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Date May 2022 Marks available 1 Reference code 22M.1.HL.TZ2.30
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone 2
Command term Question number 30 Adapted from N/A

Question

In two different experiments, white light is passed through a single slit and then is either refracted through a prism or diffracted with a diffraction grating. The prism produces a band of colours from M to N. The diffraction grating produces a first order spectrum P to Q.

What are the colours observed at M and P?

Markscheme

A

Examiners report

This has low discrimination and the difficulty index suggests candidates found it hard with the incorrect option C being the most popular. The spreading of colours and formation of a spectrum (or rainbow) is something that is covered during an introductory course in physics and then developed in refraction and diffraction.

Syllabus sections

Additional higher level (AHL) » Topic 9: Wave phenomena » 9.3 – Interference
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