Q: A double-slit experiment uses slits separated by $$ d = 0.5 \ \mathrm{mm} $$ and light of wavelength $$ \lambda = 600 \ \mathrm{nm} . $$What is the angular position $$ \theta of $$the first-order maximum?

$$ \sin \theta = \frac{\lambda}{d} $$

Question 1

A light ray passes from air (n = 1.00) into glass (n = 1.50) at an angle of incidence of 30°. What is the angle of refraction in the glass?

Accepted Answer

$$ 19.5^\circ $$

Question 2

Which of the following best explains why diamonds sparkle so much?

Accepted Answer

Diamonds have a high index of refraction, causing total internal reflection and dispersion of light.

Question 3

A fish is observed under water at a depth of 2.0 m. Due to refraction, how does the apparent depth compare to the real depth?

Accepted Answer

The fish appears closer to the surface than it actually is.

Question 4

Which equation correctly expresses Snell's Law for the refraction of light at a boundary between two media?

Accepted Answer

$$ n_1$ \sin \$$theta_1$$ = n_2$ \sin \$$theta_2$$ $$

Question 5

A ray of light in glass (n = 1.5) strikes the glass-air interface at an angle greater than the critical angle. What phenomenon occurs?

Accepted Answer

Total internal reflection

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the formation of a rainbow?

Accepted Answer

Dispersion and total internal reflection of sunlight in water droplets

Question 7

Unpolarized light of intensity $$ I_0$ $$ passes through two ideal polarizing filters with their axes at 60° to each other. What is the intensity of the transmitted light?

Accepted Answer

$$ \frac{I_0$}{2} \cos^2$ 60^\circ = \frac{I_0$}{8} $$

Question 8

A concave mirror has a focal length of 10 cm. An object is placed 25 cm from the mirror. What is the nature of the image formed?

Accepted Answer

Real and smaller than the object

Question 9

Which equation gives the relationship between object distance $$ s $$, image distance $$ s' $$, and focal length $$ f $$ for a thin lens?

Accepted Answer

$$ \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{s} + \frac{1}{s'} $$

Question 10

A double-slit experiment uses slits separated by $$ d = 0.5 \ \mathrm{mm} $$ and light of wavelength $$ \lambda = 600 \ \mathrm{nm} . $$What is the angular position $$ 	heta  of $$the first-order maximum?

Accepted Answer

$$ \sin 	heta = \frac{\lambda}{d} $$

Question 11

A microscope uses an objective lens of focal length 4 mm and an eyepiece of focal length 25 mm. If the tube length is 160 mm, what is the angular magnification of the microscope?

Accepted Answer

$$ M = \left( \frac{L}{f_o} \right) \left( \frac{25}{f_e} \right) $$

Question 12

Which of the following statements about Brewster's angle is correct?

Accepted Answer

At Brewster's angle, reflected light is completely polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence.

Question 13

A thin film of oil (n = 1.4) floats on water (n = 1.33). For constructive interference in reflected light at normal incidence, what is the minimum nonzero thickness of the film?

Accepted Answer

$$ t = \frac{\lambda}{4n} $$

Question 14

The Rayleigh criterion for the minimum resolvable angle $$ 	heta_{min}  of a $$circular aperture is given by:

Accepted Answer

$$ 	heta_{min} = 1.22 \frac{\lambda}{D} $$

Question 15

A DVD produces a spectrum of colors when illuminated by white light. This is primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

Diffraction grating effect of the closely spaced tracks on the DVD surface

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the effect of increasing the width of a single slit in a diffraction experiment?

Accepted Answer

The central maximum becomes narrower

Question 17

A telescope has an objective lens of diameter 10 cm and is used to observe light of wavelength 500 nm. What is the minimum angular separation it can resolve?

Accepted Answer

$$ 	heta_{min} = 1.22 \frac{\lambda}{D} = 6.1 	imes 10$$^{-6}$$ $$ radians

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a necessary condition for observing interference fringes in Young's double-slit experiment?

Accepted Answer

The two slits must have the same width

Comprehensive Study Notes on Geometric and Physical Optics

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards