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optics questions

The document is a physics test paper covering topics such as Snell's Law, wave-particle duality, and the behavior of light in different media. It includes questions on refraction, diffraction, and the calculation of wavelengths, as well as explanations of key concepts like dispersion and interference. The paper consists of multiple-choice questions, calculations, and descriptive answers related to geometric and wave optics.

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6 views4 pages

optics questions

The document is a physics test paper covering topics such as Snell's Law, wave-particle duality, and the behavior of light in different media. It includes questions on refraction, diffraction, and the calculation of wavelengths, as well as explanations of key concepts like dispersion and interference. The paper consists of multiple-choice questions, calculations, and descriptive answers related to geometric and wave optics.

Uploaded by

aboalezsama
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Physics Test Paper

Total Marks: 25

1.1 State Snell's Law and use a diagram to illustrate how light refracts when it passes from one medium to another. (3)
Snell's Law: It states that the ra o of the sine of the angle of incidence (θi) to the sine of the angle of refrac on (θr) is
constant and is equal to the ra o of the refrac ve indices of the two media. Mathema cally,
sinθi/ sinθr = n2/n1 where n1 is the refrac ve index of the first medium and n2 is the refrac ve index of the second
medium.

Diagram: (A diagram showing a light ray passing from air into water, bending towards the normal at the boundary)

1.2 Why is the wavelength of a small par cle like an electron easier to measure than that of a large object like a soccer
ball? (2)
According to de Broglie's law, the wavelength (λ) of a par cle is given by:
λ=h/mv
where h is Planck's constant, m is the mass of the par cle, and v is its velocity.

For small par cles like electrons, the mass (mmm) is very small, resul ng in a rela vely large wavelength that can be
detected using experimental techniques like electron diffrac on. However, for large objects like soccer balls, the mass is
very large, making the wavelength extremely small and prac cally impossible to measure with current technology.

1.3 The order of colors in the visible spectrum from shortest to longest wavelength is ____; (3)
(a) red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
(b) violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red
(c) blue, green, yellow, orange, red, violet, indigo
(d) none of the above

Answer:
(b) violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red

1.4 The phenomenon of light bending around an obstacle is called ____; (2)
(a) reflec on
(b) refrac on
(c) diffrac on
(d) sca ering
(e) none of the above

Answer:
(c) diffrac on
1.5 Consider a hypothe cal scenario where light traveling in air enters a diamond with a refrac ve index n=2.42
Calculate the wavelength of the refracted light if the incident light has a wavelength of 600 nm. Indicate the color of
the refracted light. (5)
The wavelength of light in the diamond can be calculated using the formula:
λ′=λ/n where λ=600 nm is the wavelength in air and n=2.42 is the refrac ve index of diamond.
λ′=600 nm/ 2.42 ≈248 nm

The refracted wavelength (248 nm) is in the ultraviolet range, which is not visible to the human eye, but if it were visible,
it would be beyond violet.

1.6 A beam of light passes through two slits that are 0.02 mm apart. If the second dark fringe on the viewing screen is
observed at an angle of 15.2°, what is the wavelength and corresponding color of the light? (4)

Answer:
For dark fringes, the formula is:
dsinθ= (m+1/2) λ

d=0.02mm=2×10^-5 m m=1 for the second dark fringe 𝜃=15.2∘

λ= (2×10^−5 m × sin15.2∘)/ (1+ ½ ) ≈6.5×10^−7m = 650nm

The corresponding color for 650 nm is red.

1.7 In a situa on where light with a wavelength of 5.00×10^−7 m passes from air into a medium with a higher
refrac ve index, what addi onal informa on is required to determine the angle of refrac on of the light at the
boundary? (3)
(a) The speed of light in the medium.
(b) The wavelength of the light in the medium.
(c) The angle of incidence of the light in the medium.
(d) none of the above.

Answer:
(b) The wavelength of the light in the medium.

1.8 Light traveling in a vacuum strikes an unknown material with an incident angle of 35°. If the angle of refrac on is
22°, calculate the refrac ve index of the material. (3)
Using Snell's Law:
n=sinθi/ sinθr

n=sin35∘/sin22∘

≈1.53

The refrac ve index of the unknown material is 1.53.


Physics Question Paper: Geometric and Wave Optics

1. Which phenomenon of light is explained by the wave-particle duality?


a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Photoelectric effect
d) Diffraction Answer: c) Photoelectric effect
2. In Young's double-slit experiment, if the path difference between two waves is λ2 what type of
interference occurs?
a) Constructive
b) Destructive
c) No interference
d) Partial Answer: b) Destructive
3. The angle of incidence in a medium with refractive index n1=1.5 is 30°. If the refractive index of the
second medium is n2=1.33, the angle of refraction is closest to:
a) 25°
b) 20°
c) 30°
d) 15° Answer: a) 25°
4. Which of the following colors of light has the smallest angle of deviation when passing through a
prism?
a) Blue
b) Green
c) Red
d) Violet Answer: c) Red
5. The wavelength of light is shortest in which of the following media?
a) Air
b) Water
c) Glass
d) Vacuum Answer: d) Vacuum
6. Which law is used to determine the bending of light when it passes from one medium to another?
a) Law of Reflection
b) Snell’s Law
c) Law of Diffraction
d) Law of Dispersion Answer: b) Snell’s Law
7. What is the significance of the de Broglie wavelength in the context of wave-particle duality?
a) It is equal to the speed of light.
b) It is inversely proportional to the mass and velocity of an object.
c) It only applies to light.
d) It is always constant. Answer: b) It is inversely proportional to the mass and velocity of an object.
8. The angular spread of light passing through a prism is caused by:
a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Diffraction
d) Dispersion Answer: d) Dispersion
9. What is the relationship between the wavelength and the index of refraction according to Snell's
Law?
a) Directly proportional
b) Inversely proportional
c) Exponentially related
d) Constant Answer: b) Inversely proportional
10. Diffraction of light is most significant when the size of the obstacle or aperture is:
a) Much larger than the wavelength
b) Comparable to the wavelength
c) Much smaller than the wavelength
d) equal speed of light Answer: b) Comparable to the wavelength
11. (5 marks) Explain the wave-particle duality of light using the photoelectric effect and Young's
double-slit experiment.
Answer: Wave-particle duality refers to the concept that light exhibits both wave-like and particle-like
properties. The photoelectric effect demonstrates the particle nature of light, where photons knock
electrons off a metal surface when illuminated. Conversely, the double-slit experiment shows wave
behavior; light passing through two narrow slits creates an interference pattern on a screen, indicating that
light behaves as a wave.
12. (5 marks) Derive Snell’s Law from the concept of wavefronts and explain how it applies to the
refraction of light.
Answer: Snell’s Law states n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2 . When light travels from one medium to another, wavefronts
change speed, causing them to bend. The change in speed and direction at the boundary leads to the sine
relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, allowing us to calculate how much light bends
when entering a new medium.
13. (5 marks) A light ray in air strikes a glass surface at an angle of 45°. If the refractive index of glass
is 1.5, calculate the angle of refraction.
Answer: Using Snell's Law:
n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2
1⋅sin 45°) =1.5⋅sin(θ2)
sin(θ2) =sin (45°)/ 1.5 ≈0.471
θ2≈28.1°
14. (5 marks) Describe the phenomenon of dispersion and explain why different colors of white light
are refracted at different angles when passing through a prism.
Answer: Dispersion occurs when white light passes through a prism and separates into its constituent
colors. Each color has a different wavelength and, consequently, a different refractive index in the prism
material. Shorter wavelengths (e.g., violet) are refracted more than longer wavelengths (e.g., red), resulting
in a spectrum of colors.
15. (5 marks) Using the de Broglie wavelength formula, calculate the wavelength of an electron moving
with a velocity of 2×10^6 m/s.
Answer:
λ=h/mv
h= 6.626x 10^-34 J.s mass of electron m= 9.11x 10^-31 Kg

v=2x10^6 λ= 3.48x 10^-10m

16. (5 marks) Define constructive and destructive interference. How do these concepts apply to the
formation of bright and dark fringes in Young’s double-slit experiment?
Answer: Constructive interference occurs when two waves meet in phase, resulting in a higher amplitude
(bright fringes), while destructive interference occurs when they meet out of phase, resulting in a lower
amplitude or cancellation (dark fringes). In the double-slit experiment, bright fringes appear where path
differences are integer multiples of the wavelength, and dark fringes occur where the path difference is an
odd multiple of half the wavelength.
17. (5 marks) A light ray passes through a medium with a refractive index of 1.4 and enters another
medium with a refractive index of 1.6. If the incident angle is 30°, what is the angle of refraction?
Answer:
Using Snell's Law:
n1sinθ1=n2sinθ2
Assuming n1=1.4 n2=1.6
1.4sin (30°) =1.6sin (θ2) θ2 ≈25.9°
18. (5 marks) Discuss the limitations of the ray approximation model of light and how wave optics
provides a better understanding of light behavior at small scales.
Answer: The ray approximation model assumes light travels in straight lines and does not account for
wave phenomena like diffraction and interference. This model is insufficient for explaining light behavior
when encountering obstacles comparable to its wavelength. Wave optics, however, incorporates these
behaviors, providing a more comprehensive understanding of phenomena such as diffraction patterns and
the interference observed in experiments like Young’s double-slit.

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