Wave Optics

Topics in this chapter

• Young's Double-Slit Patterns
• Interference, Phase, And Thin Films
• Polarization And Brewster Angle
• Single-Slit Diffraction
• Diffraction Gratings And Resolution

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-0C1D37

   In a Young's double-slit experiment, the fringe width is found to be $0.4\text{ mm}$. If the whole apparatus is immersed in water of refractive index $4/3$, the new fringe width will be:

   1. A.$0.3\text{ mm}$
   2. B.$0.4\text{ mm}$
   3. C.$0.53\text{ mm}$
   4. D.$0.75\text{ mm}$
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-7B9361

   Unpolarized light of intensity $I_0$ passes through three successive polarizers such that the pass axis of the second is at $30^{\circ}$ to the first, and the third is at $60^{\circ}$ to the first. The final intensity of the transmitted light is:

   1. A.$3I_0 / 32$
   2. B.$3I_0 / 16$
   3. C.$9I_0 / 32$
   4. D.$I_0 / 8$
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-90B553

   The Brewster's angle for a transparent medium is $60^{\circ}$. The refractive index of the medium is:

   1. A.$\sqrt{3}$
   2. B.$1 / \sqrt{3}$
   3. C.$3 / 2$
   4. D.$2 / \sqrt{3}$
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-610EF6

   In a single-slit diffraction experiment, the first minimum for a light of wavelength $500\text{ nm}$ coincides with the first minimum for a light of wavelength $\lambda$ at a slit of width $a$. The value of $\lambda$ is:

   1. A.$250\text{ nm}$
   2. B.$500\text{ nm}$
   3. C.$750\text{ nm}$
   4. D.Cannot be determined without knowing $a$
   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-5FF499

   In a Young's double-slit experiment using monochromatic light, the fringe width is $b$. If the distance between the slits is halved and the distance between the screen and the slits is doubled, the new fringe width will be:

   1. A.$b / 4$
   2. B.$b / 2$
   3. C.$2b$
   4. D.$4b$
   See the answer and solution