Wave Optics
Q. If the refractive index of a medium is 1.33, what is the speed of light in that medium if the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 10^8 m/s?
A.
2.25 x 10^8 m/s
B.
2.5 x 10^8 m/s
C.
2.75 x 10^8 m/s
D.
3 x 10^8 m/s
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Solution
Speed of light in medium = c/n = (3 x 10^8 m/s) / 1.33 ≈ 2.25 x 10^8 m/s.
Correct Answer: A — 2.25 x 10^8 m/s
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Q. If the refractive index of a medium is 1.5, what is the wavelength of light in that medium if the wavelength in vacuum is 600 nm?
A.
400 nm
B.
600 nm
C.
800 nm
D.
900 nm
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Solution
Wavelength in medium = λ/v = λ0/n = 600 nm / 1.5 = 400 nm.
Correct Answer: A — 400 nm
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Q. If the refractive index of a medium is greater than 1, how does it affect the speed of light in that medium?
A.
Increases speed
B.
Decreases speed
C.
No effect
D.
Depends on wavelength
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Solution
The speed of light in a medium is given by v = c/n, where n is the refractive index. If n > 1, the speed decreases.
Correct Answer: B — Decreases speed
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Q. If the refractive index of a medium is greater than 1, what happens to the speed of light in that medium?
A.
It increases
B.
It decreases
C.
It remains the same
D.
It becomes infinite
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Solution
The speed of light in a medium is given by v = c/n, where n is the refractive index. If n > 1, then v < c, meaning the speed decreases.
Correct Answer: B — It decreases
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Q. If the refractive index of a medium is greater than 1, what happens to the speed of light in that medium compared to vacuum?
A.
It increases
B.
It decreases
C.
It remains the same
D.
It becomes infinite
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Solution
The speed of light in a medium is less than that in vacuum, given by v = c/n, where n > 1.
Correct Answer: B — It decreases
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Q. If the refractive index of a medium is greater than 1, what happens to the wavelength of light in that medium compared to its wavelength in vacuum?
A.
It increases
B.
It decreases
C.
It remains the same
D.
It becomes zero
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Solution
The wavelength of light decreases in a medium with a refractive index greater than 1, as it is given by λ' = λ/n.
Correct Answer: B — It decreases
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Q. If the refractive index of a medium is greater than 1, what happens to the wavelength of light in that medium?
A.
It increases
B.
It decreases
C.
It remains the same
D.
It becomes zero
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Solution
The wavelength of light decreases in a medium with a refractive index greater than 1, as λ' = λ/n.
Correct Answer: B — It decreases
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Q. If the refractive index of a thin film is greater than that of the surrounding medium, what happens to the phase of the reflected wave?
A.
No phase change
B.
Phase change of π
C.
Phase change of 2π
D.
Phase change of λ/2
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Solution
When light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index, it undergoes a phase change of π (180 degrees).
Correct Answer: B — Phase change of π
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Q. In a diffraction grating, if the number of slits is increased, what happens to the intensity of the maxima?
A.
Increases
B.
Decreases
C.
Remains the same
D.
Becomes zero
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Solution
Increasing the number of slits increases the intensity of the maxima due to constructive interference.
Correct Answer: A — Increases
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Q. In a diffraction grating, if the number of slits is increased, what happens to the angular width of the principal maxima?
A.
Increases
B.
Decreases
C.
Remains the same
D.
Becomes zero
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Solution
Increasing the number of slits increases the sharpness of the maxima, thus decreasing the angular width.
Correct Answer: B — Decreases
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Q. In a diffraction pattern, what is the effect of increasing the slit width?
A.
Wider central maximum
B.
Narrower central maximum
C.
No effect
D.
Increased number of fringes
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Solution
Increasing the slit width results in a wider central maximum due to the decrease in diffraction effects.
Correct Answer: A — Wider central maximum
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Q. In a double-slit experiment, if the distance between the screen and the slits is increased, what happens to the fringe separation?
A.
It increases
B.
It decreases
C.
It remains the same
D.
It becomes zero
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Solution
Fringe separation is directly proportional to the distance from the slits to the screen; increasing this distance increases fringe separation.
Correct Answer: A — It increases
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Q. In a double-slit experiment, if the screen distance is increased, what happens to the fringe separation?
A.
Fringe separation increases
B.
Fringe separation decreases
C.
Fringe separation remains the same
D.
Fringe separation becomes zero
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Solution
Fringe separation is directly proportional to the distance from the slits to the screen (D), hence it increases.
Correct Answer: A — Fringe separation increases
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Q. In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one of the mirrors is moved away from the beam splitter?
A.
Fringes move closer
B.
Fringes move apart
C.
Fringes disappear
D.
No change in pattern
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Solution
Moving one mirror changes the path length of one beam, causing the fringes to move apart or closer depending on the direction of movement.
Correct Answer: B — Fringes move apart
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Q. In a Michelson interferometer, what happens to the interference pattern if one of the mirrors is moved?
A.
The pattern disappears
B.
The pattern shifts
C.
The pattern becomes brighter
D.
The pattern becomes dimmer
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Solution
Moving one of the mirrors changes the path length of one beam, causing a shift in the interference pattern.
Correct Answer: B — The pattern shifts
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Q. In a Michelson interferometer, what happens when one of the mirrors is moved slightly?
A.
No change in interference pattern
B.
Fringes shift
C.
Fringes disappear
D.
Fringes become brighter
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Solution
Moving one of the mirrors changes the path length, causing a shift in the interference pattern (fringes).
Correct Answer: B — Fringes shift
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Q. In a single-slit diffraction pattern, what is the angle for the first minimum if the slit width is 0.5 mm and the wavelength of light is 600 nm?
A.
30°
B.
60°
C.
45°
D.
15°
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Solution
For single-slit diffraction, the first minimum occurs at sin θ = λ/a. Here, sin θ = 600 x 10^-9 m / 0.5 x 10^-3 m = 0.0012, θ ≈ 0.0698 rad ≈ 4°.
Correct Answer: C — 45°
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Q. In a single-slit diffraction pattern, what is the angle for the first minimum?
A.
sin(θ) = λ/a
B.
sin(θ) = 2λ/a
C.
sin(θ) = 3λ/a
D.
sin(θ) = 0
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Solution
The angle for the first minimum in single-slit diffraction is given by sin(θ) = λ/a, where a is the slit width.
Correct Answer: A — sin(θ) = λ/a
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Q. In a single-slit diffraction pattern, what is the angular position of the first minimum?
A.
sin(θ) = λ/a
B.
sin(θ) = 2λ/a
C.
sin(θ) = 3λ/a
D.
sin(θ) = 0
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Solution
The first minimum in a single-slit diffraction pattern occurs at sin(θ) = λ/a, where a is the width of the slit.
Correct Answer: A — sin(θ) = λ/a
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Q. In a single-slit diffraction pattern, what is the angular width of the central maximum if the slit width is 0.5 mm and the wavelength of light is 500 nm?
A.
0.1 rad
B.
0.2 rad
C.
0.3 rad
D.
0.4 rad
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Solution
Angular width = 2λ/a. Here, a = 0.5 mm = 500 μm, so angular width = 2 * 500 nm / 500 μm = 0.002 rad = 0.2 rad.
Correct Answer: B — 0.2 rad
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Q. In a single-slit diffraction pattern, where is the first minimum located?
A.
At θ = 0
B.
At θ = λ/a
C.
At θ = a/λ
D.
At θ = 2λ/a
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Solution
The first minimum in a single-slit diffraction pattern occurs at θ = λ/a, where a is the width of the slit.
Correct Answer: B — At θ = λ/a
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Q. In a thin film interference, what causes the colors seen in soap bubbles?
A.
Reflection and refraction
B.
Diffraction
C.
Scattering
D.
Absorption
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Solution
The colors in soap bubbles are due to thin film interference caused by the reflection and refraction of light at the film's surfaces.
Correct Answer: A — Reflection and refraction
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Q. In a thin film interference, what type of interference occurs when light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index?
A.
Constructive
B.
Destructive
C.
No interference
D.
Total internal reflection
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Solution
When light reflects off a medium with a higher refractive index, a phase change of π occurs, leading to destructive interference.
Correct Answer: B — Destructive
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, if the thickness of the film is 200 nm and the refractive index of oil is 1.5, what is the wavelength of light in the film?
A.
400 nm
B.
600 nm
C.
800 nm
D.
1000 nm
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Solution
Wavelength in the film λ' = λ/n. If λ = 900 nm, then λ' = 900 nm / 1.5 = 600 nm.
Correct Answer: B — 600 nm
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, if the thickness of the film is 200 nm, what is the condition for the first order bright fringe?
A.
2t = (m + 1/2)λ
B.
2t = mλ
C.
t = (m + 1/2)λ
D.
t = mλ
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Solution
For constructive interference in a thin film, the condition is 2t = mλ, where m is an integer.
Correct Answer: B — 2t = mλ
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, if the thickness of the film is 500 nm, what is the condition for destructive interference for light of wavelength 600 nm?
A.
2t = (m + 1/2)λ
B.
2t = mλ
C.
t = (m + 1/2)λ
D.
t = mλ
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Solution
For destructive interference in a thin film, the condition is 2t = (m + 1/2)λ, where m is an integer.
Correct Answer: A — 2t = (m + 1/2)λ
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, if the thickness of the film is 500 nm, what is the condition for destructive interference for light of wavelength 600 nm in air?
A.
2t = (m + 1/2)λ
B.
2t = mλ
C.
t = (m + 1/2)λ
D.
t = mλ/2
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Solution
For destructive interference in a thin film, the condition is 2t = (m + 1/2)λ, where m is an integer.
Correct Answer: A — 2t = (m + 1/2)λ
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, what color will be seen if the film thickness is such that it causes constructive interference for blue light?
A.
Red
B.
Green
C.
Blue
D.
Yellow
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Solution
Constructive interference for blue light indicates that blue will be the color seen due to the film thickness.
Correct Answer: C — Blue
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, which color is most likely to be seen at normal incidence?
A.
Red
B.
Blue
C.
Green
D.
Yellow
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Solution
The color seen depends on the thickness of the film and the wavelength of light. Typically, red is seen due to constructive interference for certain thicknesses.
Correct Answer: A — Red
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Q. In a thin film of oil on water, which color will appear at the center of the film if the oil has a thickness of λ/2?
A.
Red
B.
Blue
C.
Green
D.
No color
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Solution
At the center of the film with thickness λ/2, destructive interference occurs for all wavelengths, leading to no color.
Correct Answer: D — No color
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