Chapter 9: Physical Optics

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Phase difference between two points on a wavefront is:
(a) 0 (b) π rad (c) 2π rad (d) π⁄2 rad
2. The distance between two consecutive wavefronts is called:
(a) Time period (b) Frequency (c) Wavelength (d) Displacement
3. A light ray traveling in rare medium reflected from denser medium suffers a phase change of:
(a) 0° (b) 90° (c) 180° (d) 45°
4. Wave theory of light was proposed by:
(a) Newton (b) Huygens (c) Maxwell (d) Einstein
5. Sodium chloride in a flame gives out:
(a) Pure Yellow light (b) Dark blue light
(c) Sky Blue light (d) White light
6. A point source placed in a homogenous medium can produce:
(a) Plane wavefronts (b) Elliptical wavefronts
(c) Spherical wavefronts (d) Cylindrical wavefronts
7. Wavefront is _____________ to the ray of light.
(a) Parallel (b) Perpendicular (c) Antiparallel (d) At 270°
8. Huygen’s stated that each point on a wavefront may be considered as source of:
(a) Ray of light (b) Primary wavelets
(c) Secondary wavelet (d) Wavefront
9. Two waves originating from source S1 and S2 having zero phase difference and common
wavelength λ will show completely destructive interference at a point P if path difference is:
(a) 3λ (b) 3λ⁄4 (c) λ⁄2 (d) 5 λ⁄3
10. Interference exhibits:
(a) Particle nature of light (b) Wave nature of light
(c) Dual Nature of light (d) Longitudinal nature of light
11. YDSE proves:
(a) Particle nature of light (b) Wave nature of light
(c) Dual Nature of light (d) Longitudinal nature of light
12. In Young’s double slit experiment, if wavelength of light is halved then fringe width becomes:
(b) Half (b) Remain same (c) Double (d) Quarter
13. For destructive interference of two coherent waves, path difference should be:
(a) Integral Multiple of λ (b) Integral Multiple of λ/2
(c) Odd Integral Multiple of λ/2 (d) Zero
14. By using transmitted light, the central spot of Newton’s rings appears to be:
(a) Bright (b) Red (c) Blue (d) Dark
15. Sky is blue due to:
(a) Diffraction of light (b) Scattering of light
(c) Refraction of light (d) Interference of light
16. In YDSE, the position of bright fringe is given by:
𝜆𝐿 𝑑𝐿 𝑑 𝑑𝜆
(a) 𝑌𝑚 = 𝑚 (b) 𝑌𝑚 = 𝑚 (c) 𝑌𝑚 = 𝑚 𝐿𝜆 (d) 𝑌𝑚 = 𝑚
𝑑 𝜆 𝐿
17. In YDSE, the distance between two adjacent bright fringes is:
𝜆𝐿 𝑑
(a) ∆𝑌 = 𝑛𝜆 (b) ∆𝑌 = 2𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 (c) ∆𝑌 = (d) ∆𝑌 = 𝜆𝐿
𝑑
18. In YDSE fringe width is ω, if distance between slits is doubled and distance of screen from slit is
halved, new fringe width will be:
 (a) ω (b) 2ω (c) 𝜔⁄2 (d) 𝜔⁄4
19. For which of the following color will the fringe width be minimum in the YDSE?
(a) Violet (b) Red (c) Green (d) Yellow
20. The equation of Michelson’s interferometer is:
𝑚𝜆 𝑚𝜆
(a) 𝐿 = (b) 𝐿 = (c) 𝐿 = 𝑚𝜆 (d)𝐿 = 2𝑑𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
4 2
21. In Michelson’s interferometer, by moving the mirror through a distance of λ/4, the path difference
become:
(a) 0 (b) λ/2 (c) λ (d) λ/4
22. In Michelson’s interferometer, to switch the fringe from bright to dark, the mirror should be
displaced by:
(a) λ/2 (b) λ (c) 2λ (d) λ/4
23. When one mirror of Michelson’s interferometer is moved a distance of 1mm, 4000 fringes are
observed. The wavelength of light being used is:
(a) 2 nm (b) 5 µm (c) 500 nm (d) 5 Å
24. Bending of light around edges of an obstacle is called:
(a) Polarization (b) Diffraction (c) Interference (d) Dispersion
25. Newton’s rings are formed in the result of:
(a) Diffraction (b) Scattering (c) Polarization (d) Interference
26. By using transmitted light, the central spot of Newton’s rings appears to be:
(a) Bright (b) Red (c) Blue (d) Dark
27. In Newton’s ring, central spot appears dark due to:
(a) Phase change (b) Destructive interference (c) Diffraction (d) Both (a) and (b)
28. The values of sinθ and tanθ are almost equal up to:
(c) 0° (b) 10° (c) 12° (d) 90°
29. In a crystalline solid, inter-planer spacing is at the order of:
(a) 10-6 m (b) 10-10 m (c) 10-12 m (d) 10-9 m
30. If apparatus of YDSE is placed in water, fringe spacing will:
(a) Increase (b) Remain Unchanged (c) Decrease (d) None
31. The fringe spacing of blue light is:
(a) Highest (b) Smallest
(c) Less than that of red light (d) Greater than that of green light
32. If light is incident normally on grating with grating element of 3.33 µm for second order maxima,
then wavelength of incident light is:
(a) 1.65 × 10−4 𝑐𝑚 (b) 5.89 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚 (c) 2 × 10−9 𝑐𝑚 (d) 0.5 × 10−4 𝑐𝑚
33. The light of wavelength λ is incident normally on the diffraction grating for which grating element
is 3λ. What will be the angle of diffraction in second order maxima?
(a) sin−1(1⁄6) (b) sin−1(1⁄3) (c) sin−1(2⁄3) (d) sin−1(3⁄2)
34. When monochromatic light of wavelength 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝒎 is incident normally on a plane diffraction
grating, the second order diffraction lines are formed at angle of 30° to the normal to the grating.
What is the number of lines per mm of the grating?
(a) 250 (b) 500 (c) 1000 (d) 2000
35. X-box remote transmit waves traveling with the speed of:
(a) Light waves (b) X-rays (c) Water waves (d) Both (a) and (b)
36. One-meter distance is equivalent to the ________ wavelengths of red cadmium light.
(a) 1,559,163.5 (b) 1,553,163.5 (c) 1,553,169.5 (d) 1,553,161.5
37. Bragg’s law was devised in:
(a) 1678 (b) 1801 (c) 1914 (d) 1947
38. Bragg’s law is given by:
 2 sin 𝜃 𝑚𝜆 𝑚𝜆 2𝑚𝜆
(b) 𝑑 = (b) 𝑑 = (c) 𝑑 = 2sin 𝜃 (d) 𝑑 = sin 𝜃
𝑚𝜆 sin𝜃⁄2
39. Ratio of wavelength of X-Rays to that of visible light with least wavelength is:
(a) 2.5 × 10−3 (b) 5.2 × 10−5 (c) 2.5 × 10−4 (d) 0.5 × 10−9
40. Crystalline materials can behave like:
(a) Mirror (b) Concave Lens
(c) Convex Lens (d) Diffraction Grating
Short Questions
1. Define light, ray of light, wavefront, plane wavefront and spherical wavefront.
2. What was the idea of Huygens about light?
3. How one can obtain plane waves?
4. State Huygens’ principle.
5. How one can produce two coherent light beams?
6. Write down the conditions to observe interference of light.
7. How fringe width can be increased in Young’s double slit experiment?
8. An oil film spreading over a wet footpath shows colors. Explain how does it happens?
9. Why Newton’s rings are circular?
10. Write down uses of Michelson’s interferometer.
11. Express meter in terms of wavelength of light used in Michelson’s interferometer.
12. Differentiate diffraction and interference of light.
13. Define diffraction grating and grating element.
14. 5000 lines per centimeter has been ruled on a diffraction grating. Find its grating element.
15. Why it is impossible to have diffraction of x-rays from diffraction grating?
16. What is Bragg’s law. Derive Bragg’s equation.
17. Write down uses of diffraction of X-rays by crystals.
Long Questions
1. Discuss Young’s double slit experiment. Drive expression for fringe spacing.
2. Explain construction and working of Michelson’s interferometer. Also write down its uses.
3. What is diffraction grating? Explain diffraction using diffraction grating.
4. Explain diffraction of X-rays by crystals. Derive Bragg’s equation. Write its uses.