NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics

NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics Chapter 10 is a part of NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics. Here we have given NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics Chapter 10 which will help you to understand and for preparation of CBSE examination and other competitive examinations. Prepare for exams with NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics Chapter 10 and refer to your friends also.

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NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics

Question : 1
Monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm is incident from air on a water surface. What are the wavelength, frequency and speed of:-
(a) reflected, and (b) refracted light? Refractive index of water is 1.33.

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Answer :
Given:
λ_air = 589nm = 589 x 10^-9 m
Speed of light in air, c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
Refractive index of water μ = 1.33

The ray will reflect back in the same medium as that of incident ray.

Hence, the wavelength, speed, and frequency of the reflected ray will be the same as that of the incident ray.
Frequency of light is given by the relation,
ν = (c/λ)
= (3 x 10⁸)/ (589 x 10^-9)
= (5.09 x 10¹⁴) Hz
Hence, the speed, frequency, and wavelength of the reflected light are

× 10⁸ m/s), (5.09 ×10¹⁴ Hz), and (589 nm) respectively.
Frequency of light does not depend on the property of the medium in which it is travelling. Hence, the frequency of the refracted ray in water will be equal to the frequency of the incident or reflected light in air.

Therefore, Refracted frequency, ν = 5.09 ×10¹⁴ Hz
Speed of light in water is related to the refractive index of water as:
ν = (c/ μ)
= (3 x10⁸)/ (1.33)
= (2.26 x 10⁸) m/s
Wavelength of light in water is given by the relation,
λ = (ν/v)
= (2.26 x 10⁸)/ (5.09 x 10¹⁴)
=444.007 x 10^-9 m
= 444.01 m
Hence, the speed, frequency, and wavelength of refracted light are:
(2.26 ×10⁸ m/s), (444.01nm), and (5.09 × 10¹⁴) Hz respectively

Question : 2
What is the shape of the wavefront in each of the following cases?
(a) Light diverging from a point source.
(b) Light emerging out of a convex lens when a point source is placed at its focus.
(c) The portion of the wavefront of light from a distant star intercepted by the Earth.

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Answer :

The shape of the wavefront in case of a light diverging from a point source is spherical. The wavefront is shown in the figure:

The shape of the wavefront in case of a light emerging out of a convex lens when a point source is placed at its focus is a parallel grid.

The portion of the wavefront of light from a distant star intercepted by the Earth is a plane.

Question : 3
(a) The refractive index of glass is 1.5. What is the speed of light in glass? (Speed of light in vacuum is 3.0 × 10⁸ m s^–1)
(b) Is the speed of light in glass independent of the colour of light? If not, which of the two colours red and violet travels slower in a glass prism?

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Answer :

Given:

Refractive index of glass, μ = 1.5
Speed of light, c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
Speed of light in glass is given by the relation,
Hence, the speed of light in glass is 2 × 10⁸ m/s.

The speed of light in glass is not independent of the colour of light.

The refractive index of a violet component of white light is greater than the refractive index of a red component.
Hence, the speed of violet light is less than the speed of red light in glass. Hence, violet light travels slower than red light in a glass prism.

Question : 4
In a Young’s double-slit experiment, the slits are separated by 0.28 mm and the screen is placed 1.4 m away.
The distance between the central bright fringe and the fourth bright fringe is measured to be 1.2 cm.
Determine the wavelength of light used in the experiment.

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Answer :
Given:
Distance between the slits, d = 0.28 mm = 0.28 × 10⁻³ m
Distance between the slits and the screen, D = 1.4 m
Distance between the central fringe and the fourth (n = 4) fringe,
u = 1.2 cm = 1.2 × 10⁻² m
In case of a constructive interference, we have the relation for the distance between the two fringes as:
u = (n λ D)/ (d)
Where, n = Order of fringes
= 4 λ = Wavelength of light used
Therefore, λ= (ud/nD)
= (1.2×10^-2x0.28×10^-3)/ (4×1.4)
=6×10^-7=600nm
Hence, the wavelength of the light is 600 nm.

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NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics

Question : 5
In Young’s double-slit experiment using monochromatic light of wavelength λ, the intensity of light at a point on the screen
where path difference is λ, is K units. What is the intensity of light at a point where path difference is λ/3?

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Answer :
Let I₁ and I₂ be the intensity of the two light waves. Their resultant intensities can be
I’ = (I₁ + I₂ +2√ I₁ I₂ cos φ) obtained as:
Where,
φ = Phase difference between the two waves
For monochromatic light waves,
I₁=I₂
Therefore I’ = (I₁ + I₂ +2√ I₁ I₂ cos φ)
= (2 I₁ + 2I₁ cos φ)
Phase difference = ((2 π/ λ) x Path difference)
Since path difference = λ,
Phase difference, φ =2 π
Therefore, I’ = (2 I₁ + 2I₁) = 4I₁
Given,
I’ = K
Therefore, I₁ = (k/4) (equation (1))
When path difference= (λ /3),
Phase difference φ = (2 π/3),
Hence, resultant intensity,
I_R = (I₁ + I₁+2√ I₁ I₂ cos (2 π/3)),
= (2 I₁+2 I₁(-1/2))
= I₁
Using equation (1), we can write:
I_R = I₁ = (k/4)
Hence, the intensity of light at a point where the path difference is λ /3 units is (k/4) units.

Question : 6
A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths, 650 nm and 520 nm, is used to obtain interference fringes in a Young’s double-slit experiment.
(a) Find the distance of the third bright fringe on the screen from the central maximum for wavelength 650 nm.
(b) What is the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide?

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Answer :
Given:
Wavelength of the light beam, λ₁ =650nm
Wavelength of another light beam, λ₂ =520nm
Distance of the slits from the screen = D
Distance between the two slits = d
(a) Distance of the n^th bright fringe on the screen from the central maximum is given by the relation,
x= (n λ₁(D/d))
For third bright fringe, n=3
Therefore x= (3×650) x (D/d)
= (1950) (D/d) nm
(b) Let the n^th bright fringe due to wavelength and (n − 1)^Th bright fringe due to wavelength λ₁coincide on the screen.
We can equate the conditions for bright fringes as:
(n λ₂) = (n-1) λ₁
(520n)= (650n-650)
650= (130n)
Therefore, n=5.
Hence, the least distance from the central maximum can be obtained by the relation:
Note: The value of d and D are not given in the question.

Question : 7
In a double-slit experiment the angular width of a fringe is found to be 0.2° on a screen placed 1 m away.
The wavelength of light used is 600 nm. What will be the angular width of the fringe if the entire experimental apparatus is immersed in water?
Take refractive index of water to be 4/3.

Show Answer :

Answer :
Given:
Distance of the screen from the slits, D = 1 m
Wavelength of light used, λ₁ =600nm
Angular width of the fringe in air θ₁ =0.2^o
Angular width of the fringe in water = θ₂
Refractive index of water, μ= (4/3)
Refractive index is related to angular width as:
μ = (θ₁/ θ₂)
θ₂ = (3/4) (θ₁)
= (3/4) x (0.2) =0.15
Therefore, the angular width of the fringe in water will reduce to 0.15°.

Question : 8
What is the Brewster angle for air to glass transition? (Refractive index of glass = 1.5.)

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Answer :
Given:
Refractive index of glass, μ=1.5
Brewster angle = θ
Brewster angle is related to refractive index as:
tan θ = μ
θ = (tan^-1(1.5)) =56.31⁰
Therefore, the Brewster angle for air to glass transition is 56.31°.

NCERT Solutions Class 12 Physics Wave Optics

Question : 9
Light of wavelength 5000 Å falls on a plane reflecting surface. What are the wavelength and frequency of the reflected light? For what angle of incidence is the reflected ray normal to the incident ray?

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Answer :
Given:
Wavelength λ = 5000 Å = (5000 x 10^-10) m
Speed of light (c) = 3 x 10⁸ m/s
V = (c/ λ)
= (3 x 10⁸)/ (5000 x 10^-10)
= (6 x 10¹⁴) Hz
The wavelength and the frequency of incident light is the same as that of reflected ray. Hence, the wavelength of reflected ray is 5000 Å and its frequency is (6 x 10¹⁴) Hz.
According to the law of reflection, the angle of incidence = angle of reflection
Also When reflected ray is normal to incident ray, the sum of the angle of incidence <i, and angle of reflection <r, is 90°.
Therefore, 0
Or0
Or0)/ (2) or, 0
Therefore, the angle of incidence for the given condition is 45°.

Question : 10
Estimate the distance for which ray optics is good approximation for an aperture of 4 mm and wavelength 400 nm.

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Answer :
Fresnel’s distance (Z_F) is the distance for which the ray optics is a good approximation. It is given by the relation,
Z_F = (a²/ λ)
Where,
Aperture width, a = 4 mm = 4 ×10⁻³ m
Wavelength of light, λ = 400 nm
= 400 × 10⁻⁹ m
Z_F = (4×10^-3)²/ (400×10^-9)
Therefore, the distance for which the ray optics is a good approximation is 40 m.