Rays of light pass through the transparent cover of the headlight. Which diagram shows how a ray of light passes through the transparent cover?

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How to approach this question

Consider the rules of refraction. When light enters a denser medium (like glass) from a less dense medium (like air), it slows down and bends towards the normal. When it leaves the denser medium and re-enters the less dense medium, it speeds up and bends away from the normal. The emergent ray should be parallel to the path the incident ray was on.

Full Answer

B.<svg width='150' height='100' viewBox='0 0 150 100'><rect x='60' y='10' width='30' height='80' fill='#e0e0e0' stroke='black'/><path d='M10,30 L70,50 L140,70' stroke='black' stroke-width='2' fill='none' marker-end='url(#arrow)'/></svg>✓ Correct

When a ray of light passes through a parallel-sided transparent block: 1. **Entering the block:** Light travels from a less dense medium (air) to a more dense medium (glass/plastic). It slows down and refracts (bends) **towards** the normal. 2. **Leaving the block:** Light travels from the more dense medium back into the less dense medium. It speeds up and refracts **away** from the normal. The result is that the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray, but it has been shifted sideways. This is known as lateral displacement. Diagram B correctly illustrates this.

Common mistakes

✗ Choosing diagram A, which shows no refraction.\n✗ Choosing diagram C, which shows the light bending the wrong way (away from the normal) as it enters the block.

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Rays of light pass through the transparent cover of the headlight. Which diagram shows how a ray of light passes through the transparent cover?

How to approach this question

Full Answer

Common mistakes

Practice the full AQA GCSE Physics Higher Tier Paper 2

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