Wave optics

Practice questions

1Mark questions

• What type of wavefront will emerge from a

(i) point source, and (ii) distance light source?

Ans. (i) For point source, wavefront will be spherical.(ii) For a distant light
source, the wavefronts will be plane wavefronts

. • Define a wavefront. How is it different from a ray?

Ans. Wavefront: Continuous locus of all the particles of a medium vibrating in

the same phase is called wavefront Difference from a ray: (i) A ray is always
normal to the wavefront at each point. (ii) A ray gives the direction of propagation
of light wave while the wavefront is the surface of constant phase.

• Why cannot two independent monochromatic sources produce sustained

interference pattern?

Ans. Two independent sources do not maintain constant phase difference,

therefore the interference pattern will also change with time.

• In Young’s double slit experiment, the two slits are illuminated by two different
lamps having same wavelength of light. Explain with reason, whether interference
pattern will be observed on the screen or not

Ans. Interference pattern will not be observed as two independent lamps are not
coherent sources.

• Does the appearance of bright and dark fringes in the interference pattern
violate, in any way, law of conservation of energy? Explain.
 Ans. No , Appearance of the bright and dark fringes is simply due to a
redistribution of energy.

• How would the diffraction pattern due to a single slit be affected when the
monochromatic source of light is replaced by white light.

Ans. (i) The diffraction pattern is coloured. As βαλso red fringe is wider than
violet fringe. (ii) the central maxima is white/bright. (iii) more dispersion is
obtained for higher order spectra, it causes an overlapping of different colours.

• How does the angular separation between fringes in single slit diffraction
experiment change when the distance of separation between the slit and screen is
doubled?

Ans. ϴn = nλ/a , remains unchanged as it does not depend on D.

• How would the width of central maximum in diffraction pattern due to a single
slit be affected, If the wavelength of the light used is increased?

Ans. β0 = 2λD/d ⇨ Width of central maximum will be increased.

• How would the width of central maximum in diffraction pattern due to a single
slit be affected, when the width of the slit is doubled?

Ans. β0 = 2λD/d ⇨ Width of central maximum will be halved.

• Why do we not encounter diffraction effects of light in everyday observations?

OR Diffraction is common in sound but not common in light waves why?

Ans. This is because objects around us are much bigger in size as compared to the
wavelength of visible light(≈10-6m)

• In the Young’s double slit experiment, how does the fringe width get affected if
the entire experimental apparatus is immersed in water?

Ans. fringe width will decrease, Reason : β = λD/d & βwater = (Dλ/μwater)/d =
β/ μwater

• In the Young’s double slit experiment, how does the fringe width get affected if
the entire experimental apparatus is immersed in water (refractive index 4/3)?
Ans. βwater = β/ μwater = β/(4/3) = 3β/4, so fringe width decreases to 3/4 times.

• Sketch the wavefront that will emerge from a distance source of light like a star.

Ans. Plane wavefront

• Sketch the shape of wavefront emerging/diverging from a point source of light

and also mark the rays. Ans. Spherical wavefront

• Sketch the wavefront that will emerge from a linear source of light like a slit.

Ans. Cylindrical Wavefront

Assertion and Reasoning Based Questions Instructions: 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. a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A b) Both A
and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false and R is also false

1) Assertion : When a light wave travels from a rarer to a denser medium, it loses
speed. The reduction in speed imply a reduction in energy carried by the light
wave
. Reason : The energy of a wave is proportional to velocity of wave.
Correct Answer: D Solution : When a light wave travel from a rarer to a
denser medium it loses speed, but energy carried by the wave does not depend
on its speed. Instead, it depends on the amplitude of wave.
2) Assertion : No interference pattern is detected when two coherent sources are
infinitely close to each other.
Reason : The fringe width is inversely proportional to the distance between the
two slits.
Correct Answer: A Solution : When d is negligibly small, fringe width β which
is proportional to 1/d may become too large. Even a single fringe may occupy
the whole screen. Hence the pattern cannot be detected.
3) Assertion : For best contrast between maxima and minima in the interference
pattern of Young’s double slit experiment, the intensity of light emerging out
of the two slits should be equal.
 Reason : The intensity of interference pattern is proportional to square of
amplitude.
Correct Answer: B Solution : When intensity of light emerging from two slits
is equal, the intensity at minima, Imin = (√ Ia - √Ib)2=0, or absolute dark. It
provides a better contrast.
4) Assertion: In Young’s experiment, the fringe width for dark fringes is different
from that for white fringes.
Reason : In Young’s double slit experiment the fringes are performed with a
source of white light, then only black and bright fringes are observed.
Correct Answer: D Solution : In Young’s experiments fringe width for dark
and white fringes are same while in Young’s double slit experiment when a
white light as a source is used, the central fringe is white around which few
coloured fringes are observed on either side.
5) Assertion : When a tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from
some distance, a bright spot is seen at the centre of shadow of the obstacle.
Reason : Destructive interference occurs at the centre of the shadow.
Correct Answer: C Solution : As the waves diffracted from the edges of
circular obstacle, placed in the path of light interfere constructively at the
centre of the shadow resulting in the formation of a bright spot.
6) Assertion : Interference pattern is made by using blue light instead of red light,
the fringes becomes narrower.
Reason : In Young?s double slit experiment, fringe width is given by relation β
= λD/d.
Correct Answer: A Solution : β = λD/d
. 7) Assertion: Diffraction is common in sound but not common in light waves.
Reason : Wavelength of light is more than the wavelength of sound.
Answer (c) Solution: If assertion is true but reason is false
7) Assertion : In Young's double slit experiment if wavelength of incident
monochromatic light is just doubled, number of bright fringe on the screen will
increase.
Reason : Maximum number of bright fringe on the screen is directly
proportional to the wavelength of light used.
Answer: (d) Solution: Wavelength is inversely proportional to the number of
fringes, hence by doubling the wavelength the number of fringes decreases.
Hence Assertion and reason are false.
8) Assertion : In interference and diffraction, light energy is redistributed.
Reason :There is no gain or loss of energy, which is consistent with the
principle of conservation of energy.
Answer: (a) Solution: In interference and diffraction, light energy is
redistributed. If it reduces in one region, producing a dark fringe, it increases in
another region, producing a bright fringe. There is no gain or loss of energy,
which is consistent with the principle of conservation of energy.
9) Assertion : If complete YDSE (Young’s Double Slit Experiment) is dipped in
the liquid from the air, then fringe width decreases.
Reason : Wavelength of light decreases, when we move from air to liquid.
Answer: (a)
10) Assertion: No sustained interference pattern is obtained when two electric
bulbs of the same power are taken.
Reason: Phase difference between waves coming out of electric bulbs is not
constant.
Answer: (a)
11) Assertion: The maximum intensity in YDSE (Young’s Double Slit
Experiment) is four times the intensity due to each slit when they are identical.
Reason: The phase difference between the interfering waves is 2nπ at the
position of maxima where n = 0, 1, 2, ......
Answer: (a)
CASE STUDY BASED QUESTIONS
Following questions are Case Study based questions and are compulsory.
Attempt any 4 sub parts from each question. Each question carries 1 mark
• INTERFERENCE- When two or more waves interact and combine, they
interfere with one another. But interference is not necessarily bad: waves may
interfere constructively, resulting in a wave larger than the original waves. Or,
they may interfere destructively, combining in such a way that they form a
wave smaller than the original ones. Other examples of interference, both
constructive and destructive, can be found wherever there are waves: in water,
in sound, in light.
(i). Interference of light is evidence that: a) the speed of light is very large b)
light is a transverse wave c) light is electromagnetic in character d) light is a
wave phenomenon
(ii). In a Young's double-slit experiment the center of a bright fringe occurs
wherever waves from the slits differ in the distance they travel by a multiple of:
a) a fourth of a wavelength b) a half a wavelength c) a wavelength d) three-
fourths of a wavelength
(iii). In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slit separation is doubled. To
maintain the same fringe spacing on the screen, the screen-to-slit distance D
must be changed to: a. D/2 b. D/ c. D d. 2D (iv).The shape of the fringes
observed in interference is-- a) Straight b) Circular c) Hyperbolic d) Elliptical
(v). The main principle used in Interference is - a) Heisenberg’s Uncertainty
Principle b) Superposition Principle c) Quantum Mechanics d) Fermi Principle

Ans. (i). (d) light is a wave phenomenon (ii). (c) a wavelength (iii). (d)
2D (iv). ( c) Hyperbolic (v) (b) Superposition principle • Refraction
of a plane wave