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Waves and the particle nature of light

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do waves bend, spread and reflect at boundaries?

Refraction and Snell's law, refractive index, total internal reflection and the critical angle, diffraction at a single slit, and the diffraction grating equation.
A focused answer to the Edexcel 9PH0 refraction and diffraction content, covering Snell's law, refractive index, total internal reflection and the critical angle, single-slit diffraction, and the diffraction grating equation.
12 min answer →

What happens when two waves meet?

The principle of superposition, constructive and destructive interference, coherence and path difference, and the formation of stationary waves with nodes and antinodes on strings and in pipes.
A focused answer to the Edexcel 9PH0 superposition content, covering the principle of superposition, constructive and destructive interference, coherence and path difference, and stationary waves with nodes and antinodes on strings and in pipes.
12 min answer →

What does the photoelectric effect tell us about light?

The photon model and $E = hf$ , the photoelectric effect and the photoelectric equation, threshold frequency and work function, and the electronvolt and atomic energy levels.
A focused answer to the Edexcel 9PH0 quantum content, covering the photon model and $E = hf$ , the photoelectric effect and its equation, threshold frequency and work function, the electronvolt, and atomic energy levels.
12 min answer →

How do we describe a wave and what does it transfer?

Transverse and longitudinal waves, amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and speed, the wave equation, phase and phase difference, and polarisation of transverse waves.
A focused answer to the Edexcel 9PH0 wave basics content, covering transverse and longitudinal waves, amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and speed, the wave equation, phase and phase difference, and polarisation.
11 min answer →

Can particles behave like waves?

Wave-particle duality, electron diffraction as evidence for the wave nature of matter, the de Broglie wavelength, and the complementary wave and particle models of light.
A focused answer to the Edexcel 9PH0 wave-particle duality content, covering duality, electron diffraction as evidence for matter waves, the de Broglie wavelength, and the complementary wave and particle models of light.
11 min answer →