Wave Optics - NEET Physics Questions
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Wave Optics

Question 11: easy

Two polarizers are oriented with transmission planes making an angle of \(45^\circ\) with each other. The percentage of incident unpolarised light that passes through the system is

1. 50%
2. 37.5%
3. 25%
4. 75%
View Answer

An unpolarized light of intensity \(I_0\) becomes \(I_1 = \frac{I_0}{2}\) after passing through the first polarizer. According to Malus's Law, the final intensity is \(I_2 = I_1 cos^2(45^\circ) = \frac{I_0}{2} \left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\right)^2 = \frac{I_0}{4}\), which corresponds to \(25%\) of the incident intensity.

Question 12: easy

In a diffraction pattern due to a single slit of width \(a\), the first minimum is observed at an angle \(30^\circ\) when light of wavelength \(\lambda\) is incident on the slit. The first secondary maximum is observed at an angle

1. \(sin^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\)
2. \(sin^{-1}\left(\frac{3}{4}\right)\)
3. \(sin^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)\)
4. \(sin^{-1}\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)\)
View Answer

For first minimum, \(a sin(30^\circ) = \lambda \Rightarrow a = 2\lambda\). For first secondary maximum, \[a sin\theta = \frac{3}{2}\lambda \Rightarrow sin\theta = \frac{3\lambda}{2(2\lambda)} = \frac{3}{4}\].

Question 13: easy

In Young’s double slit interference pattern, the fringe width increases with

1. Increasing slit to screen distance
2. Increasing wavelength
3. Decreasing slit width
4. All of the above
View Answer

The fringe width \( \beta \) in Young's double slit experiment is given by \( \beta = \frac{\lambda D}{d} \). Hence, \( \beta \) increases when slit-to-screen distance \( D \) increases, wavelength \( \lambda \) increases, or slit width separation \( d \) decreases.

Question 14: easy

A beam of light of wavelength \(\lambda = 500 \text{ nm}\) from a distant source falls on a single slit 1 mm wide and the resulting diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 2 m away. The width of central maxima is

1. 2.4 mm
2. 2.0 mm
3. 1.0 mm
4. 2.0 cm
View Answer

The width of the central maximum in single slit diffraction is given by \(w = \frac{2\lambda D}{d}\). Substituting the values: \(w = \frac{2 \times 500 \times 10^{-9} \times 2}{10^{-3}} = 2.0 \times 10^{-3} \text{ m} = 2.0 \text{ mm}\).

Question 15: easy

A screen is placed 50 cm from a single slit, which is illuminated with 6000 Å light. If distance between the first and third minima in the diffraction patten is 3 mm, the width of the slit is

1. 0.1 mm
2. 0.2 mm
3. 0.4 mm
4. 0.5 mm
View Answer

The position of \(n^{\text{th}}\) minimum in single-slit diffraction is \(y_n = \frac{n\lambda D}{a}\). The distance between the 1st and 3rd minima is \(Delta y = \frac{2\lambda D}{a} ⇒ a = \frac{2\lambda D}{\Delta y} = \frac{2 \times 6000 \times 10^{-10} \times 0.50}{3 \times 10^{-3}} = 0.2\text{ mm}\).

Question 16: easy

If \( \beta_1, \beta_2 \) and \( \beta_3 \) are fringe widths for red, green and violet light respectively for the same setup of Young’s double slit experiment, then

1. \( \beta_1 = \beta_2 = \beta_3 \)
2. \( \beta_1 > \beta_3 > \beta_2 \)
3. \( \beta_2 > \beta_1 > \beta_3 \)
4. \( \beta_1 > \beta_2 > \beta_3 \)
View Answer

The fringe width in Young's double slit experiment is given by \( \beta = \frac{\lambda D}{d} \), which is directly proportional to wavelength \( \lambda \). Since \( \lambda_{\text{red}} > \lambda_{\text{green}} > \lambda_{\text{violet}} \), we get \( \beta_1 > \beta_2 > \beta_3 \).

Question 17: easy

A screen is placed \(50\text{ cm}\) from a single slit, which is illuminated with \(6000\text{ A^0}\) light. If distance between the first and third minima in the diffraction pattern is \(3\text{ mm}\), the width of the slit is

1. \(0.1\text{ mm}\)
2. \(0.2\text{ mm}\)
3. \(0.4\text{ mm}\)
4. \(0.5\text{ mm}\)
View Answer

The distance between the first and third minima on the same side of central maximum is \(\Delta y = \frac{2\lambda D}{d}\). Substituting the values: \(3 \times 10^{-3}\text{ m} = \frac{2 \times 6000 \times 10^{-10}\text{ m} \times 0.5\text{ m}}{d}\), we get \(d = 2 \times 10^{-4}\text{ m} = 0.2\text{ mm}\).

Question 18: easy

Assertion (A): Resolving power of a microscope is different for different colours of illuminating light.


Reason (R): Resolving power of a microscope is directly proportional to the wavelength of illuminating light.


 

1. Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

The resolving power (RP) of a microscope is given by \(RP = \frac{2NA}{1.22\lambda}\), where \(NA\) is the numerical aperture and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength. Since RP is inversely proportional to \(\lambda\), it will be different for different colours (different wavelengths). Reason (R) states direct proportionality, which is false.

Question 19: easy

Assertion (A): When a width of one of the slits of Young’s double slit experiment is double that of the other than brighter fringes are nine times brighter than the dark fringes.


Reason (R): The amplitude of the wave is proportional to the width of the slit.


 

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

In Young's double slit experiment, intensity is proportional to the square of amplitude \(I \propto A^2\). The amplitude \(A\) is proportional to the slit width \(w\). If \(w_1 = 2w_2\), then \(A_1 = 2A_2\). The ratio of maximum to minimum intensity is \(I_{max}/I_{min} = ((A_1+A_2)/(A_1-A_2))^2\). Substituting \(A_1 = 2A_2\), we get \(I_{max}/I_{min} = ((2A_2+A_2)/(2A_2-A_2))^2 = (3A_2/A_2)^2 = 3^2 = 9\). So, (A) is true. (R) is also true, as amplitude is proportional to slit width. And (R) correctly explains (A).

Question 20: easy

Assertion (A): When tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from some distance, a bright spot is seen at the centre of shadow of the obstacle.


Reason (R): Constructive interference occurs at the centre of the shadow.

1. (1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
2. (2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
3. (3) (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (4) Both (A) and (R) are false
View Answer

Assertion (A) describes the Poisson's spot (or Arago spot) phenomenon, a classical example of diffraction where a bright spot appears in the center of the shadow of an opaque circular object. Reason (R) correctly states that this occurs due to constructive interference of light waves diffracting around the edges of the obstacle and meeting in phase at the center of the shadow. Both are true and R explains A.