CASE BASED QUESTIONS

RAY OPTICS
I) A prism is a portion of a transparent medium bounded by two plane faces inclined to each other

deviates through a certain angle from its original path. The angle of deviation of a prism is, 𝜹 =
at a suitable angle. A ray of light suffers two refractions on passing through a prism and hence

angle A. If 𝝁 is refractive index of the material of the prism, then prism formula is,
(𝝁 — 1) A, through which a ray deviates on passing through a thin prism of small refracting

1. For which colour, angle of deviation is minimum? 1M

2. When deviation through a prism is maximum then find the angle of incidence? 1M
3. What is the deviation produced by a prism of angle 6°? (Refractive index of the material of the prism is
1.644)
OR 2M
A ray of light falling at an angle of 50° is refracted through a prism and suffers minimum deviation. If
the angle of prism is 60°, then find the angle of minimum deviation?

II) The lens maker's formula relates the focal length of a lens to the refractive index of the lens
material and the radii of curvature of its two surfaces. This formula is called so because it is
used by manufacturers to design lenses of required focal length from a glass of given refractive
index. If the object is placed at infinity, the image will be formed at focus for both double
convex lens and double concave lens Therefore, lens maker's formula is
1/f = (μ2 / μ1 –1) (1/R1−1/R2) When lens is placed in air, The lens maker formula takes the form
1/f = (μ2 / μ1 –1)) (1/R1−1/R2)
(i) The radius of curvature of each face of biconcave lens with refractive index 1.5 is 30
cm. The focal length of the lens in air is
(a) 12cm (b) 10cm (c) 20cm (d) -30cm
(ii) The radii of curvature of the faces of a double convex lens are 10 cm and 15 cm. If focal
length is 12 cm, then refractive index of glass is
(a) 1.5 (b) 1.78 (c) 2.0 (d) 2.52
(iii) An under-water swimmer cannot see very clearly even in absolutely clear water because
of
(a) absorption of light in water (b) scattering of light in water
(c) reduction of speed of light in water (d) change in focal length of eye-lens
(iv) A thin lens of glass (μ = 1.5) of focal length 10 cm is immersed in water (μ = 1.33). The
new focal length is
(a) 20 cm (b) 40 cm (c) 48 cm (d)12 cm
(OR)
(v) An object is immersed in a fluid. In order that the object becomes invisible, it should
(a) behave as a perfect reflector (b) absorb all light falling on it
(c) have refractive index one (d) have refractive index exactly matching with that of the
surrounding fluid.
III) An optical fibre is a thin tube of transparent material that allows light to pass through, without being
refracted into the air or another external medium. It makes use of total internal reflection. These fibres
are fabricated in such a way that light reflected at one side of the inner surface strikes the other at an
angle larger than critical angle. Even, if fibre is bent, light can easily travel along the length.
(i) Which of the following is based on the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light?
(a) sparkling of diamond (b) optical fibre (c) instrument used by doctors for endoscopy (d) all of these
(ii) A ray of light will undergo total internal reflection inside the optical fibre, if it
(a) goes from rarer medium to denser medium (b) is incident at an angle less than critical angle
(c) strikes the interface normally (d) is incident at an angle greater than critical angle
(iii) If in core, angle of incidence is equal to critical angle, then angle of refraction will be
(a) 00 (b) 450 (c) 900 (d) 1800
(iv) In an optical fibre (shown), correct relation for refractive indices of core and cladding is
(a) n1 = n2 (b) n1 < n2 (c) n1 > n2 (d) n1 + n2 = 2
(v) If the value of critical angle is 30° for total internal reflection from given optical fibre, then speed of
light in that fibre is
(a) 3 x 108 ms-1 (b) 1.5 x 108 ms-1 (c) 6 x 108 ms-1 (d) 45 x 108 ms-1
IV) Total internal reflection is the phenomenon of reflection of light into denser medium at the interface
of denser medium with rarer medium. For this phenomenon to occur necessary condition is that light
must move from denser to rarer and angle of incidence in denser medium must be greater than critical
angle for the pair of media in contact. Critical angle depends on nature of medium and wavelength of
light. We can show that μ=1/sin C (where C is the critical angle).
(i) critical angle for glass air interface, where μ for glass is 3/2, is
(a)41.80 (b) 600 (c)300 (d)150
(ii) Critical angle for water air interface is 48.60, then what is the refractive index of water
(a)1 (b)3/2 (c)4/3 (d)3/4
(iii) Critical angle for air water interface for violet colour is 490 its value for red colour will be
(a)490 (b)500 (c)480 (d)can’t say
(iv) Which of the following is not due to total internal reflection?
(a) working of optical fibre (b)difference between real depth and apparent depth of a pound.
(c)mirage on hot summer day (d) brilliance of diamond
(v) critical angle of glass is θ1 and that of the water is θ2 critical angle for water and glass surface would
be (μg > μw)
(a) less than θ2 (b) between θ1 and θ2 (c)greater then θ2 (d)less than θ1
V) The whole class was excited as they were on their way to Kavalur in Tamil Nadu, an observatory,
housing the largest telescope in India. The teacher was explaining type of telescope, the diameter of the
objective (2.34m) and other details. The children were looking forward to see through the telescope.
(i) What type of telescope is the teacher referring to
(a) Binocular (b) Refracting type telescope (c) Reflecting type telescope (d) Compound microscope
(ii) In astronomical compare to eye piece, objective lens has
(a) negative focal length (b) zero focal length (c) small focal length (d) large focal length
(iii) If fo is the focal length of the objective and fe is the focal length of the eyepiece, then magnification
of a refracting (M) telescope can be determined as
(a) M = fo/fe (b) M = fo + fe (c) M = fo - fe (d) M = fe/fo
(iv) A telescope can make stars look
(a) bigger (b) brighter (c) smaller (d) all of above
(v) A telescope that uses two converging lenses is called
(a) reflecting telescope (b) refracting telescope (c) simple telescope (d) compound microscope

VI) The object appears to be raised from its real position to apparent position (i.e. from O to I). The
distance through which the position of the object appears to be raised is called normal shift. The normal
shift in the position of the objects depends upon the real depth of the object and the refractive index of
the refracting medium.
(i) What is the apparent depth of a tank 3 m deep when viewed outside (refractive index of water is 4/3).
(a)1.1 m (b)2.26 m (c)1.5 m (d)0.5 m
(ii)A rectangular block of glass ABCD has a refractive index 1.6. A pin is placed midway on the face
AB. When observed from the face AD, the pin shall
(a) appear to be near A (b) appear to be near D
(c) appear to be at the centre of AD (d) not to be seen at all
(iii)A short pulse of white light incident from air to a glass slab at normal incidence after traveling
through the slab the first colour to shift is
(a) blue (b) green (c) violet (d) red
(iv) A mark at the bottom of a liquid appears to rise by 0.1m. The depth of the liquid is 1m. The
refractive index of the liquid is
(a)1.33 (b) 9/10 (c)10/9 (d) 1.5
(v) A double convex lens of refractive index u1 is immersed in a liquid of refractive index u2. The lens
will act as transparent plane sheet when the lens will act as a transparent plane sheet when
(a)u1< u2 (b)u1>u2 (c)u1=u2 (d)u1=1/u2

WAVE OPTICS
I) The experiment produces a bright central maximum that is flanked on both sides by
secondary maxima, with the intensity of each succeeding secondary maximum
decreasing as the distance from the centre increases. Figure 4 illustrates this point
with a plot of beam intensity versus diffraction radius. Note that the minima
occurring between secondary maxima are located in multiples of π.
This experiment was first explained by Augustin Fresnel who, along with Thomas Young,
produced important evidence confirming that light travels in waves. From the figures
above, we see how a coherent, monochromatic light emitted from point is diffracted by
aperture d. Give the answer of the following questions

(i) Which one of the following is most essential for observing diffraction of light___________
(a) monochromatic light (b) white light
(c) a very narrow slit or obstacle (d) two coherent sources
(ii) A diffraction pattern is obtained using a beam of red light. What happens if red light is
replaced by the blue light_________
(a) bands disappear (b) diffraction bands become narrow and crowded together
(c) diffraction bands become broader and farther apart (d) no change in diffraction pattern
(iii) The angular width of the central maxima of a diffraction pattern due to a single slit does not
depend upon the_____
(a) distance between slit and source (b) width of the slits
(c) wavelength of light used (d) frequency of light used
(iv) The phenomenon of diffraction may be considered as interference, where the number of
coherent sources are___
(a) one (b) zero (c) less than 5 (d) infinite
(v) Diffraction pattern of a single slit is observed with red light the source is then replaced with
that of blue light. If the positions of the diffraction minima on the screen are to remain the same
as before__________
(a) the slit width must be decreased (b) the slit width must be increased
(c) the lens-screen combination must be moved away from the slit
(d) the lens-source combination must be moved away from the slit
II) Young’s double slit experiment uses two coherent sources of light placed at a small distance
apart. The light from these slits falls on a screen which is at a distance D from the position of
slits S1 and S2 ,d is the separation between the two slits. Interference pattern appears on the
screen. The waves from a S1 and S2 travel equal distance to reach the point O the central point
which is equidistant from S1 and S2. The path difference for these waves is zero. There will be a

dark fringe are formed. Fringe width 𝛽 is the separation between two successive bright or dark
central bright fringe at O. but as we move from O upwards or downwards, alternate bright and

fringes. 𝛽 is independent of the order of fringe (n). In case of light 𝜆 is extremely small. D
should be much larger than d so that the fringe width 𝛽 may be appreciable.
1) State the principle of superposition of waves.
2) Draw the graph showing the variation of intensity in the interference pattern in
young’s double slit experiment with the distance from the centre O (y).
3) What will be the effect on the interference fringes in young’s double slit experiment
when (a) Separation between the slits is increased. (b) Monochromatic source is replaced
by source of white light.
(OR)
(a) Two waves from S1 and S2 have a phase difference 𝜙. If Δ𝑥 is the path difference

difference. (b) Obtain the ration of the interference fringe width 𝛽1 and 𝛽2 obtained
between the two waves, write the relation between phase difference and the path

with monochromatic red light of 𝜆1 = 660 𝑛𝑚 and ultraviolet light of 𝜆2 = 330 𝑛𝑚

3. When light from a monochromatic source is incident on a single narrow slit, it gets
diffracted and a pattern of alternate bright and dark fringes is obtained on screen, called
"Diffraction Pattern" of single slit. In diffraction pattern of single slit, it is found that
Central bright fringe is ·of maximum intensity and the intensity of any secondary bright
fringe decreases with increase in its order. When light from a monochromatic source is
incident on a single narrow slit, it gets diffracted and a pattern of alternate bright and
dark fringes is obtained on screen, called "Diffraction Pattern" of single slit. In diffraction
pattern of single slit, it is found that
 Central bright fringe is ·of maximum intensity and the intensity of any secondary bright
fringe decreases with increase in its order.
 Central bright fringe is twice as wide as any other secondary bright or dark fringe
 1. A single slit of width 0.1 mm is illuminated by a parallel beam of light of wavelength
6000 A and diffraction bands are observed on a screen 0.5 m from the slit. The distance
of the third dark band from the central bright band is
(a) 3 mm (b) 1.5 mm (c) 9 mm (d) 4.5
mm
2. In Fraunhofer diffraction pattern, slit width is 0.2 mm and screen is at 2 m away from
the lens. If wavelength of light used is 5000 λ then the distance between the first
minimum on either side the central maximum is
(a) 10-1 m (b) 10-2 m (c) 2 x 10-2 m (d) 2 x 10-1 m
3. Light of wavelength 600 nm is incident normally on a slit of width 0.2 mm. The
angular width of central maxima in the diffraction pattern is (measured from minimum to
minimum)
(a) 6 x 10-3 rad (b) 4 x 10-3 rad (c) 2.4 x 10-3 rad (d) 4.5 x 10-3 rad
4. A diffraction pattern is obtained by using a beam of red light. What will happen, if the
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 narrower and
crowded together.
III) According to Huygens principle, each point of the wavefront is the source of a
secondary disturbance. The wavelets from every point of a wavefront spread out in all
directions. These wavelets emanating from the wavefront are called ‘secondary
wavelets. If we wish to determine the shape of the wavefront at time t, we draw spheres
of radius ct from each point on the spherical wavefront where c represents the speed of
the waves in the medium. If we draw common tangent to all these spheres, we obtain a
new position of wavefront. Huygens principle could satisfactorily explain the
phenomenon of reflection and refraction. Amplitude of wavelets is given by
Aἀ (1+cosθ), For wavefront in forward direction θ= 00 For wavefront in backward
direction θ = 1800

(i) We get spherical wavefront from point source, cylindrical wavefront from line source,
similarly plane wavefront from
(a) source at infinity (b) a point source (c) a plane (d) a circle
(ii) If the velocity of light emerging from source is ‘v’, the velocity of secondary wavelets in that
medium will be
(a) less than v (b) greater than v (c) equal to v (d)may increase or decrease
8
(iii) From a point source light emerges with a velocity of 3x10 m/s. For getting secondary
wavelets after 1x10-3s, we apply an arc of radius
(a) 3 x 108 m (b) 1.5 x 108 m (c) 3 x 105 m (d)1.5 x 105 m
(iv) According to Huygens we get wavelets in
(a) forward direction only (b) backward direction only
(c) both forward and backward direction (d)none of the above
IV) When a number of waves travelling through a medium superpose on each other, the resultant
displacement at any point at a given instant is equal to the vector sum of the displacements due
to the individual waves at that point. If y1, y2, y3,….yn are the displacements due to the different
waves acting separately, then according to the principle of superposition, the resultant
displacement when all the waves act together is given by the vector sum: y = y1+ y2 + y3+ ... + yn

(i) If a particle of the medium is displaced by a wave by 5cm in +y direction and by 3cm in – y
direction by another wave, then what will be the resultant displacement of the particle
(a) 5cm in +y direction (b) 2cm in +y direction (c) 3cm in –y direction (d) 2cm in -y direction
(ii) If a particle of the medium is displaced by a wave by 4cm in +y direction and by 3cm in +x
direction by another wave, then what will be the resultant displacement of the particle
(a) 1cm in +y direction (b) 5cm in +y direction
(c) 5cm in a direction between +x and +y axis (d) 7cm in +y direction
(iii) When two light waves through a medium
(a) They deflect each- other (b) They attract each- other
(c) They travel independent of each- other (d) Only one wave can travel at a time
(iv) Superposition principle is also applicable for
(a) Force on a charge due to a multiple charge
(b) Electric field at a point due to a number of charges
(c) Magnetic field at a point due to a number of charges (d) All of the above
(v)ASSERTION- When a plane wavefront is refracted through a convex lens, the emerging
wavefront is spherical.
REASON- The central part of the plane wavefront travels through the greatest thickness of
convex lens and is, therefore, slowed down the most. The marginal parts of the wavefront travel
through a minimum thickness of the lens and are, therefore, slowed down the least.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of assertion
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false (d) If both the assertion and reason are false
VI) Anirudh woke up in the morning and saw it was raining. He got ready for school. When it
stopped raining, he started from his home to school. In his way to school, he observed that on
ground there is a rainbow. He looked at that rainbow closely and saw there was kerosene oil split
over the wet floor which is reflecting beautiful colours. He wondered how can this rainbow be
formed on the floor because he studied in class 10th that rainbow is formed in the sky when sun
rays fall on water droplets. He ran to the school and asked his science teacher about the
phenomenon. The teacher took a plastic tub filled with muddy water and poured two drops of
kerosene oil in it. The boy got surprised to see beautiful colours were formed in the tub. The
teacher explained this is due to the interference between the light waves reflected by the upper
and lower surfaces of thin films formed by kerosene oil. As they both originate from the same
source, they are coherent waves.

(i) Is there any difference between the colours emerging from a rainbow and the colours
from kerosene oil seen in sunlight?
(a) No, both are produced due to same reason
(b) Yes, in rainbow colours are produced due to dispersion, while in kerosene oil, colours are
due to interference of light
(c) No, since both are having same pattern of colours
(d) Yes, in rainbow colours are due to reflection of light, but in kerosene oil film reflection does
not take place.

(ii) If instead of pouring two drops of kerosene oil, half bottle of kerosene oil is poured, shall
we see the same colours?
(a) Yes, because we are using the same oil (b) No, in this case reflection will not take place
(c) No, because now thick film is formed so general illumination will be seen
(d)Yes, because quantity of oil doesn’t matter for producing colours
(iii) (A) When two independent tuning forks are struck simultaneously
(B)In prism (C)In two independent light bulbs
(D)In soap bubbles In which of the above the phenomenon of interference is observed
a) In (A), (B), (C), (D) (b) In (A), (B), (D)
(c) In (A), (D) (d) In (B), (C), (D)
(iv) Interference pattern can’t be seen if
(a) Sources are not coherent (b) coherent sources are far apart
(c) coherent sources are infinitely close to each –other (d) all of the above
(v) Assertion: A white source of light during interference forms only white and black fringes.
Reason: Width of frindge is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light used.
(a) If both assertion and reason are true but the reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false (d) If both the assertion and reason are false