WAVE OPTICS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

1. How does the fringe width of interference fringes change, when the whole apparatus
of Young’s experiment is kept in a liquid of refractive index 1.3?
2. How does the angular separation of interference fringes change in Young’s
experiment, if the distance between the slits is increased?
3. State the reason, why two independent sources of light cannot be considered as
coherent sources.
4. How does the angle of minimum deviation of a glass prism vary, if the incident violet
light is replaced with red light?
5. If the angle between the pass axis of polarizer and the analyser is 45°, write the
ratio of the intensities of original light and the transmitted light after passing
through the analyser.
6. What type of wavefront will emerge from a
(i) point source, and
(ii) distant light source?
7. Unpolarized light is incident on a plane surface of glass of refractive index µ at angle
i. If the reflected light gets totally polarized, write the relation between the angle i
and refractive index µ.
8. Draw a diagram to show refraction of a plane wave front incident in a convex lens
and hence draw the refracted wave front.
9. At what angle of incidence should a light beam strike a glass slab of refractive
index √3, such that the reflected and the refracted rays are perpendicular to each
other?
10. Differentiate between a ray and a wave front.
11. How would the angular separation of interference fringes in Young’s double slit
experiment change when the distance between the slits and screen is doubled?
12. 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?
13. In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit is made double the
original width. How does this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction
band.
14. How does the fringe width, in Young’s double-slit experiment, change when the
distance of separation between the slits and screen is doubled?
15. In what way is plane polarized light different from an unpolarized light?
16. In a single slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit is reduced to half its
original width. How would this affect the size and intensity of the central maximum?
17. Which of the following waves can be polarized
(i) Heat waves
(ii) Sound waves? Give reason to support your answer.
18. Define the term ‘coherent sources’ which are required to produce interference
pattern in Young’s double slit experiment.
19. Define the term ‘wavefront’.
20. Draw the shape of the wavefront coming out of a convex lens when a plane wave is
incident on it.
21. Draw the shape of the wavefront coming out of a concave mirror when a plane wave
is incident on it.
22. Why does Sun appear red at sunrise and sunset?
23. A beam of unpolarised light is incident, on the boundary between two transparent
media, at an angle of incidence = iB, the Brewster’s angle. At what angle does the
reflected light get polarised?
24. State one feature by which the phenomenon of interference can be distinguished
from that of diffraction.
A parallel beam of light of wavelength 600 nm is incident normally on a slit of width
‘a’. If the distance between the slits and the screen is 0.8 m and the distance of
2nd order maximum from the centre of the screen is. 15 mm, calculate the width of
the slit.
25. Define the term ‘linearly polarised light’. When does the intensity of transmitted
light become maximum, when a polaroid sheet is rotated between two crossed
polaroids?
26. (i) State the principle on which the working of an optical fibre is based.
(ii) What are the necessary conditions for this phenomenon to occur?
27. (a) Why are coherent sources necessary to produce a sustained interference
pattern?
(b) In Young’s double slit experiment using mono-chromatic light of wavelength X,
the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is X, is K units.
Find out the intensity of light at a point where path difference is 2λ3.
28. State two conditions required for obtaining coherent sources.
In Young’s arrangement to produce interference pattern, show that dark and bright
fringes appearing on the screen are equally spaced.
29. Laser light of wavelength 640 nm incident on a pair of slits produces an interference
pattern in which the bright fringes are separated by 7.2 mm. Calculate the
wavelength of another source of light which produces interference fringes separated
by 8.1 mm using same arrangement. Also find the minimum value of the order ‘n’ of
bright fringe of shorter wavelength which coincides with that of the longer
wavelength.
30. Yellow light (λ = 6000Å) illuminates a single slit of width 1 x 10-4 m. Calculate
(i) the distance between the two dark lines on either side of the central maximum,
when the diffraction pattern is viewed on a screen kept 1.5 m away from the slit;
(ii) the angular spread of the first diffraction minimum.
31. A parallel beam of light of 500 nm falls on a narrow slit and the resulting diffraction
pattern is observed on a screen 1 m away. It is observed that the first minimum is
at a distance of 2.5 mm from the centre of the screen. Calculate the width of the
slit.
32. A parallel beam of light of 600 nm falls on a narrow slit and the resulting diffraction
pattern is observed on a screen 1.2 m away. It is observed that the first minimum is
at a distance of 3 mm from the centre of the screen. Calculate the width of the slit.
33. Write the distinguishing features between a diffraction pattern due to a single slit
and the interference fringes produced in Young’s double slit experiment?
34. Answer the following questions:
(i) In what way is diffraction from each slit related to the interference pattern in a
double slit experiment?
(ii) When a tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from a distance
source, a bright spot is seen at the centre of the shadow of the obstacle. Explain,
why.
35. (a) Write the conditions under which light sources can be said to be coherent.
(b) Why is it necessary to have coherent sources in order to produce an interference
pattern?
36. (i) Monochromatic light of frequency 6.0 × 1014 Hz is produced by a laser. The power
emitted is 2.0 × 10-3 W. Estimate the number of photons emitted per second on an
average by the source.
(ii) Draw a plot showing the variation of photoelectric current versus the intensity of
incident radiation on a given photosensitive surface.
37. For a single slit of width “a”, the first minimum of the interference pattern of a
monochromatic light of wavelength λ occurs at an angle of λa .
At the same angle of λa, we get a maximum for a two narrow slits separated by a
distance “a”. Explain.
38. Find an expression for intensity of transmitted light when a polaroid sheet is rotated
between two crossed polaroids. In which position of the Polaroid sheet will the
transmitted intensity be maximum?
39. Distinguish between unpolarised and a linearly polarised light. Describe, with the
help of a diagram, how unpolarised light gets linearly polarised by scattering.
40. State Brewster’s law. The value of Brewster angle for a transparent medium is
different for light of different colours. Give reason.
41. Draw the intensity pattern for single slit diffraction and double slit interference.
Hence, state two differences between interference and diffraction patterns.
42. Unpolarised light is passed through a polaroid P1 When this polarised beam passes
through another polaroid P2 and if the pass axis of P2 makes angle 6 with the pass
axis of P1, then write the expression for the polarised beam passing through P2.
Draw a plot showing the variation of intensity when θ varies from 0 to 2π.
43. How is a wavefront defined? Using Huygen’s construction draw a figure showing the
propagation of a plane wave refracting at a plane surface separating two media.
Hence verify Snell’s law of refraction.
44. How is a wavefront defined? Using Huygen’s construction draw a figure showing the
propagation of a plane wave reflecting at the interface of the two media. Show that
the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
45. Distinguish between unpolarised and plane polarised light. An unpolarised light is
incident on the boundary between two transparent media. State the condition when
the reflected wave is totally plane polarised. Find out the expression for the angle of
incidence in this case.
46. In a single slit diffraction experiment, when a tiny circular obstacle is placed in the
path of light from a distance source, a bright spot is seen at the centre of the
shadow of the obstacle. Explain why?
State two points of difference between the interference pattern obtained in Young’s
double slit experiment and the diffraction pattern due to a single slit.
47. In Young’s double slit experiment, monochromatic light of wavelength 630 nm
illuminates the pair of slits and produces an interference pattern in which two
consecutive bright fringes are separated by 8.1 mm. Another source of
monochromatic light produces the interference pattern in which the two consecutive
bright fringes are separated by 7.2 mm. Find the wavelength of light from the
second source. What is the effect on the interference fringes if the monochromatic
source is replaced by a source of white light?
48. (a) In a single slit diffraction experiment, a slit of width ‘d’ is illuminated by red light
of wavelength 650 nm. For what value of ‘d’ will
(i) the first minimum fall at an angle of diffraction of 30°, and
(ii) the first maximum fall at an angle of diffraction of 30°?
(b) Why does the intensity of the secondary maximum become less as compared to
the central maximum?
49. In Young’s double slit experiment, mono-chromatic light of wavelength 600 nm
illuminates the pair of slits and produces an interference pattern in which two
consecutive bright fringes are separated by 10 mm. Another source of
monochromatic light produces the interference pattern in which the two consecutive
bright fringes are separated by 8 mm. Find the wavelength of light from the second
source. What is the effect on the interference fringes if the monochromatic source is
replaced by a source of white light?
50. What is an unpolarized light? Explain with the help of suitable ray diagram how an
unpolarized light can be polarized by reflection from a transparent medium. Write
the expression for Brewster angle in terms of the refractive index of denser medium.
51. In Young’s double slit experiment, the two slits 0. 15 mm apart are illuminated by
monochromatic light of wavelength 450 nm. The screen is 1.0 m away from the slits.
(a) Find the distance of the second
(i) bright fringe,
(ii) dark fringe from the central maximum.
(b) How will the fringe pattern change if the screen is moved away from the slits?
52. (a) How does an unpolarised light get polarised when passed through a polaroid?
(b) Two polaroids are set in crossed positions. A third polaroid is placed between the
two making an angle 0 with the pass axis of the first polaroid. Write the expression
for the intensity of light transmitted from the second polaroid. In what orientations
will the transmitted intensity by
(i) minimum and
(ii) maximum?
53. In Young’s double slit experiment, the two slits 0.12 mm apart are illuminated by
monochromatic light of wavelength 420 nm. The screen is 1.0 m away from the slits.
(a) Find the distance of the second
(i) bright fringe,
(ii) dark fringe from the central maximum.
(b) How will the fringe pattern change if the screen is moved away from the slits?
54. Describe Young’s double slit experiment to produce interference pattern due to a
monochromatic source of light. Deduce the expression for the fringe width.
55. Use Huygen’s principle to verify the laws of refraction.
56. (a) Describe briefly, with the help of suitable diagram, how the transverse nature of
light can be demonstrated by the phenomenon of polarization.
(b) When unpolarized light passes from air to a transparent medium, under what
condition does the reflected light get polarized?
57. (a) Why are coherent sources necessary to produce a sustained interference
pattern?
(b) In Young’s double slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength A,
the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is A, is K units.
Find out the intensity of light at a point where path difference is λ/3.
58. Use Huygens’s principle to explain the formation of diffraction pattern due to a
single slit
illuminated by a monochromatic source of light. When the width of the slit is made
double the
original width, how would this affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction
band?
59. (a) Why are coherent sources necessary to produce a sustained interference
pattern?
(b) In Young’s double slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength λ,
the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is λ, is K units.
Find out the intensity of light at a point where path difference is λ/3.
60. Explain briefly, giving a suitable diagram, how an unpolarised light incident on the
interface separating two transparent media gets polarised on reflection. Deduce the
necessary condition for it.
61. (a) In what way is diffraction from each slit related to the interference pattern in a
double slit experiment?
(b) Two wavelengths of sodium light 590 nm and 596 nm are used, in turn, to study
the diffraction taking place at a single slit of aperture 2 × 10-4 m. The distance
between the slit and the screen is 1.5 m. Calculate the separation between the
positions of the first maxima of the diffraction pattern obtained in the two cases.
62. (a) Write two characteristic features distinguishing the diffraction pattern from the
interference fringes obtained in Young’s double slit experiment.
(b) Two wavelengths of sodium light 590 nm and 596 nm are used, in turn, to study
the diffraction taking place due to a single slit of aperture 1 × 10-4 m. The distance
between the slit and the screen is 1.8 m. Calculate the separation between the
positions of the first maxima of the diffraction pattern obtained in the two cases.
63. (a) What is linearly polarized light? Describe briefly using a diagram how sunlight is
polarised.
(b) Unpolarised light is incident on a polaroid. How would the intensity of
transmitted light change when the polaroid is rotated?
64. In a modified set-up of Young’s double slit experiment, it is given that SS2 – SS1 =
λ/4, i.e. the source ‘S’ is not equidistant from the slits S1 and S2.
(a) Obtain the conditions for constructive and destructive interference at any point P
on the screen in terms of the path difference δ = S2P-S1P.

(b) Does the observed central bright fringe lie above or below ‘O’? Give reason to
support your answerP3
65. (a) Using the phenomenon of polarisation, show how transverse nature of light can
be demonstrated?
(b) Two polaroids P1 and P2 are placed with their pass axes perpendicular to each
other. Unpolarised light of intensity I0 is incident on P1. A third polaroid P3 is kept in
between P1 and P2 such that its pass axis makes an angle of 30° with that of P1.
Determine the intensity of light transmitted through P1, P2 and P3.
66. (a) Show, with the help of a diagram, how unpolarised sunlight gets polarised due to
scattering.
(b) Two polaroids P1 and P2 are placed with their pass axes perpendicular to each
other.
Unpolarised light of intensity I0 is incident on P1. A third polaroid P3 is kept in
between P1 and P2 such that its pass axis makes an angle of 45° with that of P1.
Determine the intensity of light transmitted through P1, P2 and P3.
67. (a) Show, giving a suitable diagram, how unpolarised light can be polarised by
reflection.
(b) Two polaroids P1 and P2 are placed with their pass axes perpendicular to each
other.
Unpolarised light of intensity I0 is incident on P1. A third polaroid P3 is kept in
between P1 and P2 such that its pass axis makes an angle of 60° with that of P1.
Determine the intensity of light transmitted through P1, P2 and P3.
68. A parallel beam of monochromatic light falls normally on a narrow slit of width ‘a’ to
produce a diffraction pattern on the screen placed parallel to the plane of the slit.
Use Huygens’ principle to explain that
(i) the central bright maxima is twice as wide as the other maxima.
(ii) the intensity falls as we move to successive maxima away from the centre on
either side.
69. (a) Unpolarised light of intensity I0 passes through two polaroids P0 and P2 such
that pass axis of P2 makes an angle θ with the pass axis of P1 Plot a graph showing
the variation of intensity of light transmitted through P2 as the angle θ varies from
zero to 180°.
(b) A third polaroid P3 is placed between P1 and P2 with pass axis of P3 making an
angle β with that of P1. If I1 I2 and I3 represent the intensities of light transmitted by
P1, P2 and P3, determine the values of angle θ and β for which I1 = I2 = I3.
70. (a) Two monochromatic waves emanating from two coherent sources have the
displacements represented by
y1 = a cos ωt and y2 = a cos (ωt + ϕ), where ϕ is the phase difference between the two
displacements. Show that the resultant intensity at a point due to their
superposition is given by I = 4I0 cos2 ϕ/2, where I0 = a2.
(b) Hence obtain the conditions for constructive and destructive interference.
71. Answer the following questions:
(i) In a double slit experiment using light of wavelength 600 nm, the angular width
of the fringe formed on a distant screen is 0.1°. Find the spacing between the two
slits.
(ii) Light of wavelength 5000 A propagating in air gets partly reflected from the
surface of water. How will the wavelengths and frequencies of the reflected and
refracted light be affected?
72. State clearly how an unpolarised light gets linearly polarised when passed through a
Polaroid.
(i) Unpolarised light of intensity I0 is incident on a polaroid P1 which is kept near
another Polaroid P2 whose pass axis is parallel to that of P1. How will the intensities
of light, I1 and I2, transmitted by the polaroids P1 and P2 respectively, change on
rotating Px without disturbing P2?
(ii) Write the relation between the intensities I1 and I2.
73. Use Huygens’ principle to show how a plane wavefront propagates from a denser to
rarer medium. Hence verify Snell’s law of refraction.
74. Explain by drawing a suitable diagram that the interference pattern in a double slit
is actually a superposition of single slit diffraction from each slit.
Write two basic features which distinguish the interference pattern from those seen
in a coherently illuminated single slit.
75. (a) The ratio of the widths of two slits in Young’s double slit experiment is 4 : 1.
Evaluate the ratio of intensities at maxima and minima in the interference pattern.
(b) Does the appearance of bright and dark fringes in the interference pattern
violate, in any way, conservation of energy?
76. (a) Good quality sun-glasses made of polaroids are preferred over ordinary coloured
glasses. Justify your answer.
(b) Two polaroids P1 and P2 are placed in crossed positions. A third polaroid P3 is
kept between P3 and P2 such that pass axis of P3 is parallel to that of P1. How would
the intensity of light (I2) transmitted through P2 vary as P3 is rotated? Draw a plot of
intensity I2 vs the angle ‘θ’ between pass axes of P1 and P3.
77. (i) State law of Malus.
(ii) Draw a graph showing the variation of intensity (I) of polarised light transmitted
by an analyser with angle (θ) between polariser and analyser.
(iii) What is the value of refractive index of a medium of polarising angle 60°?
78. Define the term wave front. State Huygen’s principle.
Consider a plane wave front incident on a thin convex lens. Draw a proper diagram
to show how the incident wave front traverses through the lens and after refraction
focusses on the focal point of the lens, giving the shape of the emergent wave front.
79. The figure, drawn here, shows the geometry of path differences for diffraction by a
single slit of width a.
Give appropriate ‘reasoning’ to explain why the intensity of light is

(i) maximum of the central point C on the screen.

(ii) (nearly) zero for point P on the screen when

Hence write an expression for the total linear width of the central maxima on a
screen kept at a distance D from the plane of the slit.
80. Two polaroids, P1 and P2, are ‘set-up’ so that their ‘pass-axis’ are ‘crossed’ with
respect to each other. A third polaroid, P3, is now introduced between these two so
that its ‘pass-axis’ makes an angle θ with the ‘pass-axis’ of P1.
A beam of unpolarised light, of intensity I, is incident on P1 If the intensity of light,
that gets transmitted through this combination of three polaroids, is I’, find the
𝐼′
ratio ( 𝐼 ) when θ equals:
(i) 30°,
(ii) 45°
81. A plane wavefront is incident at an angle of incidence i on a reflecting surface. Draw
a diagram showing incident wavefront, reflected wavefront and verify the laws of
reflection.
82. (a) In a 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.
(b) Light waves from two coherent sources arrive at two points on a screen with path
differences of 0 and A/2. Find the ratio of intensities at the points.
83. (a) Explain how the intensity of diffraction pattern changes as the order (n) of the
diffraction band varies.
(b) Two wavelengths of sodium light 590 nm and 596 nm are used in turn to study
the diffraction at a single slit of size 4 mm. The distance between the slit and screen
is 2 m. Calculate the separation between the positions of the first maximum of the
diffraction pattern obtained in the two cases.
84. Why are coherent sources necessary to produce interference in Young’s double slit
experiment? Light waves from two coherent sources have intensities in the ratio of
4:9. Find the ratio of intensities of maxima and minima in the interference pattern.
85. State the two features to distinguish between interference and diffraction
phenomena. Two wavelengths of light 600 nm and 610 nm are used in turn, to
study the diffraction at a single slit of size 2 mm. The distance between the slits and
screen is 2 m. Calculate the separation between the positions of the second order
maximum of the diffraction pattern obtained in the two cases.
86. (a) What is plane polarised light? Two polaroids are placed at 90° to each other and
the transmitted intensity is zero. What happens when one more polaroid is placed
between these two, bisecting the angle between them? How will the intensity of
transmitted light vary on further rotating the third polaroid?
(b) If a light beam shows no intensity variation when transmitted through a polaroid
which is rotated, does it mean that the light is unpolarised? Explain briefly.
87. (a) What are coherent sources of light? Two slits in Young’s double slit experiment
are illuminated by two different sodium lamps emitting light of the same
wavelength. Why is no interference pattern observed?
(b) Obtain the condition for getting dark and bright fringes in Young’s experiment.
Hence write the expression for the fringe width.
(c) If s is the size of the source and its distance is a from the plane of the two slits,
what should be the criterion for the interference fringes to be seen?
88. State Huygens’s principle. Show, with the help of a suitable diagram, how this
principle is used to obtain the diffraction pattern by a single slit. Draw a plot of
intensity distribution and explain clearly why the secondary maxima become
weaker with increasing order (n) of the secondary maxima.
89. Explain briefly how the phenomenon of total internal reflection is used in fibre
optics.
90. (i) State the importance of coherent sources in the phenomenon of interference.
(ii) In Young’s double slit experiment to produce interference pattern, obtain the
conditions for constructive and destructive interference. Hence deduce the
expression for the fringe width.
(iii) How does the fringe width get affected, if the entire experimental apparatus of
Young is immersed in water?
91. (a) State Huygen’s principle. Using this principle explain how a diffraction pattern is
obtained on a screen due to a narrow slit on which a narrow beam coming from a
monochromatic source of light is incident normally.
(b) Show that the angular width of the first diffraction fringe is half of that of the
central fringe.
(c) If a monochromatic source of light is replaced by white light, what change would
you observe in the diffraction pattern?
92. (a) In Young’s double slit experiment, derive the condition for
(i) constructive interference and
(ii) destructive interference at a point on the screen.
(b) A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 800 nm and 600 nm is used to
obtain the interference fringes in a Young’s double slit experiment on a screen
placed 1.4 m away. If the two slits are separated by 0.28 mm, calculate the least
distance from the central bright maximum where the bright fringes of the two
wavelengths coincide.
93. Question 93.
(a) How does an unpolarized light incident on a polaroid get polarized?
Describe briefly, with the help of a necessary diagram, the polarization of light by
reflection from a transparent medium.
(b) Two polaroids ‘A’ and ‘B’ are kept in crossed position. How should a third
polaroid ‘C’ be placed between them so that the intensity of polarized light
transmitted by polaroid B reduces to 1/8* of the intensity of unpolarized ‘ light
incident on A?
94. (a) State Huygen’s principle. Using this principle draw a diagram to show how a
plane wave front incident at the interface of the two media gets refracted when it
propagates from a rarer to a denser medium. Hence verify Snell’s law of refraction.
(b) When monochromatic light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, explain the
following, giving reasons:
(i) Is the frequency of reflected and refracted light same as the frequency of incident
light?
(ii) Does the decrease in speed imply a reduction in the energy carried by light
wave?
95. (a) Describe briefly how an unpolarized light gets linearly polarized when it passes
through a polaroid.
(b) Three identical polaroid sheets P3, P2 and P3 are oriented so that the pass axis
of P1, P2 and P3 are inclined at angles of 60° and 90° respectively with respect to the
pass axis of P1. A monochromatic source S of unpolarized light of intensity I0 is kept
in front of the polaroid sheet P1 as shown in the figure. Determine the intensities of
light as observed by the observers O1 O2 and O3 as shown.
96. (a) Use Huygen’s geometrical construction to show how a plane wave-front at t = 0
propagates and produces a wave-front at a later time.
(b) Verify, using Huygen’s principle, Snell’s law of refraction of a plane wave
propagating from a denser to a rarer medium.
(c) When monochromatic light is incident on a surface separating two media, the
reflected and refracted light both have the same frequency. Explain why.
97. (a) (i) “Two independent monochromatic sources of light cannot produce a sustained
interference pattern”. Give reason.
(ii) Light waves each of amplitude “a” and frequency “ω”, emanating from two
coherent light sources superpose at a point. If the displacements due to these waves
is given by y1 = a cos ωt and y2 = a cos(ωt + ϕ ) where ϕ is the phase difference
between the two, obtain the expression for the resultant intensity at the point.
(b) In Young’s double slit experiment, using monochromatic light of wavelength λ,
the intensity of light at a point on the screen where path difference is λ, is K units.
Find out the intensity of light at a point where path difference is λ/3.
98. (a) How does one demonstrate, using a suitable diagram, that unpolarised light
when passed through a Polaroid gets polarised?
(b) A beam of unpolarised light is incident on a glass-air interface. Show, using a
suitable ray diagram, that light reflected from the interface is totally polarised, when
μ = tan iB, where μ is the refractive index of glass with respect to air and iB is the
Brewster’s angle.
99. (a) In Young’s double slit experiment, describe briefly how bright and dark fringes
are obtained on the screen kept in front of a double slit. Hence obtain the
expression for the fringe width.
(b) The ratio of the intensities at minima to the maxima in the Young’s double slit
experiment is 9:25. Find the ratio of the widths of the two slits.
100. (a) Describe briefly how a diffraction pattern is obtained on a screen due to a single
narrow slit illuminated by a monochromatic source of light. Hence obtain the
conditions for the angular width of secondary maxima and secondary minima.
(b) Two wavelengths of sodium light of 590 nm and 596 nm are used in turn to
study the diffraction taking place at a single slit of aperture 2 × 10-6 m. The distance
between the slit and the screen is 1.5 m. Calculate the separation between the
positions of first maxima of the diffraction pattern obtained in the two cases.
101. (a) Distinguish between linearly polarized and unpolarized light.
(b) Show that the light waves are transverse in nature.
(c) Why does light from a clear blue portion of the sky show a rise and fall of
intensity when viewed through a polaroid which is rotated? Explain by drawing the
necessary diagram.
102. (a) Using Huygen’s construction of secondary wavelets explain how a diffraction
pattern is obtained on a screen due to a narrow slit on which a monochromatic
beam of light is incident normally.
(b) Show that the angular width of the first diffraction fringe is half that of the
central fringe.
(c) Explain why the maxima at θ=(n+1/2)λa become weaker and weaker with
increasing n.
103. (a) Consider two coherent sources S1 and S2 producing monochromatic waves to
produce interference pattern. Let the displacement of the wave produced by S1 be
given by
Y1 = a cos ωt
and the displacement by S2 be Y2 = a cos (ωt + ϕ )
Find out the expression for the amplitude of the resultant displacement at a point
and show that the intensity at that point will be

Hence establish the conditions for constructive and destructive interference,

(b) What is the effect on the interference fringes in Young’s double slit experiment
when
(i) the width of the source slit is increased;
(ii) the monochromatic source is replaced by a source of white light?
104. (a) Define a wavefront. How is it different from a ray?
(b) Depict the shape of a wavefront in each of the following cases.
(i) Light diverging from point source.
(ii) Light emerging out of a convex lens when a point source is placed at its focus.
(iii) Using Huygen’s construction of secondary wavelets, draw a diagram showing the
passage of a plane wavefront from a denser into a rarer medium.
105. (i) In Young’s double slit experiment, deduce the condition for
(a) constructive,’ and
(b) destructive interference at a point on the screen. Draw a graph showing variation
of intensity in the interference pattern against position ‘x’ on the screen.
(ii) Compare the interference pattern observed in Young’s double slit experiment
with single slit diffraction pattern, pointing out three distinguishing features.
106. (a) Draw a diagram showing the ‘Young’s arrangement’ for producing ‘a sustained
interference pattern’. Hence obtain the expression for the width of the interference
fringes obtained in this pattern.
(b) If the principal source point S were to be moved a little upwards, towards the slit
S1 from its usual symmetrical position, with respect to the two slits S1 and S2,
discuss how the interference pattern, obtained on the screen, would get affected.
107. Based on Huygen’s construction, draw the shape of a plane wavefront as it gets
refracted on passing through a convex lens.
108. When a plane wave front, of light, of wavelength X, is incident on a narrow slit, an
intensity distribution pattern, of the form shown is observed on a screen, suitably
kept behind the slit. Name the phenomenon observed.
 (a) Obtain the conditions for the formation of central maximum and secondary
maxima and the minima.
(b) Why is there significant fall in intensity of the secondary maxima compared to
the central maximum, where as in double slit experiment all the bright fringes are of
the same intensity?
(c) When the width of the slit is made double the original width, how is the size of
the central band affected?
109. (a) Distinguish between unpolarised light and linearly polarised light. How does one
get linearly polarised light with the help of a Polaroid?
(b) A narrow beam of unpolarised light of intensity I0 is incident on a polaroid P1.
The light transmitted by it is then incident on a second polaroid P2 with its pass
axis making angle of 60° relative to the pass axis of P1. Find the intensity of the light
transmitted by P2.
110. (a) Explain two features to distinguish between the interference pattern in Young’s
double slit experiment with the diffraction pattern obtained due to a single slit.
(b) A monochromatic light of wavelength 500 nm is incident normally on a single slit
of width 0.2 mm to produce a diffraction pattern. Find the angular width of the
central maximum obtained on the screen.
Estimate the number of fringes obtained in Young’s double slit experiment with
fringe width 0.5 mm, which can be accommodated within the region of total angular
spread of the central maximum due to single slit.
111. (a) Define wavefront. Use Huygens’ principle to verify the laws of refraction.
(b) How is linearly polarised light obtained by the process of scattering of light? Find
the Brewster angle for air—glass interface, when the refractive index of glass = 1.5.
112. Explain with diagram, how plane polarized light can be produced by scattering of
sunlight. An incident beam of light of intensity IG is made to fall on a polaroid A.
Another polaroid B is so oriented with respect to A that there is no light emerging
out of B. A third polaroid C is now introduced mid-way between A and B and is so
oriented that its axis bisects the angle between the axes of A and B. Calculate the
intensity of light transmitted by A, B and C.
113. (a) In Young’s double slit experiment a monochromatic source of light S is kept
equidistant from the slits S1 and S2. Explain the formation of dark and bright
fringes on the screen.
(b) A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths, 650 nm and 520 nm, is used to
obtain interference fringes in Young’s double-slit experiment.
(i) Find the distance of the third bright fringe on the screen from the central
maximum for wavelength 650 nm?
(ii) What is the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes
due to both the wavelengths coincide?
Given : the separation between the slits is 4 mm and the distance between the
screen and plane of the slits is 1.2 m.