C Waves Chapter 11 Light Waves

11 Light Waves
from 0.628 m to 0.638 m.
Practice 11.1 (p. 90)
1 D
2 D 8.5 × 10 −5
8 s = vt = 3 × 108 × = 12 750 m
3 B 2
4 C The distance between the aircraft and the
5 (a) More fringes which are closer together radar station is 12 750 m.
are observed. s 2.37 × 1019 × 1000
9 t= = 8
= 7.9 × 1013 s
v 3 × 10
(b) The fringes would be of larger width.
(c) More fringes which are closer together It takes 7.9 × 1013 s for the light to travel from

are observed. the galaxy to the Earth.

Practice 11.2 (p. 102) Revision exercise 11

1 C Multiple-choice (p. 104)
2 D Section A

3 D 1 A

4 In the visible spectrum, red light has the 2 C

longest wavelength and violet light has the 3 C

shortest. 4 A

5 In the EM spectrum, radio waves have the 5 (HKCEE 2004 Paper II Q45)

longest wavelength and gamma rays have the 6 (HKCEE 2003 Paper II Q30)

shortest. 7 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q16)

6 The ascending order of frequencies of the

electromagnetic waves: Section B

Radio waves, microwaves, infra-red 8 B

radiations, X-rays and gamma rays

v Conventional (p. 105)
7 λ=
f Section A
8
3 × 10 1 (a) P has the longest wavelength. (1A)
= 6
= 0.638 m
470 × 10 (b) S has the highest frequency. (1A)
v (c) They have the same speed in a vacuum.
λ=
f (1A)
3 × 10 8 (d) The speed of Q in a vacuum is
= = 0.628 m
478 × 10 6 3 × 108 m s−1 (1A)
The range of the broadcasting wavelength is (e) P is infra-red radiation. (1A)

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C Waves Chapter 11 Light Waves

S is ultraviolet radiation. (1A) = 6.67 × 10–3 s (1A)

The time lag between the sender and the
receiver is 6.67 × 10–3 s.
v 5 (a) Diffraction takes place when
2 λ= (1M)
f microwaves hit the fighter. (1A)
3 × 108 (b)
=
2.4 × 10 9
= 0.125 m (1A)
The wavelength of such radio waves is
0.125 m.
v
3 (a) λ = (1M)
f
3 × 10 8
=
90.3 × 10 6
= 3.32 m (1A) (Correct direction of wavefronts.) (1A)
The wavelength of the electromagnetic (Correct wavefronts with correct
waves sent by the radio station is wavelength.) (1A)
3.32 m. No, the reflected waves will not return
(b) (i) Infra-red radiation is sent out by to the radar station. (1A)
the remote control. (1A) 6 (a) s = vt (1M)
(ii) The wavelength of infra-red = 3 × 10 × 10
8 –9

radiation ranges from = 0.3 m (1A)

–4 –6
10 to 10 m which is much The distance travelled by a pulse of
smaller than the wavelength of the laser in 1 nanosecond is 0.3 m.
EM waves mentioned in (a). (1A) (b) (i) s = vt (1M)
4 (a) Low frequency waves which have 300
= 3 × 108 × × 10–9
longer wavelengths spread out more on 2
diffraction so that they can bend around = 45 m (1A)
different obstacles. (1A) s = vt (1M)
300.24
On the contrary, high frequency waves = 3 × 108 × × 10–9
2
which have shorter wavelengths spread
= 45.036 m (1A)
out less on diffraction so that they
The distances of the car from the
cannot bend around different obstacles.
policeman are 45 m and 45.036 m.
(1A) s
s (ii) v =
(b) t = (1M) t
v 45.036 − 45
1000 × 2 × 1000 =
= 1 × 10 −3
3 × 10 8

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C Waves Chapter 11 Light Waves

= 36 m s–1 (1A) pattern (diffraction pattern). It is

–1
The speed of the car is 36 m s observed that light spreads into the
and the driver is speeding. (1A) shadow of the slit. (1A)
(ii) The interference fringes with blue
(c) Microwaves which have longer light are close together than those
wavelength (1A) with red light. (1A)
than infra-red diffract more (1A) 9 (a) (i)
when reaching the cars. This will affect
the results of checking speed of cars on
the road.
7 (HKCEE 2004 Paper I Q4)

Section B
8 (a) (Correct indication of the position of
microwaves.) (1A)
v
(ii) λ = (1M)
f
3 × 10 8
= = 0.12 m (1A)
2.5 × 10 9
The wavelength of the microwaves
is 0.12 m.
(b) (i)

(Correct labels: translucent screen,

double-slit and laser pointer.) (3 × 1A)
(Correct positions: double-slit in
between laser pointer and translucent
screen.) (1A)
(b) When the laser passes through the
double-slit, a pattern consisting of a
series of evenly spaced dark and bright
lines called fringes is produced. (1A)
The points of constructive interference
correspond to the bright fringes. (1A)
The points of destructive interference
(Wavelength unchanged after
correspond to the dark fringes. (1A)
diffraction.) (1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C)
(Correct degrees of diffraction.) (1A)
(c) (i) There are also fringes in the

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C Waves Chapter 11 Light Waves

(ii) The cases of microwave ovens are

made of metal. When microwave
hits the metal, it is reflected and
hence cannot escape from the case
of the oven. (1A)
The wavelength of the microwave
is found to be about 0.12 m. Since
the diameter of the holes on the
mesh is around 1 mm, the holes
are much smaller than the
wavelength of the microwave.
(1A)
Thus, referring to the result in (b)
(i), microwave cannot escape
through the mesh. (1A)
(For effective communication.)
(1C)
10 (HKCEE 1999 Paper I Q10)
11 (a) (i) Part K is infra-red radiation. (1A)
(ii) Part L is ultraviolet radiation. (1A)
(iii) X-rays has the shortest
wavelength. (1A)
(b) infra-red, visible light, ultraviolet
(3 × 1A)
(c) Any one of the following answers or
any other known use.
(1) Gamma rays act as tracers (1A)
to test flow. (1A)
(2) Gamma rays can be used in
killing/treating/curing (1A)
cancer/tumor/unwanted cells. (1A)
(3) Gamma rays can be used in
sterilizing (1A)
medical equipment. (1A)

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Physics in articles (p. 109)

(a) For steam cooking with a wok, energy is
transferred from the wok to water by
conduction. Water evaporates at 100°C.
When steam condenses on the food, a large
amount of latent heat is transferred to the
food by conduction. (1A)
There is a convection current within the wok.
(1A)
By conduction and convection, the food is
cooked.
For cooking in a microwave oven,
microwaves cause food molecules (mainly
water molecules) to vibrate. The vibrations
create friction and hence heat. Such cooking
method is done by radiation. (1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C)
(b) Interference accounts for the spots. (1A)
(c) The evaporated vapour increases the pressure
within the containers or shelled eggs. Once
the pressure inside is larger than the
atmospheric pressure, there is a breakage of
the container or the egg. (1A)
(d) (i)

(Correct wavelength: reduced

wavelength in meat.) (1A)
(Correct amplitude: decreasing
amplitude.) (1A)
(ii) By conduction, the centre of the food is
heated. (1A)

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