1.

WAVES
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS ( 8 M)

1. Explain the formation of stationary wave in an air column enclosed in open pipe. Derive the
equations for the frequencies of the harmonics produced? *
2. How are stationary waves formed in closed pipes? explain the various modes of vibrations
and obtain relations for their frequencies?*
3. Explain the formation of stationary waves in stretched strings and hence deduce the laws of
transverse waves in stretched string? *
4. What are beats? Obtain an expression for the beat frequency. Where and how are beats made
use of?*

PROBLEMS

1. A stretched wire of length 0.6 m is observed to vibrate with a frequency of 30 Hz in the

fundamental mode. if the string has a linear mass of 0.05 kg/m find
a. the velocity of propagation of transverse waves in the string
b. the tension in the string.
2. A steel wire 0.72m long has a mass of 5.0 x 10 − 3 kg. If the wire is under a tension of 60N,
what is the speed of transverse waves, in the wire?
3. A closed organ pipe 70 cm long is sounded. if the velocity of sound is 331 m/s, what is the
fundamental frequency of vibration of the air column? *
4.
A pipe 30 cm long is open at both ends. Find the fundamental frequency. Velocity of sound in
a air is 330 ms − 1
5. A rocket is moving at a speed of 200 ms − 1 towards a stationary target. while moving, it emitrs
a wave of frequency 1000Hz. Calculate (1) the frequency of the sound as detected by the
target
6. A open organ pipe 85 cm long is sound. If the velocity of sound is 340 m/s, what is the
fundamental frequency of vibration of the air column?
7. A string has a length of 0.4m and a mass of 0.16g. If the tension in the string is 70N , what are
the three lowest frequencies it produces when plucked?
8. A vertical tube is made to stand in water so that the water level can be adjusted. Sound waves
of frequency 320 Hz are sent into the top of the tube. if standing waves are produced at two
successive water levels of 20 cm and 73 cm, what is the speed of sound waves in the air in the
tube?
9. Two organ pipes of lengths 65 cm and 70 cm respectively, are sounded simultaneously. How
many beats per second will be produced between the fundamental frequencies of the two
pipes? (Velocity of sound = 330 m/s)*

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. The air column in a long tube closed at one end, is set in vibration. what harmonics are
possible in the vibrating air column?
2. If the air column in a tube, open at both ends, is set in vibration. What harmonics are
possible?
3. distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves?
4. What is the phase difference between the incident and reflectd waves when the wave is
reflected by a rigid boundary?
5. what is stationary or standing wave?
6. What do you understand by the terms ‘node’ and ‘antinode’?
7. Wht is the distance between a node and antinode in a stationary wave?
8. What is the principle of superposition of waves?
9. what are beats?
10. Write the expression for beat frequency?

2. RAY OPTICS AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. Define critical angle. Explain total internal reflection using a neat diagram? *
2. Explain the formation of a rainbow?*
3. With a neat labeled diagram explain the formation of image in a simple microscope? *
4. Explain the formation of a mirage?*
5. Why does the setting sun appear red? *

PROBLEMS

1. The focal length of a concave lens is 30 cm. where shold an object be placed so that its image
1
is of its size?
10
2. A light wave of frequency 4 x 10 14 Hz and a wavelength of 5 x 10 − 7 m passes through a
medium. estimate the refractive index of the medium.
3. Two lenses of power − 1.75D and +2.25D respectively, are placed in contact. Calculate the
focal length of the combination.
4. a double convex lens of focal length 15 cm is used as a magnifying glass in order to produce
an erect image which is 3 times magnified. What is the distance between the object and the
lens?
5. What focal length should the reading spectacles have a person for whom the least distance of
distinct vision is 50 cm.

VERYSHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. Define ‘power’ of a Convex lens. What is its unit?

2. What is dispersion? Which colour gets relatively more dispersed?
3. what is myopia? How can it be corrected?
4. what is hypermetropia? How can it be corrected?
5. A small angled prism of 4o deviates a ray through 2.48o. find the refractive index of the prism
6. Define focal length and radius of curvature of a concave lens.
7. What is optical density and how is it different from mass density?

3. WAVE OPTICS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. Derive the expression o for the intensity at a point where interference of flight occurs. arrive at
conditions for maximum and ero intensity. *
2. Does the principle of conservation of energy hold for interference and diffraction phenomena?
explain briefly?

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. What is Fresnel distance?
2. Give the justification for validity of ray optics?
3. What change will occur in Young’s double slit experiment if the whole apparatus is immersed
in water rather than air?

4. ELECTRIC CHARGES & FIELDS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. State and explain Coulomb’s inverse square law ain electricity *
2. Define intensity of electric field at a point. Derive an expression for the intensity due to a point
charge. *
3. Derive an expression for the intensity of electric field at a point on the axial line of a dipole *
4. Derive an expression for the intensity of the electric field at a point on the equatorial plane of
an electric dipole. *
5. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics and its importance
6. Derive an equation for the couple acting on a electric dipole in a uniform electric field.

PROBLEMS
1. An electri dipole with dipole moment 4 x 10 − 9 Cm is aligned at 30o with the direction of a
uniform electric field of magnitude 5 x 104 NC − 1. Calculate the magnitude of the torque acting
on the dipole.
2. What is the force between two small charged spheres having charges of 2 x 10 − 7 C and 3 x
10 − 7 C placed 30 cm apart in air?

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. What is meant by the statement ‘charge is quantized’?

2. Repulsion is the sure test of electrification than attraction. why?
3. How many electrons constitute 1C of charge.
4. What happens to the weight of a body when it is charged positively
5. what happens to the force between two charges if the distance between them is
 a. halved b. doubled
6. The electric lines of force do not intersect why?
7. Consider two charges +q and − q placed at B and C of an equilateral triangle ABC. For this
system, the total charge is zero. But the electric field (intensity) at A which is equidistance
from B and C is not zero. why?
8. Electrostatic field lines of force do not form closed loops. If they form closed loops then the
work done in moving a charge along a closed path will not be zero. From the above two
statement can you guess the nature of electrostatic force?
9. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics
10. When will be the electric flux negative? and when is it positive?
11. Write the expression for electric intensity due to infinite long charged wire, at a radial distance r
from the wire
12. Write the expression for electric intensity due to an infinite plane sheet of charge
13. Write the expression for electric intensity due to a charged conducting spherical shell at points
outside and inside the shell.

5. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AN CAPACITANCE

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor *
2. Derive an expression for the electric potential due to point charge
3. Explain behavior of dieletrics in an electric field*
4. Explain series combination of capacitors. Derive the formula for equivalent capacitance *
5. Explain parallel combination of capacitors. Derive the formula for equivalent capacitance *

PROBLEMS
1. In a hydrogen atom the electron and proton are at a distance of 0.5 Ao. the dipole moment
of the system is
2. Three capacitors each of capacitance 9pF are connected in series
a. What is the total capacitance of the combination
b. What is the potential differene across each capacitor if the combination is connected
to a 120V supply?
3. Three capacitors of capacitances 2pF, 3pF and 4pF are connected in parallel
a. What is the total capacitance of the combination?
b. Determine the charge on each capacitor if the combination is connected to a 100V
supply.
4. In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of 6 x 10 − 3
m2 and the distance between the plates is 3 mm. Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor.
If this capacitor is conneted to a 100V supply, what is the charge on each plate of the
capacitor?
5. A 12pF capacitor is connected to a 50V battery. How much electrostatic energy is stored in
the capacitor?
 VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)
1. Can thee be electric potential at a point with zero electric intensity? give an example
2. Can thee be electric intensity at a point with zero electric potential? give an example
3. what are meant by equipotential surfaces?
4. Why is the electric field always at right angles to the equipotential surface? explain
5. Three capacitors of capacitances 1  F, 2  F and 3  F are connected in parallel
a. What is the ratio of charges?
b. What is the ratio of potential differences?
6. Three capacitors of capacitances 1  F, 2  F and 3  F are connected in series
a. What is the ratio of charge
b. What is the ratio of potential differences?
7. What happens to the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor if the area of its plates is
doubled
8. The dielectric strength of air is 3 x 106V/m at certain pressure, a parallel plate capacitor
with air in between the plates has a plate separation of 1cm. Can you charge the capacitor
to 3 x 106V.

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (8M)

1. State kirchhoff’s laws for electrical network. Using these laws deduce the condition for
balancing in a wheat stone bridge*
2. State the working principle of potentiometer. Explain with the help of circuit diagram how
the emf of two secondary cells are compared by using the potentiometer. *

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. State the working principle of potentiometer explain with the help of circuite diagram.
How the potentiometer is used to determine the internal resistance of the given primary
cell.
2. A battery of emf 10V and internal resistance 3  , is connected to a resistor ‘r’
a. If the current in the circuit is 0.5A. Calculate the value of ‘R’?
b. What is the terminal voltage of the battery when the circuit is closed
3. Three identical resistors are connected in parallel and the total resistance of the circuit is
R
. Find the value of each resistance
3

PROBLEMS
1. A wire of resistance 4R is bent in the form of a circle. what is the effective resistance
between the ends of the diameter?
2. Find the resistivity of a conductor which carries a current of density of 2.5 x 106 A m − 2
when an electric field of 15 Vm − 1 is applied across it.
3. What is the colour code for a resistor of resistance 350 M  with 5% tolerance?
4. you are given 8  resistor. what length of wire of resistivity 120  should be joined in
parallel with it to get a value of 6  ? (Area of corss − section is 25 m2) *
5. Three resistors 3  , 6  and 9  are connected to a battery. In which of them will the
power dissipatin be maximum if (a) they all are connected in parallel (b) they all are
connected in sries? Give reasons*
6. A silver wire has a resistance of 2.1  at 27.5oC and a resistance of 2.7  at 100oC.
Determine the temperature coefficeitn of resistivity of silver *
7. Two bulbs whose resistances are in the rtio of 1:2 are connected in parallel to a source of
constant voltage. what will be the ratio of power dissipation in these?
8. A potentiometer wire is 5m long and a potential difference of 6V is maintained between its
ends. find the emf of a cell which balances against a length of 180 cm of the potentiometer
wire.
9. Amount of chare passing through the cross section of a wire is q ( t ) = at + bt + c . Write
2

the dimensional formula for a, b and c. If the values of a, b and c in SI unit are 6,4,2
respectively, find the value of current at t = 6 seconds. *

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. Define mean free path of electron in a conductor.
2. State Ohm’s law and write its mathematical form
3. Define resistivity or specific resistance
4. Define temperature coefficient of resistance
5. Under what conditions is the current through the mixed grouping of cells maximum
6. Why is manganin used for making standard resistors?
7. The sequence of bands marked on a carbon resistor are: red, Redl Red, Rd, silver. what is its
restance and tolerance?
8. Write the colour code of a carbon resistor of resistance 23 kilo ohms
9. If the voltage V applied across a conductor is increased to 2V, how will the drift velocity of the
electrons change?
10. Why are household appliances connected in parallel?

MOVING CHARGES AND MAGNETISM

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. State and explain Biot − Savart law*

2. State and explain ampere’s law
3. Derive an expression for the magnetic induction at the centre of a current carrying circular
coil using Biot − savart law? *
4. Find the magnetic induction intensity B due to a long current carrying conductor?
5. How can a galvanometer be converted to an ammeter? Why is the parallel resistance
smaller than the galvanometer resistance? *
6. How can galvanometer be converted to a voltmeter? why is the series resistance greater
than the galvanometer resistance? *
7. Derive an expression for the force acting between two parallel current carrying conductors
and hence define the ampere.

PROBLEMS
1. A current of 10A passes through two very long wires held parallel to each other and separated
by a distance of 1m. What is the force per unit length between them. *
2. A Square coil of side 10 cm consists of 20 turns and carries a current of 12A.. The coil is
suspended vertically and the normal to the plane of the coil makes an angle of 30o with the
direction of a uniform horizontal magnetic field of magnitude 0.80T. What is the magnitude of
torque experienced by the coil?
3. What is the magnitude of magnetic force per unit length on a wire carrying a current of 8A and
making an angle of 30o with the direction of a uniform magnetic field of 0.15 T?
4. A moving coil galvanometer can measure a current of 10 − 6A. what is the resistance of the
shunt required of if it is to measure 1A? *
5. The resistance of MCG is 5  . The maximum current it can measure is 0.015A. How would
you convert it into voltmeter to measure 1.5 Volts? *
6. Two long and parallel straight wires A and B carrying currents of 8.0 a and 5.0 a in the
same direction are separated by a distance of 4.0 cm. estimate the force on a 10 cm section
of wire a.
7. A circular coil fo wire consisting of 100 turns, each of radius 8.0 cm carries a current of
0.40 a. What is the magnitude of the magnetic field B at the centre of the coil?
8. A 100 turn closely wound circular coil of radius 10 cm carries a current of 3.2A *
a. What is the field at the centre of the coil
b. What is the magnetic moment of this coil
9. A long straight wire carries a current of 35A. what is the magnitude of the field B at a point
20 cm from the wire?

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. Distinguish between ammeter and voltmeter?
2. what is the principle of a moving coil galvanometer?
3. what is the smallest value of current that can be measured with a moving coil
galvanometer?
4. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer into an ammeter?
5. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer into a voltmeter?
6. What is the importance of oersted’s experiement?
7. State Ampere’s law and Biot − savart’s law
8. A circular coil of radius ‘r’ having ‘N’ turns carries a current ‘I’. what is its magnetic
moment?
9. What is the force on a charged particle of charge ‘q’ moving with a velocity ‘V’ in a uniform
magnetic field of inductin B? when doe it become maximum?
10. What is the force on a conductor of length ‘L’ carrying current ‘I’ placed in a
magnetic field of induction B? When does it become maximum?
11. What is the relation between the permittivity of free space Eo, the permeability of
free space  oand the speed of light in vacuum?

MAGNETISM AND MATTER

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4M)

1. How do you distinguish dia, Para and Ferromagnetisms in matter *

2. Obtain Gauss law for magnetism and explain it.

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M)

1. Classify the following materials with regard to magnetism:
a. Manganese b. Cobalt c. Nickel d. bismuth e. oxygen f. Copper
2. What are the units of Magnetic moment, magnetic induction and magnetic field?
3. Define magnetic inclination (or) angle of dip
4. Define magnetic declination
5. What direction compass needle points at poles? which needle to be used at poles?
6. Magnetic lines of force form continuous closed loops. why?
7. What do you understand by the “magnetization” of a sample?
8. Define Magnetic susceptibility? Mention its unit
9. What is the magnetic moment associated with a solenoid?
10. State Gauss law for Magnetism?

ELECTRO MAGNETIC INDUCTION

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. Obtain an expression for the emf induced across a conductor which is moved in a uniform
magnetic field which is perpendicular to the plane of motion *
2. Describe the ways in which Eddy currents are used to advantage*

ALTERNATING CURRENT

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. State the principle on which a transformer works. Describe the working of a transformer
with necessary theory.
 VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. A transformer converts 200V A.C into 2000V A.C. calculate the number of turns in the
secondary if the primary has 10 turns.
2. What type of transformer is used in a 6V bed lamp?
3. What is the phenomenon involved in the working of a transformer
4. What is transformer ratio?
5. State the expression for the reactance of
(i) an inductor and (ii) a capacitor.
6. What is the phase difference between ac emf and current in the following?
i) Pure resistor ii) Pure inductor iii) Pure capacitor
7. When does a LCR series circuit have minimum impedance?
8. What is the step up transformer? How it differs from step down transformer?
9. In a transformer the primary to secondary terms ratio is 1 : 2. If an Ac current of 4A is
flowing through primary. What is the current in secondary?

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. Write any two use of Infrared Waves. Which animal can detect Infrared Waves?
2. What are the applications of microwaves?
3. Microwaves are used in Radars, why?
4. What is the principle of production of electromagnetic waves?
5. What is the relation between the amplitudes of the electric and magnetic field in free
space for an electromagnetic wave?

DUAL NATURE OF RADIATION AND MATTER

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. What is the effect of (i) intensity of light (ii) potential on photoelectric current?

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. What are “cathode rays”?

2. What important fact did Millikan’s experiment establish?
3. What is ‘work function”?
4. What is “photoelectric effect”?
5. Write down Einstein’s photoelectric equation.
6. Write down de-Broglie’s relation and explain the terms therein.
7. State Heisenberg’s Uncertainty principle.
 ATOMS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. What are the limitations of Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom?

Limitations of Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom*
2. Explain the different types of spectral series. *
3. Write a short note on Debroglie’s explanation of Bohr’s second postulate of
quantization.

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. What is the angular momentum of electron in the second orbit of Bohr’s model of
hydrogen atom?
2. What is the physical meaning of ‘negative energy of an electron’
3. Sharp lines are present in the spectrum of a gas. What does this indicate?
4. Name of physical quantity whose dimensions are the same as those of angular
momentum
5. Give two drawbacks of Rutherford’s atomic model.

NUCLEI

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (8 M)

1. Explain the principle and working of a nuclear reactor with the help of a labeled
diagram. *

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. Distinguish between nuclear fission and nuclear fussion? *

PROBLEMS

1. Compare the radii of the nuclei of mass number 27 and 64

235
2. If one microgram of 92 U is completely destroyed in an atom bomb, how much energy
will be released?

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. What are isotopes and isobars?

2. What are isotones and isomers?
3. What is a.m.u? What is its equivalent energy?
4. What will be the ratio of the radii of two nuclei of mass numbers A1 and A 2 ?
5. What is the role of control rods in a nuclear reaction?
6. Why are nuclear fusion reactions called thermo nuclear reactions?

SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRONICS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. Describe how a semiconductor is used as a half wave rectifier.*

2. What is rectification? Explain the working of full wave rectifier? *
3. Distinguish between half wave and full wave refiters
4. Define NAND and NOR gates. Give their truth tables.

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. What is an n-type semiconductor? What are the majority and minority charge carriers in
it?
2. What are intrinsic and extrinsic semi-conductors?
3. What is a p-type semiconductor? What are the majority and minority charge carriers in
it?
4. What is a p-n junction diode? Define depletion layer?
5. How is a battery connected to a junction diode in
(i) Forward bias (ii) Reverse dias
6. What is the maximum percentage rectification in half wave and full wave rectifiers?
7. Write the expressions for the efficiency of a full wave rectifier and a half wave rectifier.
8. What happens to the width of the depletion layer in a p-n junction diode when it is
i) Forward biases ii) Reverse biased?
9. Draw the circuit symbols for p-n-p and n-p-n Transistors.
10. Which gates are called Universal gates?

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 M)

1. Draw the block diagram of a generalized communication system and explain it briefly. *

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2 M)

1. What are the basic blocks of a communication system?

2. What is “World Wide Web” (WWW)?
3. Mention the Frequency range of speech signals.
4. What is sky wave propagation?
5. Define modulation. Why is it necessary?
 6. Mention Basic methods of modulation.
7. Which type of communication is employed in mobile phones?

NOTE: 1) “*” marked questions are Very Important. Give more concentration

2) Read ALL VSAQ’s