A student investigates the refraction of light using a sucrose solution inside a hollow glass prism. They shine a ray of blue light into the prism and observe its path.
Explain what is meant by the term refraction.
The refractive index of the sucrose solution is lower for yellow light than it is for blue light. Explain how the path of a yellow light ray through the prism would differ from that of the blue light ray.
Suggest what would happen to the path of the blue light ray if a sucrose solution with a higher concentration (and therefore a larger refractive index) were used in the prism.
A quality control technician in a brewery uses a digital hand-held refractometer (measuring in °Brix) to monitor the sucrose concentration of different wort samples during fermentation.
The table below shows the laboratory results:
Sucrose concentration (g/100 mL)Refractometer reading (°Bx)01051810281552205425703088\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Sucrose concentration (g/100 mL)} & \textbf{Refractometer reading (°Bx)} \\ \hline 0 & 10 \\ \hline 5 & 18 \\ \hline 10 & 28 \\ \hline 15 & 52 \\ \hline 20 & 54 \\ \hline 25 & 70 \\ \hline 30 & 88 \\ \hline \end{array}Sucrose concentration (g/100 mL)051015202530Refractometer reading (°Bx)10182852547088Identify the anomalous data point in the table, and suggest what the correct refractometer reading should be at this concentration.
Use the trend in the data to estimate the sucrose concentration when the refractometer reading is 474747.
Describe the pattern shown by the data in the table.
30 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Physics Light and sound. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.