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Have you ever seen how light bends when it passes through a slit or spreads out after passing an obstacle? This happens because of a property called wave nature of light. In Chapter 10: Wave Optics of Class 12 Physics you will learn about how light behaves like a wave. This Chapter covers important topics like interference, diffraction and polarization explaining how they work and where we see them in real life. These NCERT Exemplar Solutions are prepared by expert faculty as per the latest CBSE syllabus.
The NCERT Exemplar Solutions for Class 12 Physics Chapter 10 by Careers360 provide step by step answers to all examplar problems. These NCERT Exemplar Solutions for Class 12 include multiple choice questions(MCQs), short questions and long answer questions. Practicing these will help you understand wave optics better improve your problem solving skills and prepare well for exams like Board exam, JEE and NEET.
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Question:1
Consider a light beam incident from air to a glass slab at Brewster’s angle, as shown in Fig. 10.1. A Polaroid is placed in the path of the emergent ray at point P and rotated about an axis passing through the centre and perpendicular to the plane of the polaroid.
A. For a particular orientation, there shall be darkness as observed through the polaroid.
B. The intensity of light, as seen through the polaroid, shall be independent of the rotation.
C. The intensity of light, as seen through the polaroid, shall go through a minimum but not zero for two orientations of the polaroid.
D. The intensity of light, as seen through the polaroid shall go through a minimum for four orientations of the polaroid.
Answer:
The answer is the option (c)(i) For $\;i < \theta_{p} \;or\; i > \theta_{p}$
Both of the reflected and refracted light ray become partially polarized.
(ii) For glass $\; \theta_{p} = 51^{\circ} f\! or \; water\; \theta_{p} = 53^{\circ}$
Question:2
Consider sunlight incident on a slit of width $10^{4} $A. The image seen through the slit shall
A. be a fine sharp slit white in colour at the centre.
B. a bright slit white at the centre diffusing to zero intensities at the edges.
C. a bright slit white at the centre diffusing to regions of different colours.
D. only be a diffused slit white in colour.
Answer:
The answer is the option (a)Question:3
Consider a ray of light incident from air onto a slab of glass (refractive index n) of width d, at an angle θ. The phase difference between the ray reflected by the top surface of the glass and the bottom surface is
A. $\frac{4 \pi d}{\lambda}\left ( 1-\frac{1}{n^2}\sin^2 \theta \right )^{1/2}+\pi$
B.$\frac{4 \pi d}{\lambda}\left ( 1-\frac{1}{n^2}\sin^2 \theta \right )^{1/2}$
C. $\frac{4 \pi d}{\lambda}\left ( 1-\frac{1}{n^2}\sin^2 \theta \right )^{1/2}+\frac{\pi}{2}$
D.$\frac{4 \pi d}{\lambda}\left ( 1-\frac{1}{n^2}\sin^2 \theta \right )^{1/2}+2 \pi$
Answer:
The answer is the option (a)Question:4
In a Young’s double-slit experiment, the source is white light. One of the holes is covered by a red filter and another by a blue filter. In this case
A. there shall be alternate interference patterns of red and blue.
B. there shall be an interference pattern for red distinct from that for blue.
C. there shall be no interference fringes.
D. there shall be an interference pattern for red mixing with one for blue.
Answer:
The answer is the option (c)Question:5
A. There would be no interference pattern on the second screen but it would be lighted.
B. The second screen would be totally dark.
C. There would be a single bright point on the second screen.
D. There would be a regular two slit pattern on the second screen
Answer:
The answer is the option (d)Question:6
Two source S1 and S2 of intensity I1 and I2 are placed in front of a screen [Fig. 10.3 (a)]. The pattern of intensity distribution seen in the central portion is given by Fig. 10.3 (b). In this case which of the following statements are true.
A. S1 and S2 have the same intensities.
B. S1 and S2 have a constant phase difference.
C. S1 and S2 have the same phase.
D. S1 and S2 have the same wavelength.
Answer:
The correct answers are the options (a, b, c)
Key concept:
For getting the sustained interference the initial phase difference between the interfering waves must remain constant, i.e., sources should be coherent.
for two coherent sources, the resultant intensity is given by
$I=I_1+I_2+2\sqrt{I_1I_2}\cos\phi$
Resultant intensity at the point of observation will be maximum.
$\\I_{max}=I_1+I_2+2\sqrt{I_1I_2}\\\\ I_{max}=\left ( \sqrt{I_1}+\sqrt{I_2} \right )^{2}$
Resultant intensity at the point of observation will be minimum.
$\\I_{min}=I_1+I_2-2\sqrt{I_1I_2}\\\\ I_{min}=\left ( \sqrt{I_1}-\sqrt{I_2} \right )^{2}$
Question:7
Consider sunlight incident on a pinhole of $10^{3}$A. The image of the pinhole seen on a screen shall be
A. a sharp white ring.
B. different from a geometrical image.
C. a diffused central spot, white in colour.
D. diffused coloured region around a sharp central white spot.
Answer:
The correct answers are the options (b,d)Question:8
Consider the diffraction pattern for a small pinhole. As the size of the hole is increased
A. the size decreases.
B. the intensity increases.
C. the size increases.
D. the intensity decreases.
Answer:
The correct answers are the options (a, b)Question:9
For light diverging from a point source
A. the wavefront is spherical.
B. the intensity decreases in proportion to the distance squared.
C. the wavefront is parabolic.
D. the intensity at the wavefront does not depend on the distance
Answer:
The correct answers are the options (a, b)
Due to the point source light propagates in all direction symmetrically and hence, wavefront will be spherical.
As the intensity of the source will be
$I\propto \frac{1}{r^{2}}$
where r is the radius of the wavefront at any time.
Hence the intensity decreases in proportion to the distance squared.
Question:10
Is Huygens’s principle valid for longitudinal sound waves?
Answer:
The principle of Huygen’s is valid for longitudinal sound wavesQuestion:11
Answer:
Question:12
What is the shape of the wavefront on earth for sunlight?
Answer:
As the sun is at an exceptionally large distance from earth. Assuming it as a point source of light at infinity, as seen from earth, we can conclude that the radius of the wavefront from the sun to the earth is infinite. This would mean that the rays are perpendicular to earth and the wave front is almost a plane.Question:13
Why is the diffraction of sound waves more evident in daily experience than that of a light wave?
Answer:
The wavelength of sound waves is 15 m to 15 mm for 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz respectively. Therefore, sound waves diffraction take place when the comparable size of the obstacle is confronted. While in the case of the light wave, the wavelength of visible light is 0.4 to 0.7 micron. So, the obstacles of this size are not easily present around us. Therefore, diffraction of light is not so evident in day to day life.Question:14
Answer:
It is given, angular resolution of human eye $\phi =5.8 \times 10^{-4}$ rad and printer print 300 dots per inch.Question:15
Answer:
Monochromatic source of light is kept behind polaroid (I). Then some other polaroid (II) is placed in front of polaroid (I). So, the axes of both polaroid are parallel to each other; the light passes through (II) unaffected.Question:16
Answer:
If Brewster’s angle is equal to the incident angle, then the transmitted light is slightly polarized, while the reflected light is plane-polarized.Question:17
Answer:
$5000 Å = 5000 \times 10^{-10} m\\ \\ \frac{1}{d} = \frac{2 \sin \beta}{1.22 \lambda } \\\\ d\;min = \frac{1.22 \lambda}{2 \sin \beta}\\d_{min}=\frac{1.22\times5000\times10^{-10}}{2sin\beta}$Question:18
Answer:
Question:19
Answer:
The amplitude of wave in normal/perpendicular polarizationQuestion:20
Answer:
For the principal maxima,(path difference is zero)
$
\begin{aligned}
& \Delta x=2 d \sin \theta+[(\mu-1) L]=0 \\
& \sin \theta_0=-\frac{L(\mu-1)}{2 d}=-\frac{-L(0.5)}{2 d}[\therefore L=d / 4] \\
& \text { or } \quad \Rightarrow \sin \theta_0=\frac{-1}{16}
\end{aligned}
$
$\theta_0$ is the angular position corresponding to the principal maxima.
$
\Rightarrow \quad O P=D \tan \theta_0 \approx D \sin \theta_0=\frac{-D}{16}
$
For the first minima, the path difference is
$
\begin{aligned}
& \pm \frac{\lambda}{2} \\
& \Delta x=2 d \sin \theta_1+0.5 L= \pm \frac{\lambda}{2} \\
& \sin \theta_1=\frac{ \pm \lambda / 2-0.5 L}{2 d}=\frac{ \pm \lambda / 2-d / 8}{2 d} \\
& \Rightarrow \sin \theta_1=\frac{ \pm \lambda / 2-\lambda / 8}{2 \lambda}= \pm \frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{16}
\end{aligned}
$
Question:21
Four identical monochromatic sources A, B, C, D, as shown in the (Fig.10.7) produce waves of the same wavelength and are coherent. Two receiver R1 and R2 are at great but equal distances from B.
(i) Which of the two receivers picks up the larger signal?
(ii) Which of the two receivers picks up the larger signal when B is turned off?
(iii) Which of the two receivers picks up the larger signal when D is turned off?
(iv) Which of the two receivers can distinguish which of the sources B or D has been turned off?
Answer:
(i) Let us consider the disturbances at the receiver R1, which is at a distance d from B.Question:22
The optical properties of a medium are governed by the relative permittivity (εr) and relative permeability (μr ). The refractive index is defined as $\sqrt{\mu, \epsilon }=n$ For ordinary material εr > 0 and μr > 0, and the positive sign is taken for the square root. In 1964, a Russian scientist V. Veselago postulated the existence of material with εr < 0 and μr < 0. Since then, such ‘metamaterials’ have been produced in the laboratories and their optical properties studied. For such materials $n=\sqrt{\mu, \epsilon }$
As light enters a medium of such refractive index, the phases travel away from the direction of propagation.
(i) According to the description above shows that if rays of light enter such a medium from the air (refractive index = 1) at an angle in 2nd quadrant, them the refracted beam is in the 3rd quadrant.
(ii) Prove that Snell’s law holds for such a medium.
Answer:
Thus $\quad-\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r} A E=B C-\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r} C D$
Or $\quad B C=\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r}(C D-A E)$
$
B C>0, C D>A E
$
As showing that the postulate is reasonable. If however, the light proceeded in the sense it does for ordinary material (viz. in the fourth quadrant, Fig.2)
Then $\quad-\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r} A E=B C-\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r} C D$
Or $\quad B C=\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r}(C D-A E)$
if $B C>0$, then $C D>A E$
Which is obvious from Fig. (i). Hence, the postulate is reasonable.
However, if the light proceeds in the sense it does for ordinary material, (going from the second quadrant to 4th quadrant)as shown in Fig. (i). then proceeding as above,
$
-\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r} A E=B C-\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r} C D
$
Or $\quad B C=\sqrt{\epsilon_r \mu_r}(C D-A E)$
As $A E>C D$ Therfore $B C<0$
Which is not possible. Hence, the postulate is correct
Question:23
Answer:
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Chapter 10 Wave Optics |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This chapter explains how light behaves like a wave. It covers important topics like interference (light adding up or cancelling), diffraction (bending around edges), and polarisation (filtering light direction). These help explain real-life effects like colors in soap bubbles or the working of polarised sunglasses.
Yes! The Careers360 NCERT Exemplar Solutions are step-by-step and based on the latest CBSE syllabus. They are great for revising key formulas, clearing doubts, and practicing high-level questions before your exams.
Yes, these solutions of NCERT will be helpful in board exam preparation as one can understand the chapter and topics better.
One can learn the how to solve questions for this chapter in board exam, can also cross check their answers while practicing.
Yes, each and every question is solved as per the CBSE pattern in NCERT exemplar Class 12 Physics solutions chapter 10, which will help in understanding each step separately.
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