Physics · Textbook solutions
Wave Optics
Every solved example, exercise, and miscellaneous question, in the order the textbook teaches them. Plus every board question asked from this chapter. · 12 questions
Worked Examples
2 q
Solved Examples
Worked · 2
- Eg 10.1(a) When monochromatic light is incident on a surface separating two media, the reflected and refracted light both have the same frequency as the incident frequency. Explain why? (b) When light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, the speed decreases. Does the reduction in speed imply a reduction in the energy carried by the light wave? (c) In the wave picture of light, intensity of light is determined by the square of the amplitude of the wave. What determines the intensity of light in the photon picture of light.
- Eg 10.2Discuss the intensity of transmitted light when a polaroid sheet is rotated between two crossed polaroids?
Exercises
10 q
- Ex 10.1Monochromatic light of wavelength is incident from air on a water surface. What are the wavelength, frequency and speed of (a) reflected, and (b) refracted light? Refractive index of water is .
- Ex 10.2(a)What is the shape of the wavefront in each of the following cases: (a) Light diverging from a point source.
- Ex 10.2(b)What is the shape of the wavefront in each of the following cases: (b) Light emerging out of a convex lens when a point source is placed at its focus.
- Ex 10.2(c)What is the shape of the wavefront in each of the following cases: (c) The portion of the wavefront of light from a distant star intercepted by the Earth.
- Ex 10.3(a)(a) The refractive index of glass is . What is the speed of light in glass? (Speed of light in vacuum is )
- Ex 10.3(b)(b) Is the speed of light in glass independent of the colour of light? If not, which of the two colours red and violet travels slower in a glass prism?
- Ex 10.4In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slits are separated by and the screen is placed away. The distance between the central bright fringe and the fourth bright fringe is measured to be . Determine the wavelength of light used in the experiment.
- Ex 10.5In Young's double-slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength , the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is , is units. What is the intensity of light at a point where path difference is ?
- Ex 10.6(a)A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths, and , is used to obtain interference fringes in a Young's double-slit experiment. (a) Find the distance of the third bright fringe on the screen from the central maximum for wavelength .
- Ex 10.6(b)A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths, and , is used to obtain interference fringes in a Young's double-slit experiment. (b) What is the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide?
What the board has asked from this chapter
Questions per paper · 26 papers · 2022 to 2026
Bars average the full papers of each year. 30 further questions come from set variants and are listed below.
2022: 3.8 questions per paper. 2023: 4.8 questions per paper. 2024: 3.4 questions per paper. 2025: 3 questions per paper. 2026: 4 questions per paper
2026
26 q
- 2A ray of monochromatic light travelling in air is incident on a glass slab and is partly reflected and partly refracted. Both the reflected and refracted lights will have :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves - 4The shape of the interference fringes in Young's double-slit experiment, when the distance between the slit and the screen is very large as compared to the slit-separation, is nearly
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 5The phase difference between the two superimposing waves that give rise to a bright spot in a Young's double-slit experiment is (n is an integer) :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 10Four independent waves are expressed as (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) The interference between two of these waves is possible in
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 10The angular width of interference fringes in Young's double-slit experiment depends on
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 11The phenomenon of interference is shown by
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - Questions number 13 to 16 are Assertion (A) and Reason (R) type questions. Two statements are given — one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below.14Assertion (A) : In Young's double-slit experiment, the fringe width for dark and bright fringes is the same. Reason (R) : Fringe width is given by , where symbols have their usual meanings.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - For question numbers 13 to 16, two statements are given – one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below :15Assertion (A) : Light added to light can produce darkness. Reason (R) : When two coherent light waves interfere, there is darkness at position of destructive interference.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 18In a Young's double-slit experiment, two waves each of intensity I superpose each other and produce an interference pattern. Prove that the resultant intensities at maxima and minima are 4 I and zero respectively.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18 (a)State Huygens principle. How did Huygens justify the absence of the backwave on a spherical wavefront ?Huygens Principle
- 18 (a)A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 400 nm and 600 nm is used to illuminate a single slit of width 1 mm. Find the least distance of the point from the central maximum where the dark fringes due to both wavelengths coincide on the screen placed 1.5 m from the slit.Diffraction
- 18 (b)In a Young's double-slit experimental set-up with slit separation 0.6 mm a beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 440 nm and 660 nm is used to obtain interference pattern on a screen kept 1.5 m in front of the slits. Find the least distance of the point from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 19When monochromatic light is incident on a surface separating two media, the refracted and reflected light both have the same frequency as the incident frequency but the wavelength of refracted light is different. Explain why.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 18Explain why diffraction of sound is more common in daily experience than that of light.Diffraction
- 18 (b)In a single-slit diffraction experiment, light of wavelength illuminates the slit of width 'a'. The diffraction pattern is observed on a screen kept at a distance D from the slits. (i) Depict variation of intensity in the fringe pattern with the angular position of the fringes. (ii) How is the linear width of central maximum affected when separation between the slit and the screen is decreased ?Diffraction
- 21 (b)In a Young's double-slit experiment, a beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 500 nm and 600 nm is used. The interference fringes are observed at a screen placed 1.8 m away from the plane of slits (slit separation 0.3 mm). Calculate the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 21In Young's double slit experiment, the central maximum is bright in the interference pattern obtained on a screen. What will happen when : (a) light waves emitted out of slits and have an initial phase difference of radian ? (b) one of the slits is closed ? Justify your answers.Interference and Young's Experiment
- In a Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits behave as coherent sources. When coherent light waves superpose over each other they create an interference pattern of successive bright and dark regions due to constructive and destructive interference. Two slits 2 mm apart are illuminated by a source of monochromatic light and the interference pattern is observed on a screen m away from the slits as shown in the figure.30 (i)What property of light does this interference experiment demonstrate ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - In a Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits behave as coherent sources. When coherent light waves superpose over each other they create an interference pattern of successive bright and dark regions due to constructive and destructive interference. Two slits 2 mm apart are illuminated by a source of monochromatic light and the interference pattern is observed on a screen m away from the slits as shown in the figure.30 (ii) (a)The wavelength of light used in this experiment is :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - In a Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits behave as coherent sources. When coherent light waves superpose over each other they create an interference pattern of successive bright and dark regions due to constructive and destructive interference. Two slits 2 mm apart are illuminated by a source of monochromatic light and the interference pattern is observed on a screen m away from the slits as shown in the figure.30 (ii) (b)The fringe width in the interference pattern formed on the screen is :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - In a Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits behave as coherent sources. When coherent light waves superpose over each other they create an interference pattern of successive bright and dark regions due to constructive and destructive interference. Two slits 2 mm apart are illuminated by a source of monochromatic light and the interference pattern is observed on a screen m away from the slits as shown in the figure.30 (iii)The path difference between the two waves meeting at point P, where there is a minimum in the interference pattern is :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - In a Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits behave as coherent sources. When coherent light waves superpose over each other they create an interference pattern of successive bright and dark regions due to constructive and destructive interference. Two slits 2 mm apart are illuminated by a source of monochromatic light and the interference pattern is observed on a screen m away from the slits as shown in the figure.30 (iv)When the experiment is performed in a liquid of refractive index greater than 1, then fringe pattern will :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 31 (a)(a) What are coherent sources ? Why they are necessary for observing stable interference pattern ? Draw a graph showing the variation of intensity of light with the position on the screen in Young's double-slit experiment. (b) Find the intensity of light at a point on the screen when two interfering waves of the same intensity have a path difference of (i) and (ii) .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 31 (b)(i) What is the difference between a ray and a wavefront ? (ii) A plane wave is incident on a reflecting surface. Using Huygens principle, show how it is reflected from the surface. Hence, verify the law of reflection. (iii) Depict refraction of a plane wave by a convex lens.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 33 (a)(i) A parallel beam of monochromatic light falls normally on a single slit of width ‘a’ and a diffraction pattern is observed on a screen placed at distance D from the slits. Explain : (I) the formation of maxima and minima in the diffraction pattern, and (II) why the maxima go on becoming weaker and weaker with its increasing number (n). (ii) Write any two points of difference between interference pattern due to double-slit and diffraction pattern due to single-slit.Diffraction
- 33 (b)(i) Two thin converging lenses of focal length and are placed coaxially in contact. Derive expression for the focal length of the combination. (ii) A beam of coherent light of wavelength 550 nm is incident normal to the plane of a pair of two slits and each of width m separated by mm. Dark and bright fringes are observed on a screen m away from the plane of the slits. Calculate : (I) fringe width. (II) distance of the second dark fringe from the central maximum. (III) what will happen when the entire apparatus is immersed in water.Interference and Young's Experiment
2025
29 q
- 1A beam of light of wavelength 720 nm in air enters water (refractive index = ). Its wavelength in water will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves - 9Two coherent waves, each of intensity , produce interference pattern on a screen. The average intensity of light on the screen is :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 11Two coherent light waves, each having amplitude 'a', superpose to produce an interference pattern on a screen. The intensity of light as seen on the screen varies between :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - Questions number 13 to 16 are Assertion (A) and Reason (R) type questions. Two statements are given — one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below.15Assertion (A) : In double slit experiment if one slit is closed, diffraction pattern due to the other slit will appear on the screen. Reason (R) : For interference, at least two waves are required.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Diffraction - 18In a double slit experiment, the two slits are mm apart. The slits are illuminated by a mixture of lights of wavelengths of 600 nm and 400 nm and the interference pattern is observed on a screen m away from the slits. Find the minimum distance of the point from the central maximum at which bright fringes of the interference patterns of the two wavelengths coincide.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18Show the refraction of light wave at a plane interface using Huygens’ principle and prove Snell’s law.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 18In a Young's double-slit experiment, the intensity at the central maximum in the interference pattern on the screen is . Find the intensity at a point on the screen where the path difference between the interfering waves is .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18 (a)In a diffraction experiment, the slit is illuminated by light of wavelength 600 nm. The first minimum of the pattern falls at . Calculate the width of the slit.Diffraction
- 18In a double slit experiment, it is observed that the angular width of one fringe formed on the screen is . The wavelength of light used in the experiment is 500 nm. Calculate the separation of the two slits.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18 (a)Find the intensity at a point on the screen in Young's double slit experiment, at which the interfering waves of intensity each, have a path difference of (i) , and (ii) .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18In Young's double slit experiment, the screen is moved 30 cm towards the slits. As a consequence, the fringe width of the pattern changes by mm. If the slits separation used is 2 mm, calculate the wavelength of light used in the experiment.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18Find the angle of diffraction (in degrees) for first secondary maximum of the pattern due to diffraction at a single slit. The width of the slit and wavelength of light used are mm and 550 nm, respectively.Diffraction
- 18In a double-slit experiment, dark fringe is observed at a certain point of the screen. A transparent sheet of thickness t and refractive index n is now introduced in the path of one of the two interfering waves to increase its phase by . The pattern is shifted and bright fringe is observed at the same point. Find the relation for thickness t in terms of n and .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 19The ratio of the intensities at maxima to minima in Young's double-slit experiment is 25 : 9. Calculate the ratio of intensities of the interfering waves.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18 (b)In a Young's double-slit experiment, two light waves, each of intensity , interfere at a point, having a path difference on the screen. Find the intensity at this point.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18 (b)In Young's double slit experimental set-up, the intensity of the central maximum is . Calculate the intensity at a point where the path difference between two interfering waves is .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 19Write two differences in the patterns of double-slit interference experiment and single-slit diffraction experiment. Light waves from two pinholes illuminated by two sodium lamps do not produce interference patterns. Explain why.Diffraction
- 23(a) "You cannot see a person standing on the other side of a boundary wall but can hear him." Explain with reason. (b) Light of wavelength 750 nm is incident normally on a slit of width mm. Diffraction pattern is obtained on a screen m away from the slit. Find the distance of the nearest point from the central maxima at which the intensity is zero.Diffraction
- 24In Young's double slit experiment, the separation between the two slits is mm and the screen is m away from the slits. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 500 nm and 600 nm is used to obtain interference fringes. Calculate : (a) the distance between the first maxima for the two wavelengths. (b) the least distance from the central maximum, where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 26(a) Write the conditions under which two light waves originating from two coherent sources can interfere each other (i) constructively, and (ii) destructively, in terms of wavelength. Can these be applied for two lights originating from two sodium lamps ? Give reason. (b) Monochromatic light of green colour is used in Young's double slit experiment and an interference pattern is observed on a screen. If the green light is replaced by red monochromatic light of the same intensity, how will the fringe width of interference pattern be affected ? Justify your answer.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 25Using the Huygens' principle, briefly describe reflection of a plane wavefront from a reflecting surface. Hence, prove the laws of reflection.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 26(a) Define 'wavefront' of a light wave. A plane wavefront is refracted from a convex lens. Draw the shape of the refracted wavefront. (b) A plane wave travelling in a medium is incident on a plane surface separating this medium from a rarer medium. Draw a diagram to show refraction of the wave. Hence, verify Snell's law.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 26A double slit set-up was initially placed in a tank filled with water and the interference pattern was obtained using a laser light. When water is replaced by a transparent liquid of refractive index , what will be the effect on the following ? (a) Speed, frequency and wavelength of the light of laser beam. (b) The fringe width, shape of interference fringes and shift in the position of central maximum.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 32 (b)(i) Using Huygens' principle, explain the refraction of a plane wavefront, propagating in air, at a plane interface between air and glass. Hence verify Snell's law. (ii) Use mirror formula to deduce that a convex mirror always produces a virtual image of an object kept in front of it.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 33 (a)(i) (1) What are coherent sources ? Why are they necessary for observing a sustained interference pattern ? (2) Lights from two independent sources are not coherent. Explain. (ii) Two slits 0.1 mm apart are arranged 1.20 m from a screen. Light of wavelength 600 nm from a distant source is incident on the slits. (1) How far apart will adjacent bright interference fringes be on the screen ? (2) Find the angular width (in degree) of the first bright fringe.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (b)(i) A physics teacher wants to demonstrate interference with the help of double slit experiment using a laser beam of 633 nm wavelength. Since the hall is large enough, interference pattern is formed on the wall m from the slits. For clear and comfortable view by all the students they want the fringe width 5 mm. (I) Find the slit separation for obtaining the desired interference pattern. (II) How far will the first minimum be from the central maximum ? (ii) A parallel beam of light of wavelength 650 nm passes through a slit of width mm. The diffraction pattern is obtained on a screen kept 60 cm away from the slit. Find the distance between first order minima on both sides of the central maximum.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (b)(i) Light consisting of two wavelengths 600 nm and 480 nm is used to obtain interference fringes in a double slit experiment. The screen is placed 1.0 m away from slits which are 1.0 nm apart. (1) Calculate the distance of the third bright fringe on the screen from the central maximum for wavelength 600 nm. (2) Find the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide. (ii) (1) Draw the variation of intensity with angle of diffraction in single slit diffraction pattern. Write the expression for value of angle corresponding to zero intensity locations. (2) In what way diffraction of light waves differs from diffraction of sound waves ?Diffraction
- 33 (b)(i) Two coherent light waves, each of intensity superpose each other and produce interference pattern on a screen. Obtain the expression for the resultant intensity at a point where the phase difference between the waves is . Write its maximum and minimum possible values. (ii) In a single slit diffraction experiment, the aperture of the slit is 3 mm and the separation between the slit and the screen is m. A monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm is normally incident on the slit. Calculate the distance of (I) first order minimum, and (II) second order maximum, from the centre of the screen.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (b)(i) Define a wavefront. An incident plane wave falls on a convex lens and gets refracted through it. Draw a diagram to show the incident and refracted wavefront. (ii) A beam of light coming from a distant source is refracted by a spherical glass ball (refractive index 1.5) of radius 15 cm. Draw the ray diagram and obtain the position of the final image formed.Huygens Principle
2024
20 q
- 8In a Young's double-slit experiment in air, the fringe width is found to be 0.44 mm. If the entire setup is immersed in water , the fringe width will be
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 10A Young's double-slit experimental set up is kept in a medium of refractive index . Which maximum in this case will coincide with the 6th maximum obtained if the medium is replaced by air ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - For Questions 13 to 16, two statements are given – one labelled Assertion (A) and other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the options as given below. (A) If both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is correct explanation of Assertion (A). (B) If both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (C) If Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false. (D) If both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.15Assertion (A) : In a Young's double-slit experiment, interference pattern is not observed when two coherent sources are infinitely close to each other. Reason (R) : The fringe width is proportional to the separation between the two sources.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - Note : For questions number 13 to 16, two statements are given — one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the codes (A), (B), (C) and (D) as given below :16Assertion (A) : In interference and diffraction of light, light energy reduces in one region producing a dark fringe. It increases in another region and produces a bright fringe. Reason (R) : This happens because energy is not conserved in the phenomena of interference and diffraction.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 18 (a)Two waves, each of amplitude 'a' and frequency '' emanating from two coherent sources of light superpose at a point. If the phase difference between the two waves is , obtain an expression for the resultant intensity at that point.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 18 (a)Monochromatic light of frequency Hz passes from air into a medium of refractive index . Find the wavelength of the light (i) reflected, and (ii) refracted at the interface of the two media.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 18 (b)What is the effect on the interference pattern in Young's double-slit experiment when (i) the source slit is moved closer to the plane of the slits, and (ii) the separation between the two slits is increased ? Justify your answers.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 19What is a sustained or stable interference pattern ? What are the conditions for obtaining such an interference pattern ?Interference and Young's Experiment
- 19Write two points of difference between interference and diffraction of light.Diffraction
- Diffraction and interference are closely related phenomena that occur together. Diffraction is the phenomenon of bending of light around the edges of the obstacle, while interference is the combination of waves that results in a new wave pattern. In order to get interference, there must be at least two waves that are diffracting. So while diffraction can occur without interference, interference cannot occur without diffraction. Two slits of width 2 m each in an opaque material are separated by a distance of 6 m. Monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm is incident normally on the slits. One finds a combined interference and diffraction pattern on the screen.30 (i)The number of peaks of the interference fringes formed within the central peak of the envelope of the diffraction pattern will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Diffraction - Diffraction and interference are closely related phenomena that occur together. Diffraction is the phenomenon of bending of light around the edges of the obstacle, while interference is the combination of waves that results in a new wave pattern. In order to get interference, there must be at least two waves that are diffracting. So while diffraction can occur without interference, interference cannot occur without diffraction. Two slits of width 2 m each in an opaque material are separated by a distance of 6 m. Monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm is incident normally on the slits. One finds a combined interference and diffraction pattern on the screen.30 (ii)The number of peaks of the interference formed if the slit width is doubled while keeping the distance between the slits same will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Diffraction - Diffraction and interference are closely related phenomena that occur together. Diffraction is the phenomenon of bending of light around the edges of the obstacle, while interference is the combination of waves that results in a new wave pattern. In order to get interference, there must be at least two waves that are diffracting. So while diffraction can occur without interference, interference cannot occur without diffraction. Two slits of width 2 m each in an opaque material are separated by a distance of 6 m. Monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm is incident normally on the slits. One finds a combined interference and diffraction pattern on the screen.30 (iii) (a)If instead of 450 nm light, another light of wavelength 680 nm is used, number of peaks of the interference formed in the central peak of the envelope of the diffraction pattern will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Diffraction - Diffraction and interference are closely related phenomena that occur together. Diffraction is the phenomenon of bending of light around the edges of the obstacle, while interference is the combination of waves that results in a new wave pattern. In order to get interference, there must be at least two waves that are diffracting. So while diffraction can occur without interference, interference cannot occur without diffraction. Two slits of width 2 m each in an opaque material are separated by a distance of 6 m. Monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm is incident normally on the slits. One finds a combined interference and diffraction pattern on the screen.30 (iii) (b)Consider the diffraction of light by a single slit described in this case study. The first minimum falls at an angle equal to :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Diffraction - Diffraction and interference are closely related phenomena that occur together. Diffraction is the phenomenon of bending of light around the edges of the obstacle, while interference is the combination of waves that results in a new wave pattern. In order to get interference, there must be at least two waves that are diffracting. So while diffraction can occur without interference, interference cannot occur without diffraction. Two slits of width 2 m each in an opaque material are separated by a distance of 6 m. Monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm is incident normally on the slits. One finds a combined interference and diffraction pattern on the screen.30 (iv)The number of bright fringes formed due to interference on 1 m of screen placed at m away from the slits is :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 31 (b)(i) Differentiate between a wavefront and a ray. (ii) State Huygen's principle and verify laws of reflection using suitable diagram. (iii) In Young's double slit experiment, the slits and are 3 mm apart and the screen is placed 1.0 m away from the slits. It is observed that the fourth bright fringe is at a distance of 5 mm from the second dark fringe. Find the wavelength of light used.Huygens Principle
- 33 (a)(i) A plane light wave propagating from a rarer into a denser medium, is incident at an angle i on the surface separating two media. Using Huygen's principle, draw the refracted wave and hence verify Snell's law of refraction. (ii) In a Young's double slit experiment, the slits are separated by 0.30 mm and the screen is kept 1.5 m away. The wavelength of light used is 600 nm. Calculate the distance between the central bright fringe and the 4th dark fringe.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 33 (a)(i) Give any two differences between the interference pattern obtained in Young's double-slit experiment and a diffraction pattern due to a single slit. (ii) Draw an intensity distribution graph in case of a double-slit interference pattern. (iii) In Young's double-slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength , the intensity of light at a point on the screen, where path difference is , is K units. Find the intensity of light at a point on the screen where the path difference is .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (b)(i) The displacement of two light waves, each of amplitude 'a' and frequency , emanating from two coherent sources of light, are given by and . is the phase difference between the two waves. These light waves superpose at a point. Obtain the expression for the resultant intensity at that point. (ii) In Young's double slit experiment, find the ratio of intensities at two points on a screen when waves emanating from two slits reaching these points have path differences (i) and (ii) .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (b)(i) Discuss briefly diffraction of light from a single slit and draw the shape of the diffraction pattern. (ii) An object is placed between the pole and the focus of a concave mirror. Using mirror formula, prove mathematically that it produces a virtual and an enlarged image.Diffraction
- 33 (b)(i) State Huygens' principle. A plane wave is incident at an angle i on a reflecting surface. Construct the corresponding reflected wavefront. Using this diagram, prove that the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence. (ii) What are the coherent sources of light ? Can two independent sodium lamps act like coherent sources ? Explain. (iii) A beam of light consisting of a known wavelength 520 nm and an unknown wavelength , used in Young's double slit experiment produces two interference patterns such that the fourth bright fringe of unknown wavelength coincides with the fifth bright fringe of known wavelength. Find the value of .Huygens Principle
2023
27 q
- 6In a Young's double-slit experiment, the fringe width is found to be . If the entire apparatus is immersed in a liquid of refractive index , the new fringe width will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 6In a Young's double-slit experiment, the screen is moved away from the plane of the slits. What will be its effect on the following ? (i) Angular separation of the fringes. (ii) Fringe-width.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 8In the wave picture of light, the intensity I of light is related to the amplitude A of the wave as :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 9A beam of light travels from air into a medium. Its speed and wavelength in the medium are ms and 230 nm respectively. The wavelength of light in air will be
Tap an option to check your answer.
Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves - 9In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit is halved. The width of the central maximum, in the diffraction pattern, will become :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Diffraction - 11A plane wavefront is incident on a concave mirror of radius of curvature R. The radius of the refracted wavefront will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves - 14According to Huygens principle, the amplitude of secondary wavelets is
Tap an option to check your answer.
Huygens Principle - 14In an interference experiment, third bright fringe is obtained at a point on the screen with a light of 700 nm. What should be the wavelength of the light source in order to obtain the fifth bright fringe at the same point ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 14A ray of light of wavelength 600 nm propagates from air into a medium. If its wavelength in the medium becomes 400 nm, the refractive index of the medium is
Tap an option to check your answer.
Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves - Questions number 16 to 18 are Assertion (A) and Reason (R) type questions. Two statements are given — one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below.17Assertion (A) : The phase difference between any two points on a wavefront is zero. Reason (R) : All points on a wavefront are at the same distance from the source and thus oscillate in the same phase.
Tap an option to check your answer.
Huygens Principle - In question number 16 to 18, two statements are given - one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below :18Assertion (A) : In Young's double slit experiment all fringes are of equal width. Reason (R) : The fringe width depends upon wavelength of light () used, distance of screen from plane of slits (D) and slits separation (d).
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - 19In a Young's double slit experiment, the separation between the two slits is d and distance of the screen from the slits is 1000 d. If the first minima falls at a distance d from the central maximum, obtain the relation between d and .Interference and Young's Experiment
- 21 (a)Using Huygens' principle, draw a ray diagram showing the propagation of a plane wave refracting at a plane surface separating two media. Also verify Snell's law of refraction.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 21 (a)State Huygens’ principle. How did Huygens explain the absence of the backwave ?Huygens Principle
- 21 (b)Use Huygens’ principle to show reflection/refraction of a plane wave by (i) concave mirror, and (ii) a convex lens.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 22Two coherent monochromatic light beams of intensities I and 4I superpose each other. Find the ratio of maximum and minimum intensities in the resulting beam.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 22What happens to the interference pattern when two coherent sources are (a) infinitely close, and (b) far apart from each otherInterference and Young's Experiment
- 26 (a)A plane wave-front propagating in a medium of refractive index '' is incident on a plane surface making an angle of incidence (i). It enters into a medium of refractive index . Use Huygen's construction of secondary wavelets to trace the retracted wave-front. Hence verify Snell's law of refraction.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 26 (b)Using Huygen's construction, show how a plane wave is reflected from a surface. Hence verify the law of reflection.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 29 (a)(i) In diffraction due to a single slit, the phase difference between light waves reaching a point on the screen is . Explain whether a bright or a dark fringe will be formed at the point. (ii) What should the width (a) of each slit be to obtain eight maxima of two double-slit patterns (slit separation d) within the central maximum of the single slit pattern ? (iii) Draw the plot of intensity distribution in a diffraction pattern due to a single slit.Diffraction
- 29 (b)(i) In a Young's double-slit experiment , where and are the two slits as shown in the figure. Find the path difference for constructive and destructive interference at P. (ii) What is the effect on the interference fringes in a Young's double-slit experiment, if the monochromatic source S is replaced by a source of white light ?Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (a)(i) (1) Write two points of difference between an interference pattern and a diffraction pattern. (2) Name any two factors on which the fringe width in a Young's double-slit experiment depends. (ii) In Young's double-slit experiment, the two slits are separated by a distance equal to 100 times the wavelength of light that passes through the slits. Calculate : (1) the angular separation in radians between the central maximum and the adjacent maximum. (2) the distance between these two maxima on a screen 50 cm from the slits.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 33 (a)(i) State Huygen's principle. With the help of a diagram, show how a plane wave is reflected from a surface. Hence verify the law of reflection. (ii) A concave mirror of focal length 12 cm forms a three times magnified virtual image of an object. Find the distance of the object from the mirror.Huygens Principle
- Diffraction of light is bending of light around the corners of an object whose size is comparable with the wavelength of light. Diffraction actually defines the limits of ray optics. This limit for optical instruments is set by the wavelength of light. An experimental arrangement is set up to observe the diffraction pattern due to a single slit.35 (a)How will the width of central maximum be affected if the wavelength of light is increased ?Diffraction
- Diffraction of light is bending of light around the corners of an object whose size is comparable with the wavelength of light. Diffraction actually defines the limits of ray optics. This limit for optical instruments is set by the wavelength of light. An experimental arrangement is set up to observe the diffraction pattern due to a single slit.35 (b)Under what condition is the first minimum obtained ?Diffraction
- Diffraction of light is bending of light around the corners of an object whose size is comparable with the wavelength of light. Diffraction actually defines the limits of ray optics. This limit for optical instruments is set by the wavelength of light. An experimental arrangement is set up to observe the diffraction pattern due to a single slit.35 (c)Write two points of difference between interference and diffraction patterns.Diffraction
- Diffraction of light is bending of light around the corners of an object whose size is comparable with the wavelength of light. Diffraction actually defines the limits of ray optics. This limit for optical instruments is set by the wavelength of light. An experimental arrangement is set up to observe the diffraction pattern due to a single slit.35 (c)Two students are separated by a 7 m partition wall in a room 10 m high. If both light and sound waves can bend around obstacles, how is it that the students are unable to see each other even though they can converse easily ?Diffraction
2022
26 q
- 4How will the interference pattern in Young's double-slit experiment be affected if : (i) The screen is moved away from the plane of the slits. (ii) The source slit is moved away from the plane of the slits. (iii) The phase difference between the light waves emanating from the two slits and changes from 0 to and remains constant.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 5Monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm is incident from air on a water surface. The refractive index of water is 1.33. Find the (i) wavelength, (ii) frequency and (iii) speed, of reflected and refracted light.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 6Briefly explain how bright and dark fringes are formed on a screen due to the diffraction at a single slit. Hence, explain why the intensity at the bright fringes decreases sharply as their order (n) increases.Diffraction
- 7How can you differentiate whether a pattern is produced by a single slit or double slits ? Derive the expression for the angular position of (i) bright and (ii) dark fringes produced in a single slit diffraction.Diffraction
- 6A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 600 nm and 500 nm is used in a Young's double slit experiment. The slit separation is 1.0 mm and the screen is kept 0.60 m away from the plane of the slits. Calculate : (i) the distance of the second bright fringe from the central maximum for wavelength 500 nm, and (ii) the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 6Using Huygen's principle, for a plane wavefront incident on a plane reflecting surface, draw the reflected wavefront. Hence prove laws of reflection.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- 7(a) The interference pattern is not observed in Young's double slit experiment when the two sources and are far apart. Explain. (b) Mention the conditions for the two sources to be coherent. (c) What is the effect on the interference pattern in a Young's double slit experiment, if the source of wavelength is replaced by another source of wavelength , with the interference pattern still observable ?Interference and Young's Experiment
- 7Briefly explain how bright and dark fringes are formed on the screen in Young's double slit experiment. Hence, derive the expression for the fringe width.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 7In a diffraction pattern due to a single slit, how will the angular width of central maximum change, if (i) Orange light is used in place of green light, (ii) the screen is moved closer to the slit, (iii) the slit width is decreased ? Justify your answer in each case.Diffraction
- 6 (b)A plane wavefront of light of wavelength '' is incident normally on a narrow slit of width 'a' and a diffraction pattern is observed on a screen at a distance 'D' from the slit. (i) Depict the intensity distribution in the pattern observed. (ii) Obtain the expression for the first maximum from the central maximum.Diffraction
- 8 (a)A parallel beam of light of wavelength 600 nm is incident normally on a slit of width 0.2 mm. If the resulting diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 1 m away, find the distance of (i) first minimum, and (ii) second maximum, from the central maximum.Diffraction
- 8 (b)A slit of width 0.6 mm is illuminated by a beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 600 nm and 480 nm. The diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 1.0 m from the slit. Find : (i) The distance of the second bright fringe from the central maximum pertaining to light of 600 nm. (ii) The least distance from the central maximum at which bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.Diffraction
- 10How is the spacing between fringes in a double slit experiment affected if : (i) the slits separation is increased, (ii) the colour of light used is changed from red to blue, (iii) the whole apparatus is submerged in a oil of refractive index 1.2 ? Justify your anwer in each case.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 10In a Young's double slit experiment using light of wavelength 600 nm, the slit separation is 0.8 mm and the screen is kept 1.6 m from the plane of the slits. Calculate : (i) the fringe width (ii) the distance of (a) third minimum and (b) fifth maximum, from the central maximum.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 11 (b)(i) State two conditions for two light sources to be coherent. (ii) Give two points of difference between an interference pattern due to a double – slit and a diffraction pattern due to a single slit.Interference and Young's Experiment
- 11 (b)A plane wavefront is propagating from a rarer into a denser medium. Use Huygens principle to show the refracted wavefront and verify Snell's law.Refraction and Reflection of Plane Waves
- The British physicist Thomas Young explained the interference of light using the principle of superposition of waves. He observed the interference pattern on the screen, in his experimental set-up, known now as Young's double slit experiment. The two slits and were illuminated by light from a slit S. The interference pattern consists of dark and bright bands of light. Such bands are called fringes. The distance between two consecutive bright and dark fringes is called fringe width.12 (a)If the screen is moved closer to the plane of slits and , then the fringe width :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The principle of superposition is used to understand the phenomenon of interference of light waves. The principle states that at a particular point, the resultant displacement produced by a number of waves is the vector sum of the displacements produced by each wave. Light waves from two coherent sources produce interference pattern. Thomas Young devised a way to obtain two coherent sources using two identical pinholes ( and ) illuminated by a single monochromatic pinhole source S. Using these sources in his experiment known as Young's double slit experiment, Young studied the interference pattern. The pattern consists of alternate bright and dark fringes. The distance between two successive bright or dark finges depends on the distance between and , the distance of the screen from the plane of and the wavelength of light used.12 (I)Consider the following waves : (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Which pair of the waves coming from two sources and will produce interference ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The principle of superposition is used to understand the phenomenon of interference of light waves. The principle states that at a particular point, the resultant displacement produced by a number of waves is the vector sum of the displacements produced by each wave. Light waves from two coherent sources produce interference pattern. Thomas Young devised a way to obtain two coherent sources using two identical pinholes ( and ) illuminated by a single monochromatic pinhole source S. Using these sources in his experiment known as Young's double slit experiment, Young studied the interference pattern. The pattern consists of alternate bright and dark fringes. The distance between two successive bright or dark finges depends on the distance between and , the distance of the screen from the plane of and the wavelength of light used.12 (II)Two light waves of the same intensity each, having a path difference of , emanating from two coherent sources, meet at a point. The resultant intensity at the point will be
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The British physicist Thomas Young explained the interference of light using the principle of superposition of waves. He observed the interference pattern on the screen, in his experimental set-up, known now as Young's double slit experiment. The two slits and were illuminated by light from a slit S. The interference pattern consists of dark and bright bands of light. Such bands are called fringes. The distance between two consecutive bright and dark fringes is called fringe width.12 (b)What will happen to the pattern on the screen, when the two slits and are replaced by two independent but identical sources ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The British physicist Thomas Young explained the interference of light using the principle of superposition of waves. He observed the interference pattern on the screen, in his experimental set-up, known now as Young's double slit experiment. The two slits and were illuminated by light from a slit S. The interference pattern consists of dark and bright bands of light. Such bands are called fringes. The distance between two consecutive bright and dark fringes is called fringe width.12 (c)Two sources of light are said to be coherent, when both emit light waves of :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The principle of superposition is used to understand the phenomenon of interference of light waves. The principle states that at a particular point, the resultant displacement produced by a number of waves is the vector sum of the displacements produced by each wave. Light waves from two coherent sources produce interference pattern. Thomas Young devised a way to obtain two coherent sources using two identical pinholes ( and ) illuminated by a single monochromatic pinhole source S. Using these sources in his experiment known as Young's double slit experiment, Young studied the interference pattern. The pattern consists of alternate bright and dark fringes. The distance between two successive bright or dark finges depends on the distance between and , the distance of the screen from the plane of and the wavelength of light used.12 (III)Vandana performs Young's double slit experiment by using orange, green and red lights successively. If the fringe widths measured in the three cases are , and respectively, then which of the following is correct ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The principle of superposition is used to understand the phenomenon of interference of light waves. The principle states that at a particular point, the resultant displacement produced by a number of waves is the vector sum of the displacements produced by each wave. Light waves from two coherent sources produce interference pattern. Thomas Young devised a way to obtain two coherent sources using two identical pinholes ( and ) illuminated by a single monochromatic pinhole source S. Using these sources in his experiment known as Young's double slit experiment, Young studied the interference pattern. The pattern consists of alternate bright and dark fringes. The distance between two successive bright or dark finges depends on the distance between and , the distance of the screen from the plane of and the wavelength of light used.12 (IV)In a Young's double slit experiment, the slit separation is 0.8 mm and the interference pattern is obtained on a screen kept 50 cm from the plane of the slits and . If the first bright fringe is formed 0.4 mm from the central maximum, the wavelength of light used is
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The British physicist Thomas Young explained the interference of light using the principle of superposition of waves. He observed the interference pattern on the screen, in his experimental set-up, known now as Young's double slit experiment. The two slits and were illuminated by light from a slit S. The interference pattern consists of dark and bright bands of light. Such bands are called fringes. The distance between two consecutive bright and dark fringes is called fringe width.12 (d)The fringe width in a Young's double slit experiment is . If the whole set-up is immersed in a liquid of refractive index '', then the new fringe width will be :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The principle of superposition is used to understand the phenomenon of interference of light waves. The principle states that at a particular point, the resultant displacement produced by a number of waves is the vector sum of the displacements produced by each wave. Light waves from two coherent sources produce interference pattern. Thomas Young devised a way to obtain two coherent sources using two identical pinholes ( and ) illuminated by a single monochromatic pinhole source S. Using these sources in his experiment known as Young's double slit experiment, Young studied the interference pattern. The pattern consists of alternate bright and dark fringes. The distance between two successive bright or dark finges depends on the distance between and , the distance of the screen from the plane of and the wavelength of light used.12 (V)Consider the effect on the angular separation of the fringes in a Young's double slit experiment due to the following operations : (i) the screen is moved away from the plane of the slits, (ii) the separation between the two slits is increased till fringes are observed. Which of the following options is correct ?
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment - The British physicist Thomas Young explained the interference of light using the principle of superposition of waves. He observed the interference pattern on the screen, in his experimental set-up, known now as Young's double slit experiment. The two slits and were illuminated by light from a slit S. The interference pattern consists of dark and bright bands of light. Such bands are called fringes. The distance between two consecutive bright and dark fringes is called fringe width.12 (e)The total path difference between two waves meeting at points and on the screen are and respectively. Then :
Tap an option to check your answer.
Interference and Young's Experiment
The 10 board questions to practise first
The questions the board asked again come first, most asked first. Each one says how often and when.
Question 1
Asked 3 times: 2022, 2023, 2025
25Using the Huygens' principle, briefly describe reflection of a plane wavefront from a reflecting surface. Hence, prove the laws of reflection.Question 2
Asked 3 times: 2022, 2023, 2025
18Show the refraction of light wave at a plane interface using Huygens’ principle and prove Snell’s law.Question 3
Asked 2 times: 2023, 2026
18 (a)State Huygens principle. How did Huygens justify the absence of the backwave on a spherical wavefront ?Question 4
Asked 2 times: 2022, 2026
33 (a)(i) A parallel beam of monochromatic light falls normally on a single slit of width ‘a’ and a diffraction pattern is observed on a screen placed at distance D from the slits. Explain : (I) the formation of maxima and minima in the diffraction pattern, and (II) why the maxima go on becoming weaker and weaker with its increasing number (n). (ii) Write any two points of difference between interference pattern due to double-slit and diffraction pattern due to single-slit.Question 5
Asked 2 times: 2023, 2026
Two statements are given, one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the options given below.14Assertion (A) : In Young's double-slit experiment, the fringe width for dark and bright fringes is the same. Reason (R) : Fringe width is given by , where symbols have their usual meanings.Tap an option to check your answer.
Question 6
Asked 2 times: 2022*, 2024 (* = numbers or wording changed that year)
18 (a)Monochromatic light of frequency Hz passes from air into a medium of refractive index . Find the wavelength of the light (i) reflected, and (ii) refracted at the interface of the two media.Question 7
This type asked 5 times: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026. This one: 2026
31 (b)(i) What is the difference between a ray and a wavefront ? (ii) A plane wave is incident on a reflecting surface. Using Huygens principle, show how it is reflected from the surface. Hence, verify the law of reflection. (iii) Depict refraction of a plane wave by a convex lens.Question 8
This type asked 4 times: 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026. This one: 2026
33 (b)(i) Two thin converging lenses of focal length and are placed coaxially in contact. Derive expression for the focal length of the combination. (ii) A beam of coherent light of wavelength 550 nm is incident normal to the plane of a pair of two slits and each of width m separated by mm. Dark and bright fringes are observed on a screen m away from the plane of the slits. Calculate : (I) fringe width. (II) distance of the second dark fringe from the central maximum. (III) what will happen when the entire apparatus is immersed in water.Question 9
This type asked 4 times: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026. This one: 2026
10The angular width of interference fringes in Young's double-slit experiment depends onTap an option to check your answer.
Question 10
This type asked 4 times: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. This one: 2025
26(a) Define 'wavefront' of a light wave. A plane wavefront is refracted from a convex lens. Draw the shape of the refracted wavefront. (b) A plane wave travelling in a medium is incident on a plane surface separating this medium from a rarer medium. Draw a diagram to show refraction of the wave. Hence, verify Snell's law.