Chapter 3: Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation

A-level PhysicsModule 4: Electrons, Waves & Photons8 topicsHigher

StudyStudy Material QuizQuiz ResourcesResources

Mock Papers

Exam-board mock papers

Mock papers launch from 1 August 2026. New papers will be added regularly from this date.

Dashboard tracking

Included with paid subject access

You can see the paper details now. Access unlocks when your plan includes this subject and tier.

Mock paperFeatured

Mock papers launch collection

alevel · physics · Module 4: Electrons, Waves & Photons · All papers

Releases 1 August 2026

Locked

Topic-aware long answers

Ultimate/Lifetime long-answer set

Ultimate and Lifetime users can create one saved set of 4 extended-response questions for this topic and mark answers with examiner-style feedback.

AI MCQ generation is available to paying students: 20 questions per session,2 sessions per month. Long-answer AI generation requires Ultimate or Lifetime access.

Free starter set

Module 4: Electrons, Waves and Photons: Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation - Authored Long Answer Questions

Examiner-style long-answer practice with automatic marking, improvement advice and ProofCoach tracking.

4 questions25 marks37.5 min

standard / hard

6 marksdescribestandardOCR A

For Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation, describe how wave speed, refraction and polarisation applies to laser beam refracting from air into glass.

0 characters

Write your answer first, then mark it.

6 markscalculatehardOCR A

Using laser beam refracting from air into glass, calculate a relevant OCR A Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation quantity and explain the physical or chemical meaning of the answer. Show equation, substitution, answer and unit.

0 characters

Write your answer first, then mark it.

7 marksexplainhardOCR A

Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation - data from: laser beam refracting from air into glass

Loading graph...

The graph for Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation shows data from laser beam refracting from air into glass. Explain the pattern using the data and relevant physics principles.

0 characters

Write your answer first, then mark it.

6 marksevaluatestandardOCR A

In laser beam refracting from air into glass, evaluate the experimental method or model assumptions used when applying wave speed, refraction and polarisation.

0 characters

Write your answer first, then mark it.

Subject MCQ Bank

20 stored MCQs for this topic

Paying students get 20 stored MCQs per generation session and 2sessions each month. Your set is saved here so you can reset and retake it without using another allowance. If the bank is running low, replenishment happens in the background.

The 20-question stored MCQ bank is premium-only. Free users can study the starter unit and standard quiz, but bank practice unlocks after purchasing the subject.

Loading practice tools...

← Previous

2. Kirchhoff's Laws, Potential Dividers and Sensing Circuits

4. Superposition, Interference and Stationary Waves

Key learning objectives

Understand the key principles behind Progressive Waves, Refraction, Diffraction and Polarisation.
Apply these ideas to exam-style questions.
Recall the essential definitions and key terms.