Exam-style question
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Identify a limitation of Newton's corpuscular theory of light in explaining phenomena such as diffraction.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- A limitation of Newton's corpuscular theory is that it cannot adequately explain diffraction, which is the bending of light waves around obstacles.
- This phenomenon is better explained by wave theory, which accounts for the wave nature of light.
Explanation
Why this works
This answer is strong as it highlights a specific limitation of the corpuscular model in relation to observable phenomena, testing the student's critical thinking and understanding of the differences between particle and wave theories.
Common mistake
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