Free worksheet and solutions · AQA GCSE · 8463
AQA GCSE Physics Colour Filters and Visible Light Worksheet
AQA GCSE Separate Physics colour-filter worksheet with answers. Predict transmitted and reflected colours and justify choices using stated light sources.
What is covered
Questions and skills covered
The worksheet contains 6 pages of printable questions. A separate 6-page solutions PDF makes it easy to mark, review or share answers after the activity.
- White-light composition
- Opaque green object under white light
- Transparent and translucent material choice
- Frosted sheet misconception
- Two sequential filters and components at intermediate/final positions
- Filter-order comparison
- Blue-only lamp blocked by first filter
- White, black and coloured surfaces under different incident colours
- Diffuse and specular reflection
- Roughening a smooth surface
- Matt backdrop visible from different positions
- Viewing filters after reflection
- Filters do not convert or emit missing colours
- Crossed ideal red and blue filters
- Six-mark explanation scaffolded through three two-mark final lighting decisions
- Red/white prop and blue marker comparison
- Adapting marker material to a fixed green-only lamp
About this activity
A theatre lighting team tests how filters, costumes and painted set markings affect the light that reaches the audience.
Before you start
After teaching visible-light colours, transmission, reflection, absorption and surface behaviour. Idealised component selection is explicit; names for colour mixtures are not required.
A question from the worksheet
Question6(d), pupil page6
An ideal green filter is put directly in front of a blue-only lamp. Can a blue costume marker then appear green?
Show the answer
No. The filter absorbs the only incident component, blue; without stray light, no light from the lamp reaches the marker and it appears black.
Common error: Treating a colour filter as a source of its named colour or saying an object reflects a colour absent from the incident light.
Revise the physics
Specification fit
AQA GCSE Physics Worksheets
8463 · 4.6.2.6
- 8463: 4.6.2.6
Choose the correct pathway: Separate Physics 8463 only, both tiers. Ideal filters and opaque surfaces; the three-band source applies only to its stated trial, not to white light in general.
Classroom use
Use the worksheet for class practice, homework, intervention, cover work or revision. Keep the PhysicsUK attribution intact when sharing copies with pupils.