OPTICS

MULTIPLE CHOICE TYPE QUESTION

1. In Young’s double slit experiment, the width of fringe is
obtained from a source of light of wavelength 5000A is 3.9
mm. if the apparatus is immersed in a liquid of  = 1.3, the
fringe width will be
(A) 2 mm (B) 3 mm
(C) 4 mm (D) 5 mm
Sol. Wavelength of light in the liquid is

= / = 5000A/1.3

D 
Fringe width  = d
(in liquid) . . . (1)

= D
d
(in air) . . . (2)

From (1) and (2) we have

 = / = 3.9/1.3 = 3 mm

 (B)\

1
2. In a simple Young’s double slit experiment the distance
between the slits is 0.7 mm. The screen is at a distance 1 m
from the slits. Monochromatic light is incident normally on
the double slit. If a dark fringe is formed directly opposite a
slit on the screen, the wavelength of radiation can have the
value
o o
(A) 4900 A (B) 9800 A

o
(C) 49000 A (D) none of these
d D
Sol.   2n  1 , where n is an integer.
2 2d

d2 d2
  , (n  1)  4900A
 2n  1 D D

 (A)

3. In Young's double slit experiment, the fringes are displaced

by a distance x when a glass plate of refractive index 1.5 is
introduced in the path of one of the beams. When this plate
in replaced by another plate of the same thickness, the shift
of fringes is (3/2)x. The refractive index of the second plate
is
(A) 1.75 (B) 1.50
(C) 1.25 (D) 1.00

2
Sol. The path difference introduced by a plate of thickness t and
refractive index  is given by

 = (1) t

A path difference of  introduced a phase shift of  where 

= D/(2d) . 2d = separation between slits

So, a path difference of ( 1)t introduces a shift x on the

screen given by
(  1)t
x= 

(1  1)t
For first plate, x = 

3 ( 2  1)t
For second plate 2
x= 

 ((
2  1) 3

1  1) 2

(  1) 3
 (1.5 2

 1) 2

2 = 1.75

 (A)

3
4. Two identical coherent sources are placed on a diameter of
a circle of radius R at a separation d (<<R) symmetrically
about the centre of the circle. The sources emit identical
wavelength  . The number of the points on the circle with
maximum intensity is

(A) (2d/) +1 (B) 4d/

(C) (4d/)2 (D) (4d/)+2

n
Sol. For maxima sin  
d
S1

   sin  n d 
O
1 
S2
P

For  2     / 2

2d
n


Hence for 0    2 total number of

maxima
2d 4d
N  2 2 2
 

 (C)

4
5. A ray of light strikes a glass slab (R.I. = ) of finite thickness
t. The emerging light is
(A) parallel to the incident ray
(B) perpendicular to the incident ray
 1  1  
(C) rotates by an angle  t sin   
   

(D) totally internally reflected

Sol. A
A i

P
r t

F C
i

6. An optical fiber uses the principle of

(A) diffraction of light
(B) absorption of light
(C) high transmission coefficient of the fiber material
(D) total internal reflection
Sol. D

5
7. An object and a screen are mounted on an optical bench and
a converging lens is placed between them so that a sharp
image is obtained on the screen. The linear magnification of
the image is 25. The lens is now moved 30 cm towards the
screen and a sharp image is again formed on the screen. Find
the focal length of the lens.
(A) 14.0 cm (B) 14.3 cm
(C) 14.6 cm (D) 14.9 cm
Sol. B
If O and I are the O L1 L2 I

object and image, x 30 cm x

respectively, and
L1 and L2 are the
two conjugate
positions of the
lens,
then OL1 = IL2
v 30  x
  2.5  30  x  2.5x or x  20 cm
u x

1 1 1
From   ,
v u f

6
 1 1 1
  or f  14.3 cm
50 20 f

8. A giant telescope in an observatory has an objective of focal

length 19 m and an eye-piece of focal length 1.0 cm. What
is the diameter of the image of moon formed by the objective
in normal adjustment? The diameter of moon is 3.5  106 m
and the radius of the lunar orbit round the earth is 3.8  108
m.
(A) 10 cm (B) 12.5 cm
(C) 15 cm (D) 17.5 cm
Sol. D

As u  f0, v = f0 = 19 m

Now, u = 3.8  108 m.

Therefore, magnification produced by the objective is
v 19
m0    0.5  10 7
u 3.8  10 8

 Diameter of the image of moon = 3.5  106 0.5  107 =

0.175 m = 17.5 cm.

7
9. A soldier directs a laser beam on an enemy by reflecting the
beam from a mirror. If the mirror is rotated by an angle , by
what angle will the reflected beam rotate?

(A) /2 (B) 

(C) 2 (D) None of these

Sol. C
N Q’
Let M1OM2 be the initial N
Q
P 
position of the mirror. The M2
M1
mirror is rotated through an  O M2

angle  to the position MOM . PO1 2

M1

is the incident light. OQ was the

initial reflected ray and OQ is
the reflected ray after rotating
the mirror by angle . If i =
initial incidence angle, then
POQ  2i and

POQ'  PON' N'OQ  2i  2

 The reflected beam rotates

through an angle 2.

8
 10. One side of the glass slab is 45°

silvered as shown. A ray of light is  = 1.5

incident on the other side at an
angle of incidence i = 45°.
Refractive index of glass is given
as 1.5. The deviation of the ray of
light from its initial path when it
comes out of the slab is
(A) 90° (B) 180°
(C) 120° (D) 45°
Sol. From the figure it is clear that the angle between incident ray
and the emergent ray is 90°.
Incident ray Emergent ray
45° 45° 45° 45°


r
r r r

 (A)

9
11. Refraction takes place at a concave spherical boundary
separating glass air medium. For the image to be real, the
object distance (g = 3/2)
(A)should be greater than three times the radius of curvature
of the refracting surface.
(B)should be greater than two times the radius of curvature
of the refracting surface.
(C)should be grater than the radius of curvature of the
refracting surface.
(D) is independent of the radius of curvature of the refracting
surface.
 2 1  2  1
Sol. Applying v u
 
R

1 1.5 1  (1.5) 2 1
  
v (u) R object

1 3 1
or  
v 2u 2R

1 3
for v to be positive, 
2R 2u

or u >3 R

 (A)

10
12. A short linear object of length  lies along the axis of a
concave mirror of focal length f at a distance u from the pole.
What is the size of the image?
f f2
(A) (B)
u  f 
2
u

f f2
(C) (D)
uf u  f 
2

Sol. B
According to mirror formula, we have
1 1 1
 
v u f
...(1)

Now, as for a given mirror, f = constant.

  dv
2
du v
 0 or dv  du  
u 
2 2
v u

But from Eq. (1),

uf
v
uf

2
 f 
So, dv  du  
u  f 

 Image size
2
dv  f 
    
du u  f 

11
13. A fish is swimming in a pool whose bottom surface is silver
polished. Find where an observer in the air will observe the
image of the fish if the depth of the pool is H and the fish is
at depth h below the water surface?

(A) (H  h)/ (B) 2(H  h)/

(C) (H + h)/ (D) (2H  h)/

Sol. D
The ray diagram is shown. From the
H

figure, it is clear that the image of the

Hh

fish forms at depth H h

below the mirror.

 The depth of the image = H + H h

= 2H  h
Therefore, the apparent depth of the
image as seen by an observer in air =
(2Hh)/.

12
14. A point source of light B is placed at a
d B
distance L in front of the centre of a
mirror of width d hung vertically on a L

2L
wall. A man walks in front of the mirror
along a line parallel to the mirror at a
distance 2L from it as shown. The
greatest distance over which he can see
the image of the light source in the mirror
is
(A) d/2 (B) d
(C) 2d (D) 3d
Sol. D

In similar  ABI &MNI

M

A
MN/AB = IQ/IP MN = Image
I
P
d
object
Q

L
(3L/L)(D) = 3d B

3L
N

15. A ray of light is incident on a glass sphere of refractive index

3/2. What should be the angle of incidence so that the ray,
which enters the sphere, the rays comes out tangentially from
the surface of the sphere?
(A) tan–1 (2/3) (B) sin–1(2/3)
(C) 90° (D)cos–1 (1/3)

13
 Sol.  ABO =  OAB = C A B
i C C
sin C = 1 2

 3 O

Applying snell’s law at A

sin i 3

sin C 2

sin i = 3
  sin C =  3  2
    1
2  2  3

or i = 90°

 (C)

16. One of the refracting surfaces of a prism of angle 30° is

silvered. A ray of light incident at an angle of 60° retraces its
path. The refractive index of the material of prism is
(A) 2 (B) 3

(C) 3/2 (D) 2

A = 30°
Sol. r2 = 0°

 r1 = A =30° r1
60°
and i1 = 60°
sin i1 sin 60
 = 
sin r1 sin 30
 3

14
  (B)

17. A lens has focal length f in air. If refractive index of its

material is , what is its power when immersed in liquid of
refractive index 0?
a)    1  0

   0  f
   1  0
b)   f
 0 

 0  1  
c)   f
 0 

 0  1  0
d)   f
 0 

Ans. a)
Explanation:
1 1 1 
 (  1)    in air
f  R1 R2 
1   1 1 
   1    in water
f    0   R1 R2 
f    1  0
So,   p   1  0
f   0    0  f

18. A ray of light is incident normally on one face of an

equilateral prism of refractive index 1.5. The angle of
deviation is

(A) 30 (B) 45

(C) 60 (D) 75

Sol. C
15
 A
r = 60. If refraction is to take place at
the second surface, then r
i

sin i 3 sin i 3 3 3 B
P
C
 or  or sin i 
sin r 2 3 2 4
2

Since sin i> 1, total internal reflection

takes place at AC.

 BPC = 90, therefore no further

deviation takes place at BC.

Thus, total deviation = 180 120 = 60

19. A parallel beam of light travelling in water ( = 4/3) is

refracted by a spherical bubble of radius R = 1 mm.
Assuming the light rays to be paraxial, the position of the
final image from the centre is
(A) 2 mm to the left (B) 4 mm to the left
(C) 5 mm to the right (D) 8 mm to the left
Sol. B
For refraction at the first surface,
1 n 1  R
  or v
v  R  1

16
 This acts as object for the second
surface.
Now, we have
 1  1
 
v  R  R
  2R 
 n 1 

 2n  1 
or v   R
 n 1 

4
 2n  1  n
Thus, final image is formed at   R  R  R  3  4 mm to
 n 1  n 1   4 1
3

the left from the centre.

20. Two plano-convex lenses of radius of curvature R and R.I.

1.5 will have a combined focal length equal to R when they
are placed
(A)at distance R/4 apart (B) at distance R/2 apart
(C)at distance R apart (D) in contact with each other
Sol. D

Focal length of each lens = ( 1)  R1  1 

 

 1f  2R
1
or f = 2R

1 1 1 1
When placed in contact  
f 2R 2R R


17
 f = R

21. When the plane surface of a plano-convex lens of refractive

index 1.5 is silvered, it behaves like a concave mirror with f
= 30 cm. When its convex surface is silvered, it will behave
like a concave mirror of focal length
(A) 10 cm (B) 20 cm
(C) 30 cm (D) 45 cm
Sol. A
When the plane surface is silvered,
1 2    1

f1 R

When the convex surface is silvered,

1 2

f2 R


 ff 1
 
1.5
  1 0.5
3
2

30
or f 2 
3
 10 cm

22. When an object is at distances of u1 and u2 from the poles of

a concave mirror, images of the same size are formed. The
focal length of the mirror is
18
 (A) u1  u 2 (B) u1  u 2

u1  u 2 u1  u 2
(C) 2
(D) 2

Sol. C
One image will be real and the other will be virtual. Since
they are of the same size, one will have magnification m and
the other m.
1 1 1
 
u1 u1m f

1 1 1
or 1   
u1  m  f
…(1)

and u1 
1

u2m f
1
2

1  1 1
or 1   
u2  m  f
…(2)

u1 u 2
 2
f f

u1  u 2 u1  u 2

f
2 or f
2

23. A telescope, when in normal adjustment, has a magnifying

power of 6 and the objective and eye-piece are 14 cm apart.
The focal lengths of the eye-piece and the objective,
respectively, are
(A) 3 cm and 14 cm (B) 3 cm and 12 cm
(C) 2 cm and 14 cm (D) 2 cm and 12 cm
19
Sol. D
Let fe and f0 be the focal lengths of the eye-piece and the
objective, respectively.
In normal adjustment,
f0 + fe = 14
...(1)

and M  ff 0
6
e

 f  6f
0 e

...(2)
Solving Eqs. (1) and (2), we get

fe = 2 cm and f0 = 12 cm

INTEGERS TYPE QUESTIONS

24. A ray is incident normally on a right
 R/2
angle prism whose  is 3 and prism C

angle  = 30, after crossing prism ray

passes through glass sphere. It strikes
the glass sphere of radius R at R 2

20
 distance from principal axis, as shown
in figure. Sphere is half polished. Find
the angle of deviation of incident ray.

Sol. 180

 sin 30 = sin   B



3
1
2
= sin  = 60 R 3
R

 = 30

Point P where it strikes is R/ 3

R
tan 30  xR
3

Ray strikes normal to the spherical surface. It retraces the

path.
Angle of deviation = 180

25. A concave mirror has a focal length 20 cm. The distance

between the two positions of the object for which the image
size is double of the object size is
Sol. (20 cm)
For real image
u = – u1, v = –2u1 f = 20 cm

21
 1 1 1
Substituting in  
v u f
,

1 1 1
we get  
2u1 u1 20

or u1 = 30 cm
For virtual image
u = –u2, v = 2u2
f = – 20 cm

 2u1 
1
u2

1
20
2

or u2 = 10 cm

 Distance between two positions of the object are u1 – u2 or

30 cm – 10 cm = 20 cm

B C
26. A light ray is incident on an 1 = 1 2 = 2 3 = 1.514
450
irregular shaped slab of P
E
Q
O

refractive index 2 at an angle A 600

R = 0.4m

D
of 45 with the normal on the
incline face as shown in the
figure. The ray finally emerges
from the curved surface in the
medium of refractive index  =
1.514 and passes through point

22
 E. If the radius of curved
surface is equal to 0.4 m, find
the distance OE correct upto
two decimal places.
Sol. OE = 6.06 m
Using Snell’s law
B C
1 = 1 2 = 2
3 = 1.514
450


1 sin 45 = 2 sin 

E
P Q
0 O
30

0
R = 0.4m
60

 = 30.
A
D

i.e. ray moves parallel to axis

3  2 ( 3   2 )

OE 
= R

OE = 6.056 m  6.06 m
f = 30 cm
27. The image of the object O, /4

shown in the figure, is formed O

36 cm 1m
85 cm
at the bottom of the tank filled
h 4/3
with water. Using the values
given in the figure, calculate
the value of h, i.e. the water
level in the tank.
Sol. h = 20 cm.
For the lens

23
 1 1 1
 
v 36 30

 v = 180 cm
This acts as an (virtual) object for the mirror which forms its
image at a distance of 80 cm from it (in the absence of water
tray).
 1
The water tray shifts the image by t 1   = h 1  34 
   

 h/4 + 80 = 85 cm  h = 20 cm.

28. A cylindrical glass rod has its two

coaxial ends of spherical form bulging
outward. The front end has a radius of O P
50 cm R2 = 8 cm
R1 = 5 cm
curvature 5 cm and the back end which
is silvered has a radius of curvature 8
cm. The thickness of the rod along the
axis is 10 cm. Calculate the position of
the image of a point object at the axis
50 cm from the front face (ang= 1.5).
Sol. 4.27 cm
24
Using the formula for refraction through a spherical surface
n 2 n1 n 2  n1
 
v u R

At the point P, we have, u =  50 cm, R = 5 cm, n1 = 1, n2 =

1.5
1.5 1 0.5
Hence, 
v 50

5
or v  18.75cm

This gives the position of image I1 w.r.t. pole P.

The silvered surface will act 50 cm
O P I2 I1
as a concave mirror of radius
R1 = 5 cm R2 = 8 cm
of curvature R = 8 cm and
therefore focal length = 4
cm. The image formed by
the first surface will act as an
object for second reflecting
surface.

The distance of image I1 from second surface = u

where u = 10 + 18.75 = + 8.75 cm

This image will act as a virtual object for mirror since the
image is behind the mirror. Applying the formula for the
mirror
1 1 1
 
v' u' f

Here, u = 8.75 cm, f = 4 cm, hence

25
 1
v'
1
 
1
4 8.75
or, v = 2.746 cm

This gives the position of image I2. Now this real image will
act as a real object for the front surface where again
refraction will take place.

Now, |u|= 10  2.746 = 7.254 cm

 u = 7.254 cm, R = 5 cm, n1 = 1.5, n2 = 1

Applying formula of refraction at spherical surface,
n 2 n1 (n 2  n1 )
 
v" u " R

1 1.5 1  1.5
or 
v" 7.254

5

or 1 0.5 1.5
v"
 
5 7.25
or v” = 9.365 cm

i.e. final image is virtual and appears to originate from a

point 9.365 cm behind the front surface.

29. In Young’s double slit experiment d

D
10 4 (d = distance
between slits, D = distance of screen from the slits). At a
point P on the screen resulting intensity is equal to the
intensity due to individual slit I0. Then the distance of point
P from the central maximum is ( = 6000 Å)
Sol. (2 mm)

26
 I = 4 I0cos2  2 
 

I0 = 4 I0cos2  2 
 

 cos  2   12
 

 
or 
2 3

2  2 
or  =  
3   
. x

or 13   1  y. Dd  x  yd 

   D 

y = 
d

6 10 7
310 4
3
D

= 2 × 10–3 m = 2 mm

 (B)

2d
30. Two coherent light sources emit light of S1 S2

wavelength 550 nm which produce an 

D

interference pattern on a screen. The O

sources are 2.2 mm apart and 2.2m from

the screen. Determine whether the
interference at the point O is constructive
or destructive. Calculate the fringe width.
Sol. (0.55 mm)
27
The path difference at O is given by

 = S2O  S1O

From figure S2O = [2 + (2d)2 ]1/2

1/2
  2d 2   1  2d 2 
 S2O =  1      1    
     2   

 1  2d  2  (2d) 2 (2.2  103 ) 2

Now  =  1     1  = 2  2.2
 1.1 106 m
 2    2

The difference will be constructive if path difference is an

integral multiples of wavelength i.e., n = 1, 2,
3.....
6
 10
n =  = 1.1 7
5.5  10
=2
7
Fringe width,  = D
2d
 10 )(2.2)
= (5.52.2  10 3
= 5.5  10 -4
m = 0.55 mm.

28