CHAPTER 10

WAVE OPTICS
INTERFERENCE
Why are coherent sources required to create interference of light?
Ans. Coherent sources are required for sustained interference. If sources are incoherent, the
intensity at a point will go on changing with time.
Explain the following, giving reasons:
(i) When monochromatic light is incident on a surface separating two media, the reflected
and refracted light both have the same frequency as the incident frequency.
(ii) When light travels from a rarer to a denser medium, the speed decreases. Does this
decrease in speed imply a reduction in the energy carried by the wave?
(iii) In the wave picture of light, intensity of light is determined by the square of the amplitude of
the wave. What determines the intensity in the photon picture of light? [CBSE Central 2016]

Ans. (i) Reflection and refraction arise through interaction of incident light with atomic constituents
of matter which vibrate with the same frequency as that of the incident light. Hence frequency
remains unchanged.
(ii) No; when light travels from a rarer to a denser media, its frequency remains unchanged.
According to quantum theory of light, the energy of light photon depends on frequency and
not on speed.
(iii) For a given frequency, intensity of light in the photon picture is determined by the number
of photon incident normally on a crossing an unit area per unit time.
 5 MARKS DERIVATIONS
(a) In Young’s double slit experiment, describe briefly how bright and dark fringes are
obtained on the screen kept in front of a double slit. Hence obtain the expression for the
fringe width.
(b) The ratio of the intensities at minima to the maxima in the Young’s double slit
experiment is 9: 25. Find the ratio of the widths of the two slits.
DIFFRACTION
CHAPTER 12
ATOMS
 DERIVATIONS ( 2 & 3 MARKS)

1.Show that the radius of the orbit in hydrogen atom varies as n^2, where n is the principal quantum
number of the atom.

2.When the electron orbiting in hydrogen atom in its ground state moves to the third
excited state, show how the de Broglie wavelength associated with it would be affected.

ANS:
DERIVATION ( 5 MARKS)
1. What is the ratio of radii of the orbits corresponding to first excited state and ground state in a hydrogen atom?

2. Find out the wavelength of the electron orbiting in the ground state of hydrogen atom.
3. Calculate the orbital period of the electron in the first excited state of hydrogen atom.
4. Determine the distance of closest approach when an alpha particle of kinetic energy 4.5
MeV strikes a nucleus of Z = 80, stops and reverses its direction
The kinetic energy of the electron orbiting in the first excited state of hydrogen atom is 3.4 eV.
Determine the de Broglie wavelength associated with it.
When an electron in hydrogen atom jumps from the third excited state to the ground state,
how would the de Broglie wavelength associated with the electron change? Justify your
answer.
A photon emitted during the de-excitation of electron from a state n to the first excited state
in a hydrogen atom, irradiates a metallic cathode of work function 2 eV, in a photo cell, with
a stopping potential of 0.55 V. Obtain the value of the quantum number of the state n.
The energy levels of a hypothetical atom are shown alongside. Which of the shown
transitions will result in the emission of a photon of wavelength 275 nm?
Which of these transitions correspond to emission of radiation of (i) maximum and
(ii) minimum wavelength?
The short wavelength limit for the Lyman series of the hydrogen spectrum is 913.4 Å.
Calculate the short wavelength limit for Balmer series of the hydrogen spectrum.
CHAPTER 14
SEMICONDUCTORS
 THEORY BASED QUESTIONS
1. Distinguish between a metal and an insulator on the basis of energy band diagrams.

2. Write two characteristic features to distinguish between n-type and p-type

semiconductors.

3. Draw energy band diagrams of an n-type and p-type semiconductor at temperature T >
0 K. Mark the donor and acceptor energy levels with their energies.

4. How is forward biasing different from reverse biasing in a p-n junction diode?

5. What are energy bands? Write any two distinguishing features between conductors,
semiconductors and insulators on the basis of energy band diagrams.
6. Explain how the width of depletion layer in a p-n junction diode changes when the
junction is (i) forward biased (ii) reverse biased.

7. Describe briefly, with the help of a diagram, the role of the two important processes
involved in the formation of a p-n junction.

8. Draw V – I characteristics of a p–n junction diode. Answer the following questions,

giving reasons: (i) Why is the current under reverse bias almost independent of the
applied potential up to a critical voltage?
(ii) Why does the reverse current show a sudden increase at the critical voltage?

9. Explain, with the help of a circuit diagram, the working of a p-n junction diode as a
half-wave rectifier.

10.State the principle of working of p-n diode as a rectifier. Explain with the help of a
circuit diagram, the use of p-n diode as a full wave rectifier. Draw a sketch of the input
and output waveforms.
A semiconductor has equal electron and hole concentration of 2×10^8 / m^3. On doping
with a certain impurity, the hole concentration increases to 4×10^10 / m^3.
(i) What type of semiconductor is obtained on doping?
(ii) Calculate the new electron and hole concentration of the semiconductor.
(iii) How does the energy gap vary with doping?
The graph of potential barrier versus width of depletion region for an unbiased diode is
shown in A. In comparison to A, graphs B and C are obtained after biasing the diode in
different ways. Identify the type of biasing in B and C and justify your answer.
In the following diagram, which bulb out of B1 and B2 will glow and why?

Bulb B1 will glow as diode D1 is forward biased.