Physics MCQs for Class 12 with Answers Chapter 10

Wave Optics

Q.1. The locus of all particles in a medium, vibrating in the same phase is
called
(a)wavelet
(b)fringe
(c)wavefront
(d) None of these

AnswerAnswer: (c)
Q.2. Which of the following is correct for light diverging from a point
source?
(a) The intensity decreases in proportion for the distance squared.
(b)Thewavefrontisparabolic.
(c) The intensity at the wavelingth does depend of the distance.
(d) None of these.

AnswerAnswer: (a)
Q.3. Wavefront is the locus of all points, where the particles of the
medium vibrate with the same
(a) phase
(b) amplitude
(c) frequency
(d) period

AnswerAnswer: (a) Wavefront is the locus of all points, where the

particles of the medium vibrate with the same phase.
Q.4. The phenomena which is not explained by Huygen’s construction of
wavefront
(a) reflection
(b) diffraction
(c) refraction
(d) origin of spectra

AnswerAnswer: (d) The Huygen’s construction of wavefront does not

explain the phenomena of origin of spectra.
Q.5. Huygen’s concept of secondary wave
(a) allows us to find the focal length of a thick lens
(b) is a geometrical method to find a wavefront
(c) is used to determine the velocity of light
(d) is used to explain polarisation

AnswerAnswer: (b) Huyghen’s principle gives us a geometrical method of

tracing a wavefront.
Q.6. A plane wave passes through a convex lens. The geometrical shape of
the wavefront that emerges is
(a) plane
(b) diverging spherical
(c) converging spherical
(d) None of these

AnswerAnswer: (c) Converging spherical

Q.7. Spherical wavefronts, emanating from a point source, strike a plane
reflecting surface. What will happen to these wave fronts, immediately
after reflection?
(a) They will remain spherical with the same curvature, both in magnitude
and sign.
(b) They will become plane wave fronts.
(c) They will remain spherical, with the same curvature, but sign of
curvature reversed.
(d) They will remain spherical, but with different curvature, both in
magnitude and sign.

AnswerAnswer: (c)
Q.8. When light suffers reflection at the interface between water and glass,
the change of phase in the reflected wave is
(a) zero
(b) π
(c) π/2
(d) 2π

AnswerAnswer: (b) Phase reversal occurs i.e. phase change = π takes place
on reflection, because glass is much denser than water.
Q.9. Two plane wavefronts of light, one incident on a thin convex lens and
another on the refracting face of a thin prism. After refraction at them, the
emerging wavefronts respectively become
(a) plane wavefront and plane wavefront
(b) plane wavefront and spherical wavefront
(c) spherical wavefront and plane wavefront
(d) spherical wavefront and spherical wavefront
(e) elliptical wavefront and spherical wavefront

AnswerAnswer: (c) Emerging wavefront will be spherical from convex

lens and plane wavefront from the prism.
Q.10. When a film is illuminated by white light, its upper portion appears
dark. Path difference between two reflected beams at the spot must be
(a) zero
(b) λ/2
(c) 2 λ/2
(d) π

AnswerAnswer: (b)
Q.11. If two coherent sources are vibrating in phase then we have
constructive interference at any point P whenever the path difference is

(a) (n+1/2)λ
(b) nλ/2
(c) (n-1/2)λ
(d) nλ

AnswerAnswer: (d) When path difference = λ (n = 0, 1, 2…) the resultant

intensity is 4I0.
Q.12. If two sources are coherent, then the phase difference (􀁉) between
the waves produced by them at any point
(a) will change with time and we will have stable positions of maxima and
minima.

(b) will not change with time and we have unstable positions of maxima
and minima.
(c) Positions of will not change with time and we will have stable positions
of maxima and minima.
(d) will change with time and we will have unstable positions of maxima
and minima.
AnswerAnswer: (c)
Q.13. The device which produces highly coherent sources is
(a) Fresnel biprism
(b) Young’s double slit
(c) Laser
(d) Lloyd’s mirror

AnswerAnswer: (c) Highly coherent sources are produced using laser.

Q.14. Which of the following, cannot produce two coherent sources?
(a) Lloyd’s mirror
(b) Fresnel biprism
(c) Young’s double slit
(d) Prism

AnswerAnswer: (d) A prism cannot produce coherent sources.

Q.15. Coherence is a measure of
(a) capability of producing interference by wave
(b) waves being diffracted
(c) waves being reflected
(d) waves being refracted

AnswerAnswer: (a) Coherence is a measure of capability of producing

interference by waves.
Q.16. Two sources of light are said to be coherent, when they give light
waves of same
(a) amplitude and phase
(b) wavelength and constant phase difference
(c) intensity and wavelength
(d) phase and speed

AnswerAnswer: (b) For coherent sources λ is same and phase is also same
or phase diff. is constant.
Q.17. Intensity of light depends on
(a) amplitude
(b) frequency
(c) wavelength
(d) velocity
AnswerAnswer: (a) According to wave theory, intensity of light is directly
proportional to square of amplitude.
Q.18. The colour of bright fringe nearest to central achromatic
fringe in the interference pattern with white light will be
(a) violet
(b) red
(c) green
(d) yellow

AnswerAnswer: (a) As β=λD/d ⇒β α λ

As λ for violet is least, therefore, fringe nearest to central achromatic
fringe will be violet.
Q.19. The correct formula for fringe visibility is
(a) V=(Imax-Imin)/(Imax+Imin)
(b) V=(Imax+Imin)/(Imax-Imin)
(c) V=Imax/Imin
(d) V=Imin/Imax

AnswerAnswer: (a)
Q.20. Laser light is considered to be coherent because it consists of
(a) many wavelengths
(b) uncoordinated wavelengths
(c) coordinated waves of exactly the same wavelength
(d) divergent beam

AnswerAnswer: (c) Laser light is coherent, because it consists of

coordinated (parallel) waves of exactly same wavelength (i.e
monochromatic wave).
Q.21. The interfering fringes formed by a thin oil film on water are seen in
yellow light of sodium lamp. We find the fringes
(a) coloured
(b) black and white
(c) yellow and black
(d) coloured without yellow

AnswerAnswer: (a) Bright fringes are yellow and dark fringes are black.
Q.22. In Young’s Double slit experiment, if the distance
between the slit and screen (D) is comparable with fringe
width (B), the fringe pattern on screen will
(a) strictly be a parabola
(b) strictly be a hyperbola
(c) be a elliptical
(d) be a straight line

AnswerAnswer: (b) This time he saw a number of dark lines, regularly

spaced; the first clear proof that light added to light can produce darkness.
Q.23. If Young’s double slit experiment is performed in water
keeping the rest of the set-up same, the fringes will
(a) increase in width
(b) decrease in width
(c) remain unchanged
(d) not be formed

AnswerAnswer: (b) The wavelength of light in water (λw=λa/μ) is less than

that in air. When the set-up is immersed in water, fringe width β(α λ) will
decrease.
Q.24. In the Young’s Double slit experiment, when we place a converging
lens after the slits and place the screen at the focus of the lens, it
(a) introduces an extra path difference in the parallel beam.
(b) introduces no path difference in the parallel beam.
(c) introduces an extra phase difference in the parallel beam.
(d) introduces an extra fringe in the diffraction pattern.

AnswerAnswer: (b) Introducing a converging lens in the path of parallel

beam does not introduce any extra path differences in a parallel beam.
Rather it gives a more intense pattern on the screen.
Q.25. The fringe width for red colours as compared to that for violet
colour is approximately
(a) 3 times
(b) 2 times
(c) 4 times
(d) 8 times

AnswerAnswer: (b)As, β α λ
βred is roughly double of βviolet
Q.26. In Young’s double slit experiment, the minimum amplitude is
obtained when the phase difference of super-imposing waves is (where n =
1, 2, 3, …)
(a) zero
(b) (2 n – 1) π
(c) n π
(d) (n + 1) π

AnswerAnswer: (b) For minima, phase diff. = odd integral multiple of π =

(2n-1)π
Q.27. The fringe width in a Young’s double slit experiment can
be increased if we decrease
(a) width of slits
(b) separation of slits
(c) wavelength of light used
(d) distance between slits and screen

AnswerAnswer: (a) β=λD/d

Q.28. In Young’s double slit experiment, one slit is covered with
red filter and another slit is covered by green filter, then
interference pattern will be
(a) red
(b) green
(c) yellow
(d) invisible

AnswerAnswer: (d) Interference pattern will be invisible, because red and

green are complimentary colours.
Q.29. Instead of using two slits, if we use two separate identical sodium
lamps in Young’s experiment, which of the following will occur?
(a) General illumination
(b) Widely separate interference
(c) Very bright maxima
(d) Very dark minima

AnswerAnswer: (a) There will be general illumination as super imposing

waves do not have constant phase difference.
Q.30. Which of the following is not essential for two sources of light in
Young’s double slit experiment to produce a sustained interference?
(a) Equal wavelength
(b) Equal intensity
(c) Constant phase relationship
(d) Equal frequency

AnswerAnswer: (b) Wavelength/frequency must be same and phase

difference must be constant for producing sustained interference.
Q.31. In Young’s double slit experiment, the locus of the point P lying in a
plane with a constant path difference between the two interfering waves is
(a) a hyperbola
(b) a straight line
(c) an ellipse
(d) a parabola

AnswerAnswer: (a)
Q.32. If the width of the slit in single slit diffraction experiment is
doubled, then the central maximum of diffraction pattern becomes
(a) broader and brighter
(b) sharper and brighter
(c) sharper and fainter
(d) broader adn fainter.

AnswerAnswer: (b) Width of central maximum in diffraction pattern due

to single slit = 2λD/d where λ is the wavelength, D is the distance between
screen and slit and ‘a’ is the slit width. As the slit width a increases, width
of central maximum becomes sharper or narrower. As same energy is
distributed over a smaller area. therefore central maximum becomes
brigther.
Q.33. A diffraction pattern is obtained by using beam of red. light what
will happen, if red light is replaced by the blue light?
(a) Bands disappear.
(b) Bands become broader and farther apart.
(c) No change will take place.
(d) Diffraction bands become narrow and crowded together.

AnswerAnswer: (d) When red light is replaced by blue light the diffraction
bands become narrow and crowded.
Q.34. When monochromatic light is replaced by white light in Fresnel’s
biprism arrangement, the central fringe is
(a) coloured
(b) white
(c) dark
(d) None of these

AnswerAnswer: (b) At the centre, all colours meet in phase, hence central
fringe is white.
Q.35. The condition for observing Fraunhoffer diffraction from a single
slit is that the light wavefront incident on the slit should be
(a) spherical
(b) cylindrical
(c) plane
(d) elliptical

AnswerAnswer: (c) Because both source & screen are effectively at

infinite distance from the diffractive device
Q.36. The phenomenon of diffraction can be treated as interference
phenomenon if the number of coherent sources is
(a) one
(b) two
(c) zero
(d) infinity

AnswerAnswer: (d) Diffraction on a single slit is equivalent to interference

of light from infinite number of coherent sources contained in the slit.
Q.37. The diffraction effects in a microscopic specimen become important
when the separation between two points is
(a) much greater than the wavelength of light used.
(b) much less than the wavelength of light used.
(c) comparable to the wavelength of light used.
(d) independent of the wavelength of light used.

AnswerAnswer: (c) When the wavelength of light used is comparable with

the separation between two points, the image of the object will be a Φ
diffraction pattern whose size will be,
θ=1.22λ/D, where λ = wavelength of light used; D= diameter of the
objective
Two objects whose images are closer than this distance, will not be
resolved.
Q.38. What is the Brewester’s angle for air to glass transition?( μag = 1.5)
(a) tan (1.5)
(b) sin (1.5)
(c) sin–1 (1.5)
(d) tan–1 (1.5)

AnswerAnswer: (d)
Q.39. When ordinary light is made incident on a quarter wave plate, the
emergent light is
(a) linearly polarised
(b) circulary polarised
(c) unpolarised
(d) elliptically polarised

AnswerAnswer: (d)
Q.40. Transverse nature of light was confirmed by the phenomenon of
(a) refreaction of light
(b) diffraction of light
(c) dispersion of light
(d) polarization of light

AnswerAnswer: (d) The phenomenon of polarization confirmed that light

is a transverse wave.
Q.41. In the case of linearly polarized light, the magnitude of the electric
field vector
(a) is parallel to the direction of propagation
(b) does not changes with time
(c) increases linearly with time
(d) varies periodically with time

AnswerAnswer: (d) In the case of linearly polarised light the magnitued of

th electric field vector varies periodically with time.
Q.42. Unpolarized light is incident on a plane glass surface The angle of
incidence so that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each
other, them
(a) tan iβ = μ/2
(b) tan iβ = μ
(c) sin iβ = μ
(d) cos iβ = μ

AnswerAnswer: (b) Brewster’s law is given by μ tan iβ

Q.43. Light waves can be polarised because they
(a) have high frequencies
(b) have short wavelength
(c) are transverse
(d) can be reflected

AnswerAnswer: (c) Light waves can be polarized because they are

transverse in nature.
Q.44. Light transmitted by nicol prism is
(a) unpolarised
(b) plane polarised
(c) circularly polarised
(d) elliptically polarised

AnswerAnswer: (b) Light transmitted by nicol prism is plane polarised.

Q.45. Optically active substances are those substances which
(a) produces polarised light
(b) produces double refraction
(c) rotate the plane of polarisation of polarised light
(d) converts a plane polarised light into circularly polarised light.

AnswerAnswer: (c) Such substances rotate the plane of polarised light.

Q.46. Polaroid glass is used in sun glasses because
(a) it reduces the light intensity to half on account of polarisation
(b) it is fashionable
(c) it has good colour
(d) it is cheaper.

AnswerAnswer: (a) Polaroid glass polarises light reducing the light

intensity to half its original value.
Q.47. In the propagation of light waves, the angle between the plane of
vibration and plane of polarisaiton is
(a) 0º
(b) 90º
(c) 45º
(d) 80º

AnswerAnswer: (b) Angle between plane of vibration and plane of

polarisation is 90º.
Q.48. In the propagation of electromagnetic waves, the angle between the
direction of propagation and plane of polarisation is
(a) 0º
(b) 45º
(c) 90º
(d) 180º

AnswerAnswer: (a) Plane of vibration is ⊥ to direction of propagation and

also ⊥ to plane of polarisation. Therefore, angle between plane of
polarisation and direction of propagation is 0º.
Q.49. When unpolarised light is incident on a plane glass plate at
Brewster’s angle, then which of the following statements is correct?
(a) Reflected and refracted rays are completely polarised with their planes
of polarization parallel to each other
(b) Reflected and refracted rays are completely polarised with their planes
of polarization perpendicular to each other
(c) Reflected light is plane polarised but transmitted light is partially
polarised
(d) Reflected light is partially polarised but refracted light is plane
polarised

AnswerAnswer: (c) At Brewster’s angle, only the reflected light is plane

polarised, but transmitted light is partially polarised.
Q.50. From Brewster’s law of polarisation, it follows that the anlge of
polarisaiton depends upon
(a) the wavelength of light
(b) plane of polarisation’s orientation
(c) plane of vibration’s orientation
(d) None of these

AnswerAnswer: (a) At Brewster’s angle, only the reflected light is plane

polarised, but transmitted light is partially polarised.