)

Ans
No.
Answer
(letter)

1
E

2
A

3
B

4
D

5
E

6
C

7
A

8
B

9
B

10
D

1. (a)(i) same frequency

coherent sources
small path difference (any two, 2A)
(ii)
Grating

Screen
y

Light Source
1A
D
Laser/ source with single slit in front (coherent sources) (1A)
When light passes through the grating, interference pattern is observed on the
screen. (1A)
Measure D and y. (1A)
Find the angle of the m-th order maximum by tan
By a sin m , find ,. (1A)
D
(Note: y
is not correct for grating)
a

(b)(i) a sin m

0.001
sin 90o m 450 10 9
300
m 7.41

7th order (1A)

Blue
(1A)
(b)(ii)

a
a

(1A)
m11
m22

m1 2 3

(1A)
m2 1 2
m = 3 for 450 nm and m = 2 for 675 nm.

y
. (1A)
D