Physics Questions with Answers
Section – A
1. How does the focal length of a convex lens change if
monochromatic red light is used instead of violet light?
(a) Focal length is increased when red light is used
Reason: The refractive index of glass is smaller for red light than violet
light. Hence, focal length increases for red light.
2. How does the magnifying power of a telescope change on
increasing the linear diameter of its objective?
(c) Power remains constant on increase of diameter
Magnifying power depends only on the focal lengths of objective and
eyepiece, not on objective diameter. Larger diameter improves
brightness and resolution, not magnifying power.
3. What is the magnification and focal length of a plane mirror?
(b) +1, 0
Plane mirror always forms an image of the same size (magnification =
+1), and its focal length is zero.
4. What is the locus of all particles in a medium vibrating in the same
phase called?
(c) Wave front
5. Two slits in Young's double slit experiment have widths in the ratio
81:1. The ratio of the amplitudes of light waves is
Amplitude ∝√(width)
So, ratio = √81 : √1 = 9 : 1
(c) 9:1
6. To observe diffraction, the size of the obstacle
(b) Should be of the order of wavelength
7. Assertion: Diffraction takes place for all types of waves –
mechanical or non-mechanical, transverse or longitudinal.
Reason: Diffraction effects are perceptible only if wavelength of
wave is comparable to the dimensions of the device.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct
explanation
8. Assertion (A): A lens has two principal focal lengths which may
differ.
Reason (R): Light can fall on either surface of the lens. The two
principal focal lengths differ when the medium on the two sides of
the lens has different refractive indices.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct
explanation
Section – B
9. Draw a ray diagram to show how a right-angled isosceles prism can
be used to –
(i) Deviate a ray through 90°
(ii) Deviate a ray through 180° (inverted image)
(iii) Invert an image without deviation of rays
Answer: (Drawings required – prism ray diagrams show deviation and
inversion by total internal reflection).
10. State the advantages of reflecting telescope over refracting
telescope.
Answer:
No chromatic aberration (mirror reflection is independent of
wavelength).
No spherical aberration if parabolic mirror is used.
Larger aperture possible → collects more light.
Easier to make large mirrors than large lenses.
Mechanical stability and lower cost.
11. A 633 nm laser light is passed through a narrow slit and a
diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 6.0 m away. The distance
between the centers of the first minima on either side of the central
maximum is 32 mm. What is the slit width?
Formula: →
,
,
Slit width = 2.4 × 10⁻⁴ m
OR
If white light is used → central maximum is white, side fringes are
colored and overlap, producing less sharp pattern.
Section – C
12. A 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of
focal length 15 cm. Give the location of the image and the
magnification. Describe what happens as the needle is moved farther
from the mirror.
Mirror formula:
(convex mirror),
So, (virtual, behind mirror).
Magnification:
Image length = 4.5 × 0.5 = 2.25 cm (virtual, erect, diminished).
As needle is moved farther, image approaches the focus (15 cm behind
mirror) and becomes smaller.
13. A tank is filled with water to a height of 12.5 cm. The apparent
depth of a needle lying at bottom of tank is measured to be 9.4 cm by
a microscope. What is the refractive index of water?
Refractive index = Real depth / Apparent depth
If replaced by liquid of μ = 1.63, apparent depth = 12.5 / 1.63 = 7.67 cm
Shift = 9.4 – 7.67 = 1.73 cm
Microscope must be lowered by 1.73 cm.
14. Two towers on top of two hills are 40 km apart. The line joining
them passes 50 m above a hill halfway between the towers. What is
the longest wavelength of radio waves that can be sent without
appreciable diffraction effects?
Condition: λ ≤ obstacle clearance
So, λ_max = 50 m
Answer: 50 m
15. How do the following affect the speed of light in glass?
(i) Increasing wavelength → Speed remains the same (speed depends
only on medium, not wavelength, though refractive index varies slightly
with wavelength → dispersion).
(ii) Increasing intensity → No effect, speed remains constant.
OR
If angle of incidence in medium 1 is θ and angle of refraction in medium
2 is θ/2 → since angle reduces, medium 2 is optically denser.
Section – D
16. A small bulb is placed at the bottom of a tank containing water to
a depth of 80 cm. What is the area of the surface of water through
which light from the bulb can emerge?
Critical angle: sin C = 1/μ = 1/1.33 = 0.75 → C ≈ 48.75°
At depth h = 80 cm:
Radius of circle on surface = h tan C = 80 × tan(48.75°) ≈ 91 cm = 0.91 m
Area = πr² = 3.14 × (0.91)² ≈ 2.6 m²
Area = 2.6 m²
OR
For prism: n = sin((A+Dm)/2) / sin(A/2)
A = 60°, Dm = 40°
n = sin(50°)/sin(30°) = 0.766/0.5 = 1.53
If prism placed in water (μ = 1.33): effective index = n/μ = 1.53/1.33 ≈ 1.15
New Dm = 2arcsin(n sin(A/2)) – A = 2arcsin(1.15×0.5) – 60° ≈ 26.6°
New minimum deviation = 26.6°
17. Use Huygens’ principle to show how a plane wavefront
propagates from a denser to a rarer medium. Hence, verify Snell’s
law.
Answer:
Each point on a wavefront acts as a secondary source of wavelets.
In denser to rarer medium, velocity increases → wavefront bends
away from normal.
From geometry: sin i / sin r = v₁/v₂ = μ₂₁ → Snell’s law verified.
OR
Why coherent sources are required?
Coherent sources are required to produce sustained interference
patterns (like fringes in Young’s Double Slit Experiment). For
interference to occur:
1. The sources must have a constant phase difference.
2. They must emit light of the same frequency (or wavelength).
3. They should have the same polarisation.
4. Only coherent sources can give stable and clear interference
fringes; non-coherent sources give fluctuating, irregular patterns.
Final point:
Thus, coherent sources are necessary to obtain a steady and observable
interference pattern.
Section – E
Q1.) For coherent sources of light the phase difference must be –
(c) Either zero or constant
Q2.) If the phase difference is 0, ±2π, ±4π … then the interference
should be –
(a) Constructive interference
Q3.) The interference and diffraction of light explain which nature of
light?
They prove the wave nature of light.
OR
How is conservation of energy possible in interference and diffraction?
In interference, dark fringes are formed due to destructive superposition
but energy is not lost; it is redistributed. The energy missing in dark
fringes is exactly present in bright fringes → total energy remains
conserved.
