Conceptual Questions

1. a. Which phenomena establish the wave nature of light? [1]

b. Define wave front. [1]
c. Can two wavefronts cross each other? Explain [2]
d. Out of speed, frequency and wavelength, name the parameters which
remain same for reflection. [1]
2. a. Define wavefront and wavelets. [2]
b. Use Huygen’s geometrical construction to show the propagation of
plane wavefront from a rarer medium (a) to a denser medium (b)
undergoing refraction, hence derive Snell’s law of refraction. [3]
3. a. Use Huygen’s principle to verify the laws of reflection of light. [3]
b. For refraction, among speed, frequency and wavelength of light, which
parameters remain unaffected and which parameters change? [2]
4. a. State the postulates of Huygen’s wave theory of light. [3]
b. When a light wave travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium,
the speed of light decreases. Does it imply reduction in its energy?
Explain. [2]
5. a. Explain with proper sketch, the difference between wavefronts and
wavelets. [2]
b. Differentiate between plane wavefront and spherical wavefront. [2]
c. When light travels from one medium to other, its velocity changes. Is
it due to change in frequency or change in wavelength? [1]
Give reasons/ answers
1. How is direction of light ray related with a wavefront?
2. What could be the shape of wavefront of light from a point source kept at focus
of convex lens?
3. What determines the shape of wavefront?
4. What are spherical, cylindrical and plane wavefronts?
5. Is it possible to convert a spherical wavefront into plane wavefront and plane
wavefront into spherical wavefront?

Numericals
1. The speed of light in glass is 1.91 x 108 m/s. Calculate the refractive index if
the speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 108 m/s. [ Ans :- 1.57 ]
2. The speed of light in glass is 2 x 108 m/s. Calculate the speed of light in water
if refractive indices of glass and water are 1.5 and 1.33 respectively.
[ Ans :- 2.25 x 108 m/s ]
3. Find the maximum value of angle of incidence of light in glass so that it can
escape into water from glass. Refractive index of glass and water are 1.5 and
1.33 respectively. [ Ans :- 62.5º ]
4. Light travelling through a pool of water in parallel beam is incident on the
horizontal surface. Its speed in water is 2.2 x 108 m/s. Calculate the maximum
angle which the beam can make with the vertical if the light is to escape into air
where its speed is 3 x 108 m/s. [ Ans :- 47.3º ]