Self Assessment qustions for Reason Questions for Spectrum - Final revision

When a white light ray falls on a prism, the ray at its first surface suffers both deviation and dispersion
Reason — When a white light enters the first surface of a prism, light of different colours due to their different speeds in
glass, gets deviated through different angles towards the base of the prism i.e., dispersion of white light into its constituent
colours takes place at the first surface of prism.
Hence, both deviation and dispersion takes place at the first surface.
When a ray of white light falls on a prism -all the three below
Reason
The dispersion of white light occurs at the first surface of the prism, where white light separates into its constituent colors
due to differences in their refractive indices.
The deviation of light rays occurs at both surfaces of the prism, where each color of light bends or deviates as it enters and
exits the prism due to changes in refractive index.
The prism does not produce colors but only splits the various colors present in white light.
The wavelength range of white light is: 400 nm to 800 nm
Reason — As we know, the wavelength of violet colour is 400 nm and that of red colour is 800 nm. Hence, the wavelength
range of white light is 400 nm to 800 nm.
The correct arrangement of colours in an increasing order of their wavelengths is : Violet < Green < Red
Reason — The above sequence represents the order of increasing wavelengths of light, with red having the longest
wavelength, green in the middle, and violet having the shortest wavelength.
In the spectrum of white light by a prism, the colour at the extreme end opp to the base of a prism -red
Reason - With the help of the figure above, we can see the splitting of white light into its constituent colours. Hence, we
observe that the colour at the extreme end opposite to the base i.e., on the top is the red colour.

Out of red, blue and violet, which colour has the greatest speed in vacuum all have the same speed
Reason — All electromagnetic waves, including light, travel at the same speed in a vacuum, which is the speed of light
denoted by 'c'. Therefore, regardless of their colour, red, blue, and violet light all travel at the same speed in vacuum.

7.A beam consisting of red, blue and yellow colours is incident normally on the face AB of an isosceles right-angled prism
ABC as shown in the figure given above
Reason - Critical angle of glass-air interface for yellow colour is 45°. Out of the four emergent rays P, Q, R and S , then Q is
for the yellow colour : As the critical angle for yellow colour is 45°, so it suffers refraction along the line AC of the prism.
8.The frequency of violet light is 7.5 x 1014 Hz. Its wavelength in nm is : 400nm
Reason — As we know, Speed of light (c) = Frequency (f) x Wavelength (λ) and small c = 3 x 108 m s-1 Given Frequency
range = 7.5 × 1014 Hz then Substituting the values in the formula, Therefore, λ = 400 nm
9. The correct order of angle of deviation of indigo, green, yellow and red colours is :
Reason- The order of deviation is : δI > δG > δY > δR as red light deviates the least and indigo the most.
9. How does the speed of light in glass change on increasing the wavelength of light?
Reason — On increasing the wavelength of light in glass, the speed of light will also increase.
For example — In visible light, the speed of violet colour ( wavelength λ = 4000 Å) is least and red colour (wavelength λ =
8000 Å) is most.
10. Which colour of white light travels (a) fastest (b) slowest, in glass?
Reason — (a) Red colour of white light travels fastest in glass as it has longest wavelength i.e., λ = 8000 Å.
(b) Violet colour of white light travels slowest in glass as it has shortest wavelength i.e., λ = 4000 Å.
11. Name the subjective property of light related to its wavelength.
Reason — Colour of light is the subjective property of light related to its wavelength.
Different colours differ in their wavelength. In fact, wavelength is the characteristic of colour, irrespective of its origin
i.e., the light of the same colour, obtained from different sources will have same wavelength.
12. range of wavelenth of the spectrum of white light in Å is 4000 Å to 8000 Å. And in nm is 400 nm to 800 nm.
13.The four colours of the spectrum of white light which have wavelength longer than blue light are GYOR
14. As we know, that the deviation caused by a prism increases with the decrease in the wavelength of light.
(i) In visible light, the violet colour ( wavelength = 4000 Å) is deviated the most.
ii) In visible light, the red colour ( wavelength = 8000 Å) is deviated the least.
15.When an EM wave passes from one medium to the other, which property remains unchanged is frequency
Reason — When an electromagnetic wave passes from one medium to another, the frequency of the wave remains
unchanged. This is a fundamental property of electromagnetic waves.
16. Two waves A and B have wavelengths 0.01 Å and 9000 Å respectively. The waves A and B are:
Gamma wave and infrared wave respectively
Reason — Wave A with a very short wavelength is characteristic of gamma rays and wave B with a much longer wavelength
falls into the infrared range.
The property of gamma rays different from light is that, it has strong penetrating power. Hence, gamma rays can pass
through human body and can cause immense damage.
17. The correct arrangement of the following radiations in an increasing order of their wavelengths is :
Gamma rays(of 10-3 nm.), X-rays, UV, Visible light, IR, MW finally RW
18. The source of ultraviolet light is carbon arc-lamp. The radiation used for satellite communication is microwaves
19. For obtaining the spectrum of ultraviolet radiation, the material of prism should be : Quartz
Reason — For obtaining the spectrum of ultraviolet radiation, the material of prism should be quartz as they are absorbed
by glass.
20 infrared radiation is focused by a proper device on the bulb of a thermometer. Mercury in the thermometer shows a
rapid increase
Reason — Mercury in the thermometer shows a rapid increase due to the heating effect of the radiation. Hence, we can
say that the radiation P is the infrared radiation.
21. For obtaining the spectrum of infrared radiation, the material of prism should be : rock salt
Reason — For obtaining the spectrum of infrared radiation, the material of prism should be of rock salt as it does not
absorb infrared radiation whereas glass prism does.
22. The most energetic EM radiations are gamma rays with shorter than 0.01 nm and freq above 1019 Hz.
23. The waves used for taking photographs at night are IR waves
Reason — Infrared rays due to longer wavelength can penetrate darkness better than visible light, allowing cameras
equipped with infrared sensors to capture images even in very low light conditions
24. The kinds of electromagnetic waves and their applications.
IR rays - in remote-controlled gadgets and RW- for Tx and X-rays - for detection of bone fractures and UV for absorption by
atmospheric ozone layer, MW – for satellite communication
26. (a) X-rays are used in the study of atomic arrangement in crystals as well as in complex molecules.
(b) As X-rays can penetrate through human flesh, but they are stopped by bones. Hence, they are also used to detect
fracture in bones. the high energetic invisible electromagnetic wave which helps in the study of the structure of crystals-
MCQ The invisible electromagnetic waves beyond the red end of visible spectrum are called the infrared (or
heat )radiations. Range of wavelength of infrared radiations is 8000 Å to 107 Å.
The range of wavelength of the electromagnetic waves visible to us is 4000 Å to 8000 Å.
And called the visible radiations (or visible light) because in the presence of these radiations, other objects are seen by us.
(i) The region just beyond the red end of the spectrum is known as the infrared.
(ii) The region just beyond the violet end of the spectrum is known as the ultraviolet.
Infrared radiation which can be detected by (a) a thermopile (b) Ultraviolet - a solution of silver chloride.
(i) The radiations of wavelength just longer than 8 x 10-7 m are infrared radiation.
(ii) The radiations of wavelength just shorter than 4 x 10-7 m are Ultraviolet radiations.
(a) Ultraviolet radiations are absorbed through glass, but can pass through quartz. Therefore, to obtain the ultraviolet
spectrum from its source, a quartz prism is used.
The green house gases such as carbon dioxide, present in the earth's atmosphere absorb the low energy infrared
radiations and keep the earth's surface warm.
(a) Wavelength of X-ray waves is in the range of 0.1 Å to 100 Å. Hence, the EM wave having wavelength 50 Å is X-ray.
(b) As all the waves move with the speed of 3 x 108 ms-1 in vacuum. Hence, the speed of x-ray in vacuum is also equal to 3 x
108 ms-1.
(c) X-ray waves are used for the detection of fracture in bones, teeth etc (i.e., radiography).
The three radiations which are invisible and beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum, (in decreasing order of
wavelength) are as follows — UV rays - 10 – 400 nm / X-rays - 0.01 – 10 nm / Gamma rays below 0.01 nm
The part of spectrum beyond the red extreme and the violet extreme to which our eyes do not respond is called the
invisible spectrum.
(a) Ultraviolet rays — wavelength range 10 to 400 nm
(b) Visible light — wavelength range 400 to 800 nm
(c) Infrared radiations — wavelength range 800 to 106 nm.
Two electromagnetic waves of wavelength smaller than that of violet light ( λ = 400 nm ) are —
(a) Ultraviolet radiations ( λ = 100 to 400 nm ) and (b) X-rays ( λ = 0.01 to 10 nm )
Ultraviolet radiations are used for sterilizing purposes.
X-rays are used for detection of fracture in bones, teeth, etc. ( i.e.,radiography ) and for diagnostic purposes such as CAT
scan in medical science.
(a) Microwaves are used for analysis of atomic and molecular structure.
(b) Ultraviolet radiations are used for sterilizing purposes.
(c) Infrared radiations are used for therapeutic purposes by doctors.
(d) Gamma rays are used in medical science to kill cancer cells (i.e., radio therapy).
(a) The waves of lowest wavelength are gamma rays ( λ = below 0.01 nm).
(b) The waves used for taking photographs in dark are infrared rays.
(c) The waves produced by the changes in the nucleus of an atom are gamma rays.
(d) The waves having wavelength nearly 0.1 nm are X-rays.
Two waves A and B have wavelength 0.01 Å and 9000 Å respectively. (a) Name the two waves. (b) Compare the speeds of
these waves when they travel in vacuum. Then (a) Wave A is Gamma rays (as the wavelength range of gamma rays is
shorter than 0.1 Å). Wave B is IRR (as the wavelength range of infrared radiations is 8000 Å to 107 Å).
(b) All EM waves travel with the speed of light (i.e., 3 x 10 8 ) in vacuum. ratio of speeds of these waves in vacuum is 1 : 1.

All red hot bodies such as a heated iron ball, flame, fire, etc. are the sources of infrared radiations. The Sun is the natural
source of infrared radiations.
The electric arc and sparks give ultraviolet radiations. A mercury vapour lamp emits radiations, a part of which has
ultraviolet radiations along with the visible light.
Three properties of ultraviolet radiations which are similar to the visible light are as follows —
(a) Ultraviolet radiations travel in a straight line like visible light, with a speed of 3 x 108 m s-1 in air or vacuum.
(b) They obey the laws of reflection and refraction.
(c) They affect the photographic plate.
The properties of ultraviolet radiations which differ from the visible light are as follows —
(a) They are usually scattered by the dust particles present in the earth’s atmosphere.
(b) They produce fluorescence on striking a zinc-sulphide screen.
Three properties of infrared radiations which are similar to the visible light are as follows —
(a) Infrared radiations travel in a straight line like visible light, with a speed of 3 x 108 m s-1 in air or vacuum.
(b) They obey the laws of reflection and refraction.
(c) They do not produce fluorescence.
Two properties of infrared radiations which differ from the visible light are as follows —
(a) They do not pass through glass as they are absorbed by glass.
(b) They are invisible.
Harmful effects of the given radiations are as follows —
(a) Ultraviolet radiations cause health hazards like skin cancer if human body is exposed to them for a long period.
(b) Infrared radiations causes skin burns.
Infrared radiations are used for photography in fog because they are not much scattered, and so they can penetrate
appreciably through it.
Infrared radiations are used for signals during the war because they are not visible and they are not absorbed much in the
medium.
The photographic darkrooms are provided with infrared lamps because they provide some visibility without affecting the
photographic film.
A rock salt prism is used instead of a glass prism to obtain the infrared spectrum because the rock salt prism does not
absorb the infrared radiations, whereas a glass prism absorbs them.
A quartz prism is required for obtaining the spectrum of the ultraviolet light because ultraviolet radiations can pass through
quartz whereas ordinary glass absorbs them.
Ultraviolet bulbs have a quartz envelope instead of glass because ultraviolet radiations are not absorbed by quartz whereas
ordinary glass absorbs the ultraviolet light.
For scattering of light, the necessary condition is the size of air molecules should be smaller than the wavelength of
incident light.
Reason — Scattering of light occurs when the size of the particles or molecules in the medium through which light travels
is smaller than the wavelength of the light. This condition allows the incident light to interact with the particles, causing it
to scatter in various directions.

The intensity of scattered light is related to its wavelength as : I ∝ λ4

Question 2 check in the book

(i.e., I ∝ 1λ4λ41 ).
Reason — Intensity of scattered light is found to be inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength of light.

In the white light of Sun, maximum scattering by the air molecules present in the earth’s atmosphere is for blue colour

(i.e., I ∝ 1λ4λ41 ). As blue light has lowest wavelength, hence, the blue light is scattered the most.
Reason — Intensity of scattered light is found to be inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength of light.
Violet light is scattered nearly .......16........ times more than the red light. book
Reason — According to Rayleigh scattering, the amount of scattering is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the
wavelength of the light. λviolet = 4000 Å and λred = 8000 Å.
According to Rayleigh scattering, Intensity of scattering of violet
Intensity of scattering of redIntensity of scattering of redIntensity of scattering of violet = (λredλviolet)4(λvioletλred)4
So,
Intensity of scattering of violetIntensity of scattering of redIntensity of scattering of redIntensity of scattering of violet = (80
004000)4(40008000)4 = 24 = 16 Hence, Intensity of scattering of violet = 16 time Intensity of scattering of red.
in a space-ship, the earth appears blue
Reason — When an astronaut goes above the atmosphere of the earth in a rocket, he sees the sky black, but to him the
earth appears blue due to the blue colour of sunlight scattered by the earth's atmosphere reaching him.

The red colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset is due to which of the following phenomenon is scattering
Reason — During sunrise and sunset, the sun is positioned at a lower angle in the sky. This causes sunlight to travel
through a thicker layer of Earth's atmosphere, which scatters shorter wavelengths of light (such as blue and green) more
strongly than longer wavelengths (such as red and orange). As a result, the shorter wavelengths are scattered out of the
line of sight, leaving predominantly red and orange hues to be observed.

The sky in a direction other than that of the sun appears ..black... to an observer on the moon.
Reason — Unlike earth, which has an atmosphere that scatters sunlight in various directions, the moon lacks an
atmosphere. As a result, there is no scattering of sunlight to create the blue sky that we see on earth. Hence, the sky in a
direction other than that of the sun appears black to an observer on the moon.

The danger signal is red because its wavelength is the ... longest ..and therefore it gets scattered the least.
Reason — When light passes through a medium, shorter wavelengths (such as blue and violet) are scattered more strongly
than longer wavelengths (such as red and orange). Hence, red light is often used for danger signals to ensure visibility over
longer distances.

When sunlight enters the earth's atmosphere, Violet is scattered the most. (ii) Red is scattered the least.

A beam of blue, green and yellow light passes through the the earth's atmosphere.
(a) Yellow light is scattered the least as it has the highest wavelength.
(b) Blue light is scattered the most as it has the lowest wavelength.

Scattering is the process of absorption and then re-emission of light energy by the dust particles and air molecules present
in the atmosphere. The characteristic property of light responsible for the blue colour of sky is scattering.

How does the intensity of scattered light depend on the wavelength of incident light? State the condition when this
dependence hold.

be inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength of light ( i.e., I ∝ 1λ4λ41 ).
The scattering of light is not same for all wavelengths of incident light. The intensity of scattered light is found to

The above relation holds true, when the air molecules are smaller in size than the wavelength of incident light.
The air molecules of size bigger than the wavelength of incident light, scatter the light of all wavelengths of white light
to the same extent.
For example — The wavelength of violet is least (λ = 4000 Å) and that of red light is most (λ = 8000 Å), therefore, from
the incident white light, violet light is scattered most and the red light is scattered the least. (violet light is scattered
nearly 16 times more than the red light).

scattered light (I) ∝ 1λ4λ41.

Red colour of white light is scattered the least because wavelength of red light (λ = 8000 Å) is longest and intensity of

In the visible light, the wavelength of red light is longest, therefore the light of red colour is scattered least by the air
molecules of the atmosphere. Hence, the light of red colour as com pared to the light of other colours can penetrate to a
longer distance without becoming weak. Thus, red light can be seen from the farthest distance in comparison to the light
of other colours having the same intensity. Hence red light is used for danger signal, so that the signal may be visible from
the far distance even in fog, etc.

How would the sky appear when seen from the space (or moon)? Give reason for your answer.

When seen from the space (or moon), the sky would appear black in colour.
As there is no atmosphere on moon, therefore, no scattered Sun light reaches the moon's surface. Hence, to an observer
on the surface of moon, no light reaches his eyes, except the light reaching directly from the Sun.
Thus, the sky in direction other than the that of the Sun will appear black.
Similarly, when an astronaut goes above the atmosphere of the earth in a rocket, he sees the earth black.

The colour of the sky, in direction other than of the Sun is blue. Explain.
Answer
The light from the Sun has to travel a long distance of the earth's atmosphere before reaching us. As light travels through
the atmosphere, it gets scattered in different directions by the air molecules present in it's path.
The blue (or violet) light due to its short wavelength is scattered more as compared to the red light of longer wavelength.
Thus, the light reaching our eye directly from Sun is rich in red colour, while the light reaching our eye from all other
directions is the scattered blue light.
Therefore, the sky in the direction, other than the direction of Sun, is seen blue.

At the time of sunrise and sunset, the light from Sun has to travel the longest distance of atmosphere to reach the
observer.
Since, the blue light of short wavelength is scattered more, much of it is lost, while the red light of long wavelength is
scattered a little, so it is not much lost.
Thus, blue light is almost absent in sunlight reaching the observer and only the red (white - blue = red) light reaches us.
As a result, the Sun and the region near by it, is seen red.

At noon, the Sun is directly above our head, so we get the light rays directly from the Sun after travelling the shortest
distance, without much scattering of any particular colour. Hence, the sky is seen white.

The clouds are seen white as The clouds are nearer the earth surface and they contain dust particles and aggregates of
water molecules of size bigger than the wavelength of visible light.
Therefore, the dust particles and tiny ice particles present in clouds scatter all colours of incident white light from Sun to
the same extent and hence when the scattered light reaches our eyes, the clouds are seen white.

the smoke from a fire looks white.as The smoke from a fire looks white because the molecules of smoke are bigger than
the wavelength of light, so they scatter lights of all colours equally and the scattered light appears white.