SR PHYSICS_IPE_IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What are the basic blocks of a communication system?
2. What is “world wide web” (WWW)?
3. Mention the frequency range of speech signals?
4. What is sky wave propagation?
5. Mention the various parts of the ionosphere?
6. Define modulation. Why is it necessary?
7. Mention of the basic methods of modulation?
8. Which type of communication is employed in Mobile phone?
9. What are n – type and p – type semiconductors?
10. What are intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors?
11. Draw the circuit symbols for p – n – p and n – p – n transistors.
12. Define amplifier and amplification factor.
13. Which gates are called universal gates?
14. What are “cathode rays”?
15. What important fact did Millikan’s experiment establish?
16. What is “Work function”?
17. What is “Photoelectric effect”?
18. Give examples of “Photosensitive substances”. Why are they called so?
19. Write down Einstein’s photoelectric equation.
20. Write down de – Broglie’s relation and explain the terms there in.
21. State Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
22. What is average wavelength of X – rays?
23. Give any one use of infrared rays.
24. If the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is doubled, what happens to the energy of photon?
25. What is the principle of production of electromagnetic waves?
26. What is the ratio of speed of infrared rays and ultraviolet rays in vacuum?
27. What is the relation between the amplitude of the electric and magnetic fields in free space for an electromagnetic
waves?
28. What are the applications of microwaves?
29. Microwaves are used in Radars, Why?
30. Give two uses of infrared rays.
31. The charging current for a capacitor is 0.6A. What is the displacement current across its plates?
32. What is Fresnel distance?
33. Give the justification for validity of ray optics.
34. What is polarization of light?
35. What is Malu’s law?
36. Explain Brewster’s law?
37. When does a monochromatic beam of light incident on a reflective surface get completely transmitted?
38. Define focal length and radius of curvature of a concave lens.
39. What is optical density and how is it different from mass density?
40. Define ‘power’ of a convex lens. What is its unit?
41. What is ‘dispersion’? Which colour gets relatively more dispersed?
42. What is myopia? How can it be corrected?
43. What is hypermetropia? How can it be corrected?
44. What is meant by the statement of ‘charge is quantized’?
45. Repulsion is the sure test of charging than attraction. Why?
46. How many electrons constitute 1C of charge?
47. What happens to the weight of a body when it is charged positively?
48. What happens to the force between two charges if the distance between them is a) halved b) doubled
49. The electric lines of force do not intersect. Why?
50. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics.
51. When is the electric flux negative and when is it positive?
52. Can there be electric potential at a point with zero electric intensity? Give an example.
53. Can there be electric intensity at a point with zero electric intensity? Give an example.
54. What are meant by equipotential surfaces?
55. Why is the electric field always at right angles to the equipotential surface? Explain.
56. Three capacitors of capacitances 1 F , 2  F and 3 F are connected in parallel.
a) What is the ratio of charges? b) What is the ratio of potential differences?
57. What happens to the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is the area of its plates is doubled?
58. Define mean free path of electron in a conductor.
59. State Ohm’s law and write its mathematical form.
60. Define resistivity or specific resistance
61. Define temperature coefficient of resistance.
62. The sequence of bands marked on a carbon resistor are: Red, Red, Red, Silver. What is its resistance and tolerance?
63. Why are household appliances connected in parallel?
64. What is the importance of Oersted’s experiment?
65. State Ampere’s law and Biot – Savart law.
66. Distinguish between ammeter and voltmeter.
67. What is the principle of a moving coil galvanometer?
68. What is the smallest value of current that can be measured with a moving coil galvanometer?
69. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer into an ammeter?
70. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer into a voltmeter?
71. What happens to compass needles at the Earth’s poles?
72. What do you understand by the magnetization of a sample?
73. What is the magnetic moment associated with a solenoid?
74. Magnetic lines form continuous closed loops. Why?
75. Define magnetic declination.
76. Define magnetic inclination or angle of dip.
77. Define magnetic flux.
78. State Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.
79. State Lenz’s law.
80. What are Eddy currents?
81. Define ‘Inductance’.
82. What do you understand by ‘self inductance’?
83. What is the phenomenon involved in the working of a transformer?
84. What is transformer ratio?
85. Write the expression for the reactance of i) an inductor and ii) a capacitor
86. Define power factor. On which factors does power factor depend?
87. What is meant by wattles component of current?
88. When does a LCR series circuit have minimum impedance?
89. What is the angular momentum of electron in the second orbit of Bohr’s model of hydrogen atom?
90. What is the expression for fine structure constant and what is its value?
91. What is the physical meaning of ‘negative energy of electron’?
92. Name a physical quantity whose dimensions are the same as those of angular momentum.
93. How is impact parameter related to angle of scattering?
94. Give two drawbacks of Rutherford’s atomic model.
95. Sharp lines are present in the spectrum of gas. What does this indicate?
96. What are isotopes and isobars?
97. What are isotones and isomers?
98. What is a.m.u? What is its equivalent energy?
99. Define Becquerel and Curie.
100. What is a chain reaction?
101. What is the function of moderator in a nuclear reactor?
102. What is role of controlling roads in a nuclear reactor?
103. Distinguish between transverse and longitudinal waves.
104. Using dimensional analysis obtain an expression for the speed of sound waves in a medium.
105. What is the principle of superposition of waves?
106. What is the phase difference between the incident and reflected waves when the wave is reflected by a rigid
boundary?
107. What is a stationary or standing wave?
108. What do you understand by the terms ‘node’ and ‘antinode’?
109. What is Doppler effect? Given an example?
110. What is principle of Van de Graff generator?
111. What is the fringing of the field?
112. What is dielectric strength? Mention its value for air?
113. Which needle to be used at poles?
114. What is p – n junction diode? Define depletion laws?
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Define focal length of a concave mirror. Prove that the radius of curvature of a concave mirror is double its focal
length.
2. Define critical angle. Explain total internal reflection using a neat diagram.
3. Explain the formation of a mirage.
4. Explain the formation of a rainbow.
5. Why does the setting sun appear red?
6. With a neat labeled diagram explain the formation of image in a simple microscope.
7. Using a neat labeled diagram derive the mirror equation. Define linear magnification.
8. Derive an expression for a thin double convex lens. Can you apply the same to a double concave lens too?
9. Obtain an expression for the combined focal length for two thin convex lenses kept in contact and hence obtain an
expression for the combined power of the combination of the lenses.
10. Define Snell’s law. Using a neat labeled diagram derive an expression for the refractive index of the material of an
equilateral prism.
11. Draw a neat labeled diagram of a compound microscope and explain its working. Derive an expression for its
magnification.
12. Explain Doppler Effect in light. Distinguish between red shift and blue shift.
13. What is total internal reflection? Explain the phenomenon using Huygens principle.
14. Derive the expression for the intensity at a point where interference of light occurs. Arrive at the conditions for
maximum and zero intensity.
15. Does the principle of conservation of energy hold for interference and diffraction phenomena? Explain briefly?
16. How do you determine the resolving power of your eye?
17. Discuss the intensity of transmitted light when a Polaroid sheet is rotated between two crossed polaroids.
18. Distinguish between coherent and incoherent addition of waves. Develop the theory of constructive and destructive
interferences.
19. Describe Young’s experiment for observing interference and hence arrive the expression for ‘fringe width’.
20. What is resolving power of optical instruments? Derive the condition under which images are resolved.
21. What is Huygen’s principle? Explain the optical phenomenon of refraction using Huygen’s principle?
22. State and explain Coulomb’s inverse square law in electricity.
23. Derive the equation for the couple acting on a electric dipole in a uniform electric field.
24. Derive an expression for the intensity of the intensity of the electric field at a point on the axial line of an electric
dipole.
25. Derive an expression for the intensity of the electric field at a point on the equatorial plane of an electric dipole.
26. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics and explain its importance.
27. Define electric flux. Applying Gauss’s law and derive and expression for electric intensity due to an infinite long
straight charged wire. (Assume that the electric field is everywhere radial and depends only on the radial distance r
of the point from the wire)
28. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics. Applying Gauss’s law derive the expression for electric intensity due to an
infinite plane sheet of charge.
29. Applying Gauss’s law derive the expression for electric intensity due to a charged spherical shell at
i) a point outside the shell ii) a point on the surface of the shell and iii) a point inside the shell
30. Derive an expression of the electrostatic potential energy of a system of two point charges and find its relation with
electric potential of a charge.
31. Derive an expression for the potential energy of an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric field.
32. Derive an expression for capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.
33. Explain the behavior of dielectrics in an external field.
34. Define electric potential. Derive an expression for the electric potential due to an electric dipole and hence the
electric potential at a point a) the axial line of electric dipole b) on the equator line of electric dipole.
35. Explain series and parallel combination of capacitors. Derive the formula for equivalent capacitance in each
combination.
36. Derive an expression for the energy stored in a capacitor. What is the energy stored when the space between the
plates is filled with a dielectric.
a) With charging battery disconnected? b) With charging battery connected in the circuit?
37. State and explain Biot – Savart law.
38. State and explain Ampere’s law.
39. Find the magnetic induction due to a long current carrying conductor.
40. Derive an expression for the magnetic induction at the centre of a current carrying circular coil using
Biot – Savart law.
41. Derive an expression for the magnetic induction at a point on the axis of a current carrying circular coil using
Biot – Savart law.
42. Obtain an expression for the magnetic dipole moment of a current loop.
43. Derive an expression for the magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron.
44. Explain how crossed E and B fields serve as a velocity selector.
45. What are the basic components of a cyclotron? Mention its uses?
46. Obtain an expression for the torque on a current carrying loop placed in a uniform magnetic field. Describe the
construction and working of a moving coil galvanometer.
47. Derive an expression for the force acting between two very long parallel current – carrying conductors and hence
define the Ampere.
48. Compare the properties of para, dia and ferromagnetic substances.
49. Define retentivity and coercivity. Draw the hysteresis curve for soft iron and steel. What do you infer from these
curve?
50. If the number of turns of a solenoid is doubled, keeping the other factors constant, how does the magnetic field at the
axis of the solenoid change?
51. Prove that a bar magnet and a solenoid produce similar fields.
52. A small magnetic needle is set into oscillations in a magnetic field B. Obtain expression for the time period of
oscillation.
53. Obtain Gauss law for magnetism & explain it?
54. Obtain an expression for the emf induced across a conductor which is moved in a uniform magnetic field which is
perpendicular to the plane of motion.
55. Describe the ways in which Eddy currents are used to advantage.
56. Obtain an expression for the mutual inductance of two long coaxial solenoids.
57. Obtain an expression for the magnetic energy stored in a solenoid in terms of the magnetic field, area and length of
the solenoid.
58. Describe the working of a AC generator with the aid of a simple diagram and necessary expressions.
59. Obtain an expression for the current through an inductor when an AC emf is applied.
60. Obtain an expression for the current in a capacitor when an AC emf is applied.
61. State the principle on which a transformer works. Describe the working of a transformer with necessary theory.
62. Obtain an expression for impedance and current in series LCR circuit. Deduce an expression for the resonating
frequency of an LCR series resonating circuit.
63. What does an electromagnetic wave consists of? On what factors does its velocity in vacuum depend?
64. What is Greenhouse effect and its contribution towards the surface temperature of earth?
65. What is the effect of (i) intensity of light (ii) potential on photoelectric current?
66. Describe an experiment to study the effect of frequency of incident radiation on “stopping potential”?
67. Summaries the photon picture of electromagnetic radiation.
68. What is the de – Broglie wavelength of a ball of mass 0.12kg moving with a speed of 20 ms -1? What can we infer
from this result?
69. What is impact parameter and angle of scattering? How are they related to each other?
70. Derive an expression for potential and kinetic energy of an electron in any orbit of a hydrogen atom according to
Bohr’s atomic model. How does P.E change with increasing n.
71. What are the limitations of Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom?
72. Explain the distance of closest approach and impact parameter.
73. Explain the different types of spectral series.
74. Write a short note on de – Broglie’s explanation of Bohr’s second postulate of quantization.
75. Define half life period and decay constant for a radioactive substance. Reduce the relation between them.
76. Reduce the relation between half life and average life of a radioactive substance.
77. What is nuclear fission? Give an example to illustrate it?
78. What is nuclear fission? Write conditions for nuclear fusion to occur.
79. Distinguish between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
80. Explain the term ‘chain reaction’ and multiplication factor? How is a chain reaction sustained?
81. What are n – type and p – type semiconductors? How is a semiconductor junction formed?
82. Draw and explain the current – voltage (I – V) characteristic curves of a junction diode in forward and reverse bias.
83. Describe how a semi conductor diode is used as a half wave rectifier.
84. What is rectification? Explain the working of a full wave rectifier.
85. Distinguish between half – wave and full – wave rectifiers.
86. Distinguish between zener breakdown and avalanche breakdown.
87. What is a photodiode? Explain its working with a circuit diagram and draw its I – V characteristics.
88. Explain the working of a solar cell and draw its I – V characteristics.
89. Explain how transistor can be used as a switch?
90. Explain how transistor can be used as an oscillator?
91. Define NAND and NOR gates. Give their truth tables?
92. Explain the NOT gate and give its truth table.
93. What is zener diode explain how it is used as voltage regulator?
94. What is amplification? Explain working of a common emitter amplifier with necessary diagram?
95. Derive an expression for the effective resistance when three resistors are connected in i) series ii) parallel
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Define mass defect and binding energy. How does binding energy per nucleon vary with mass number? What is its
significance?
2. What is radioactivity? State the law of radioactive decay. Show that ratio decay is exponential in nature.
3. Explain the principle and working of a nuclear reactor with the help of a labeled diagram.
4. Explain the sources of stellar energy. Explain the carbon – nitrogen cycle, proton – proton cycle occurring in stars.
5. State Kirchhoff’s law for an electrical network. Using these laws deduce the condition for balance in a
Wheatstone bridge.
6. State the working principle of potentiometer explain with the help of circuit diagram how the emf of two primary
cells are compared by using the potentiometer.
7. State the working principle of potentiometer explain with the help of circuit diagram how the potentiometer is used
to determine the internal resistance of the given primary cell.
8. Explain the formation of stationary waves in stretched strings and hence deduce the laws of transverse waves in
stretched strings.
9. Explain the formation of stationary waves in an air column enclosed in open pipe. Derive the equation for the
frequencies of the harmonics produced.
10. How are stationary waves formed in closed pipes? Explain the various modes of vibrations and obtain relations for
their frequencies.
11. What are beats? Obtain an expression for the beat frequency. Where and how are beats made use of?
12. What is Doppler Effect? Obtain an expression for the apparent frequency of sound heard when the source is in
motion with respect to an observer at rest.
13. What is Doppler shift? Obtain an expression for the apartment frequency of sound heard when the observer is in
motion with respect to a source at rest.
Problems:
1. Two cells of emfs 4.5V and 6.0V and internal resistance 6  and 3  respectively have their negative terminal

joined by a wire of 18 and positive terminals by a wire of 12  resistance. A third resistance wire of 24 
connects middle points of these wires. Using Kirchhoff’s laws, find the potential difference at the ends of this third
wire.
2. Three resistors of 4 ohms, 6 ohms and 12 ohms are connected in parallel. The combination of above resistors is
connected in series to a resistance of 2 ohms are then to a battery of 6 volts. Draw a circuit diagram and calculate.
a) Current in main circuit
b) Current flowing through each of the resistors in parallel
c) p.d. and the power used by the 2 ohm resistor.
3. Two lamps, one rated 100W at 220V and the other 60W at 220V are connected in parallel to a 220 volt supply.
What current is drawn from the supply line?
4. A potentiometer wire is 5m long and a potential difference of 6V is maintained between its ends. Find the emf of a
cell which balances against a length of 180cm of the potentiometer wire.
5. A battery of emf 2.5V and internal resistance r is connected in series with a resistor of 45 ohm through an ammeter
of resistance 1 ohm. The ammeter reads a current of 50 mA. Draw the circuit diagram and calculate the value of r.
6. In a meter bridge, the balance point is found to be at 39.5 cm from the end A, when the resistor Y is of 12.5 .
Determine the resistance of x. Why are the connections between resistors in a Wheatstone or meter bridge made of
thick copper strips?
7. In a potentiometer arrangement, a cell of emf 1.25V gives a balance point at 35.0 cm length of the wire. If the cell is
replaced by another cell and the balance point shift to 63.0 cm, what is the emf of the second cell?
8. A stretched wire of length 0.6m is observed to vibrate with a frequency of 30Hz in the fundamental mode. If the
string has a linear mass of 0.05 kg/m find
(a) the velocity of propagation of transverse waves in the string (b) the tension in the string
9. A string has length of 0.4m and a mass of 0.16g. If the tension in the string is 70N, what are the three lowest
frequencies it produces when plucked?
10. A closed organ pipe 70cm long is sounded. If the velocity of sound is 331 m/s, what is the fundamental frequency of
vibration of the air column?
11. A vertical tube is made to stand in water so that he water level can be adjusted. Sound waves of frequency 320Hz are
sent into the top of the tube. If standing waves are produced at two successive water levels of 20cm and 73cm, what
is the speed of sound waves in the air in the tube?
12. Two organ pipes of lengths 65cm and 70cm respectively, are sounded simultaneously. How many beats per second
will be produced between the fundamental frequencies of the two pipes? (Velocity of sound = 330m/s).
13. A train sounds its whistle as it approaches and crosses a level – crossing. Am observer at the crossing measures a
frequency of 219 Hz as the train approaches and a frequency of 184 Hz as it leaves. If the speed of sound is taken to
be 340 m/s, find the speed of the train and the frequency of its whistle
14. Two trucks heading in opposite directions with speeds of 60 kmph and 70 kmph respectively, approach each other.
The driver of the first truck sounds his horn of frequency 400Hz. What frequency does the driver of the second truck
hear? (Velocity of sound = 330 m/s). After the two trucks have passed each other, what frequency does the driver of
the second truck hear?
12
15. Calculate i) mass defect, ii) binding energy and iii) the binding energy per nucleon of 6 C nucleus Nuclear

mass of
12
6 C  12.000000u : mass of proton = 1.007825 u and mass of neutron = 1.008665u
16. The half life radium is 1600 years. How much time does 1g of radium take to reduce to 0.125g.
17. Plutonium decays with a half – life of 24,000 years. If plutonium is stored for 72,000 years, what fraction of it
remains?
18. The half – life period of a radioactive substance is 20 days. What is the time taken for 7/8 th of its original mass to
disintegrate?
19. An explosion of atomic bomb releases an energy of 7.6  1013 J . If 200 Mev energy is released on fission of one
235
U atom calculate i) the number of uranium atoms undergoing fission ii) the mass of uranium used in the bomb
235
20. Calculate the energy released by fission from 2g of 92 U in kWh. Given that the energy released per fission is 200
Mev.
235
21. How much U consumed in a day in an atomic power house operating at 400 MW, provided the whole of mass
235
U is converted into energy?
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