UNIT VI

OPTICS

Weightage Marks : 14

Reflection of light, spherical mirrors, mirror formula.

Refraction of light, total internal reflection and its applications, optical fibres,
refraction through spherical surfaces, lenses thin lens formula
Lens makers formula.
Magnification, power of a lens, Combination of thin lenses in contact,
Refraction and dispersion of light through a prism, scattering of light – blue
colour of the sky and reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Optical Instruments; Human eye, image formation and accommodation,
correction of eye defects (myopia, hyper-metropia, presbyopia and
astigmatism) using lenses.
Microscopes and astronomical telescopes (reflecting and refracting) and
their magnifying powers.
Wave optics: Wave front and huygen’s principle, reflection and refraction of
plane wave at a plane surface using wave fronts, Proof of laws of reflection
and refraction using huygen’s Principle. Interference, Young’s double slit
experiment and expression for fringe width coherent sources and sustained
interference of light; Diffraction due to a single slit, width of central maximum.
Resolving power of microscopes and astronomical telescopes, Plane
polarized light, Brewster’s law, uses of plane polarized light and polaroids.

XII – Physics 110

 1. Write the value of angle of reflection for a ray of light falling normally on
a mirror.

2. How does the dispersive power of glass prism change when it is dipped
in water?

3. Light falls from glass to air. Find the angle of incidence for which the angle
of deviation is 90°.

4. Name the phenomenon due to which one cannot see through fog.

5. What is the ratio of sini and sinr in terms of velocities in the given figure.

Velocity = v1 i µ1

Velocity = v2 r µ2

6. What is the shape of fringes in young’s double slit experiment?

7. A equiconcave lens of focal length 15 cm is cut into two equal halves along
dotted line as shown in figure. What will be new focal length of each half.

8. For the same angle of the incidence the angle of refraction in three media
A, B and C are 15°, 25° and 35° respectively. In which medium would the
velocity of light be minimum?

9. What is the phase difference between two points on a cylindrical wave front?

10. What is the ‘power’ of plane glass plate.

XII – Physics 116

 11. Show with the help of diagram, why a beam of white light passing through
a hollow prism does not give spectrum.

12. How does focal length of lens change when red light incident on it is
replaced by violet light?

13. A myopic person prefers to remove his spectacles while reading a book.
Why?

14. Lower half of the concave mirror is painted black. What effect will this have
on the image of an object placed in front of the mirror?

Ans. : The intensity of the image will be reduced (in this case half) but no change
in size of the image.

1. A near sighted person can clearly see objects up to a distance of 1.5m.

Calculate power of the lens necessary for the remedy of this defect.
(P = – 0.67D)

2. A person can adjust the power of his eye lens between 50D and 60D. His
far point is infinity. Find the distance between retina and eye lens.

3. Calculate the value of , for which light incident normally on face AB

grazes along the face BC.

µ glass = 3/2 µwater = 4/3

A µg B

µW
C

4. Name any two characteristics of light which do not change on polarisation.

5. Complete the path of light with correct value of angle of emergence.

117 XII – Physics

 µ = 1.5
60°

6. Define diffraction. What should be the order of the size of the aperture to
observe diffraction.

7. Show that maximum intensity in interference pattern is four times the

intensity due to each slit if amplitude of light emerging from slits is same.

8. Two poles-one 4m high and the other is 4.5 m high are situated at distance
40m and 50m respectively from an eye. Which pole will appear taller?

9. S1 and S2 are two sources of light separated by a distance d. A detector

can move along S2P perpendicular to S1S2. What should be the minimum
and maximum path difference at the detector?

S1×

S2 × P
10. If a jogger runs with constant speed towards a vehicle, how fast does the
image of the jogger appear to move in the rear view mirror when

(i) the vehicle is stationery

(ii) the vehicle is moving with constant speed.

Ans : The speed of the image of the jogger appears to increase

substantially, though jogger is moving with constant speed.

Similar phenomenon is observed when vehicle is in motion.

11. A person looking at a mesh of crossed wire is able to see the vertical wire
more distinctly than the horizontal wire. Which defect he is suffering from?
How can this defect be corrected?

12. Is optical density same as mass density? Give an example.

Ans : Optical density is the ratio of the speed of light in two media whereas
mass density e.g. mass per unit volume of a substance.

XII – Physics 118

 e.g. Mass density of turpention in less than that of water but its optical
density is higher.

13. When does (i) a plane mirror and (ii) a convex mirror produce real image
of objects.

Ans : Plane and convex mirror produce real image when the object is
virtual that is rays converging to a point behind the mirror are reflected to
a point on a screen.

14. A virtual image cannot be caught on a screen. Then how do we see it?

Ans : The image is virtual when reflected or refracted rays divergent,

these are converged on to the retina by convex lens of eye, as the virtual
image serves as the object.

15. Draw a diagram to show the advance sunrise and delayed sunset due to
atmospheric refraction. NCERT Pg 318

16. Define critical angle for total internal reflection. Obtain an expression for
refractive index of the medium in terms of critical angle.

17. The image of a small bulb fixed on the wall of a room is to be obtained
on the opposite wall ‘s’ m away by means of a large convex lens. What is
the maximum possible local length of the lens required.

Ans : For fixed distance ‘s’ between object and screen, for the lens equation
to give real solution for u = v = 2f, ‘f’ should not be greater than 4f = s.

f = s/4

18. The angle subtended at the eye by an object is equal to the angle subtended
at the eye by the virtual image produced by a magnifying glass. In what
sense then does magnifying glass produce angular magnification?

Ans : The absolute image size is bigger than object size, the magnifier
helps in bringing the object closer to the eye and hence it has larger
angular size than the same object at 25 cm, thus angular magnification is
achieved.

19. Obtain relation between focal length and radius of curvature of (i) concave
mirror (ii) convex mirror using proper ray diagram.

20. Two independent light sources cannot act as coherent sources. Why?

119 XII – Physics

 21. How is a wave front different from a ray? Draw the geometrical shape
of the wavefronts when.

(i) light diverges from a point source,

(ii) light emerges out of convex lens when a point source is placed at
its focus.

22. What two main changes in diffraction pattern of single slit will you observe
when the monochromatic source of light is replaced by a source of white
light.

23. You are provided with four convex lenses of focal length 1cm, 3cm, 10cm
and 100 cm. Which two would you prefer for a microscope and which two
for a telescope.

24. Give reasons for the following

(i) Sun looks reddish at sunset
(ii) clouds are generally white
25. Using Huygens Principle draw ray diagram for the following
(i) Refraction of a plane wave front incident on a rarer medium
(ii) Refraction of a plane wave front incident on a denser medium.

1. Using mirror formula show that virtual image produced by a convex mirror
is always smaller in size and is located between the focus and the pole.

2. Obtain the formula for combined focal length of two thin lenses in contact,
taking one divergent and the other convergent.

3. Derive snell’s law on the basis of Huygen’s wave theory.

4. A microscope is focussed on a dot at the bottom of the beaker. Some oil

is poured into the beaker to a height of ‘b’ cm and it is found that microscope
has to raise through vertical distance of ‘a’ cm to bring the dot again into
focus. Express refractive index of oil is terms of a and b.

5. Define total internal reflection. State its two conditions. With a ray diagram
show how does optical fibres transmit light.

XII – Physics 120

 6. A plane wave front is incident on (i) a prism (ii) A convex lens (iii) a
concave mirror. Draw the emergent wavefront in each case.

7. Explain with reason, how the resolving power of a compound microscope

will change when (i) frequency of the incident light on the objective lens
is increased. (ii) focal length of the objective lens is increased. (iii) asperture
of objective lens is increased.

8. Derive Mirror formula for a concave mirror forming real Image.

9. Two narrow slits are illuminated by a single monochromatic sources.

(a) Draw the intensity pattern and name the phenomenon

(b) One of the slits is now completely covered. Draw the intensity
pattern now obtained and name the phenomenon.

10. Explain briefly (i) sparkling of diamond (ii) use of optical fibre in
communication.

11. Using appropriate ray diagram obtain relation for refractive index of water
in terms of real and apparent depth.

12. Complete the ray diagram in the following figure where, n1, is refractive
index of medium and n2 is refractive index of material of lens.

n1 < n2 n1 = n2 n1 > n2
(i) (ii) (iii)

n1 < n2 n1 = n2 n1 > n2
(iv) (v) (vi)

121 XII – Physics

 1. With the help of ray diagram explain the phenomenon of total internal
reflection. Obtain the relation between critical angle and refractive indices
of two media. Draw ray diagram to show how right angled isosceles prism
can be used to :

(i) Deviate the ray through 180°.

(ii) Deviate the ray through 90°.

(iii) Invert the ray.

2. Draw a labelled ray diagram of a compound microscope and explain its

working. Derive an expression for its magnifying power.

3. Diagrammatically show the phenomenon of refraction through a prism.

Define angle of deviation in this case. Hence for a small angle of incidence
derive the relation = (µ – 1) A.

4. Name any three optical defects of eye. Show by ray diagram :

(i) Myopic eye and corrected myopic eye.

(ii) Hypermetropic eye and corrected hypermetropic eye.

5. Define diffraction. Deduce an expression for fringe width of the central

maxima of the diffraction pattern, produced by single slit illuminated with
monochromatic light source.

6. What is polarisation? How can we detect polarised light? State Brewster’s

Law and deduce the expression for polarising angle.

7. Derive lens maker formula for a thin converging lens.

1 1 1
8. Derive lens formula – for
f v u

(a) a convex lens,

(b) a concave lens.

9. Describe an astronomical telescope and derive an expression for its

magnifying power using a labelled ray diagram.

XII – Physics 122

10. Draw a graph to show the angle of deviation with the angle of incidence
i for a monochromatic ray of light passing through a prisin of refracting
angle A. Deduce the relation

sin A m 2
µ
sin A 2

11. State the condition under which the phenomenon of diffraction of light
takes place. Derive an expression for the width of the central maximum
due to diffraction of light at a single slit. Also draw the intensity pattern with
angular position.

1. An object of length 2.5cm is placed at a distance of 1.5f from a concave

mirror where f is the focal length of the mirror. The length of object is
perpendicular to principal axis. Find the size of image. Is the image erect
or inverted?

2. Find the size of image formed in the situation shown in figure.

[5 cm, Inverted]

1 .5 c m 40 cm
20 cm
O C 1.6 cm approx.
µ1 = 1 µ 2 = 1 .3 3

3. A ray of light passes through an equilateral prism in such a manner that

the angle of incidence is equal to angle of emergence and each of these
angles is equal to 3/4 of angle of prism. Find angle of deviation.
[Ans. : 30°]

4. Critical angle for a certain wavelength of light in glass is 30°. Calculate the
polarising angle and the angle of refraction in glass corresponding to this.
[ip = tan–1 2

5. A light ray passes from air into a liquid as shown in figure. Find refractive
index of liquid.
air
µLiquid 32

123 XII – Physics

 60° air

Liquid
15°

6. At what angle with the water surface does fish in figure see the setting
sun?

µ = 1 a ir Sun
µ W = 4 /3
W a te r

[At critical angle, fish will see the sun.]

7. In the following diagram, find the focal length of lens L2. [40 cm]

cm
f1 = 20
O
1 L1 I
I L2
15 cm
20 cm 80 cm
8. A hypermetropic person whose near point is at 100 cm wants to read a
book. Find the nature and power of the lens needed.

Ans. = –100 cm

u = –25 cm

1 1 1 –1 1 3
f u 100 25 100
100
f 33.3cm so a converging lens
3

100
3 dioptre
f

XII – Physics 124

 9. For a man shortest distance of distinct vision is 20 cm. What will be the
type and power of lens which would enable him to read a book at a
distance of 60 cm?

Ans. v = –20 cm

u = –60 cm

1 –1 1 –2 –1
f 20 60 60 30
f = – 30 cm. So a diverging lens

100
–3.3 dioptre
–30
10. Using the data given below, state which two of the given lenses will be
preferred to construct a (i) telescope (ii) Microscope. Also indicate which
is to be used as objective and as eyepiece in each case.

Lenses Power (p) Apetune (A)

L1 6 D 1 cm

L2 3 D 8 cm

L3 10 D 1 cm

Ans. : For telescope, less L 2 is chosen as objective as it aperture is

largest, L3 is chosen as eyepiece as its focal length is smaller.

For microscope lens L3 is chosen as objective because of its small focal

length and lens L1, serve as eye piece because its focal length is not
larges.

11. Two thin converging lens of focal lengths 15 cm and 30 cm respectively

are held in contact with each other. Calcualte power and focal length of the
combination.

1 1 1 1 1 1
F f1 f2 15 30 10

F = 10 cm

P = 10 D

125 XII – Physics

 1. An air bubble is formed inside water. Does it act as converging lens or a
diverging lens?
[Diverging lens]

2. A water tank is 4 meter deep. A candle flame is kept 6 meter above the
level. for water is 4/3. Where will the image of the candle be formed?
[6m below the water level]

1. Water (refractuive index µ) is poured into a concave mirror of radius of

curvature ‘R’ up to a height h as shown in figure. What should be the value
of x so that the image of object ‘O’ is formed on itself?

C
O x
R
h

2. A point source S is placed midway between two concave mirrors having

equal focal length f as shown in Figure. Find the value of d for which only
one image is formed.

d
3. A thin double convex lens of focal length f is broken into two equal halves
at the axis. The two halves are combined as shown in figure. What is the
focal length of combination in (ii) and (iii).

(i) (ii) (iii)

XII – Physics 126

4. How much water should be filled in a container 21 cm in height, so that
it appears half filled when viewed from the top of the container.
(aµ = 4/3)?

5. A ray PQ incident on the refracting face BA is refracted in the prism BAC

as shown in figure and emerges from the other refracting face AC as RS
such that AQ = AR. If the angle, of prism A = 60° and µ of material of
prism is 3 then find angle .

Q R
S
P
B C

1. A converging beam of light is intercepted by a slab of thickness t and

refractive index µ. By what distance will the convergence point be shifted?
Illustrate the answer.

P
1
x 1 t
µ

t
2. In double slit experiment SS2 is greater than SS1 by 0.25 . Calculate the
path difference between two interfering beam from S1 and S2 for minima
and maxima on the point P as shown in Figure.

S1
P
S
O

S2 S c re e n

127 XII – Physics

 1. Zero

2. Decreases.

3. Angle of incidence is 45°.

4. Scattering.

6. Hyperbolic

7. 30 cm

8. 15°

9. Zero.

10. Zero

12. Decreases

13. A myopic person is short sighted.

2. For point is infinity so in this case focal length is maximum. Hence power
is minimum.

1
3. sin 8 9

4. Speed and frequency

1
5. sin 3 4

8. 4 m pole

9. Minimum path difference is zero (when p is at infinity)

Maximum path difference = d.

11. Astigmatism – Cylindrical lens

XII – Physics 128

21. A wavefront is a surface obtained by joining all points vibrating in the same
phase.

A ray is a line drawn perpendicular to the wavefront in the direction of

propagation of light.

(i) Spherical

(ii) Plane

22. (i) In each diffraction order, the diffracted image of the slit gets
dispersed into component colours of white light. As fringe width
, red fringe with higher wavelength is wider than violet fringe
with smaller wavelength.

(ii) In higher order spectra, the dispersion is more and it causes

overlapping of different colours.

23. f0 = 1 cm and fe = 3 cm for Microscope and

f0 = 100 cm and fe = 1 cm for a Telescope

25. N.C.E.R.T. Fig. 10.5; Fig. 10.4.

7. R.P. of a compound Microscope

2µ sin
2µ sin
c
(i) When frequency increases, R.P. increases

(ii) R.P. does not change with change in focal length of objective lens.

(iii) When aperture increases, increases R.P. increases.

1. Distance of object from p should be equal to radius of curvature.

R –h
R µx h x .
µ

129 XII – Physics

 2. Distance between mirror will be 2f or 4f.

3. (i) Focal length of combination is infinite.

(ii) f/2

4.

21 –x

21 m 21 –x
x

Real depth
µ
Apparent depth

x 4
x = 12 cm.
21 – x 3

5. This is a case of min. deviation = 60°.

1
1. x 1 t

2. Path diff. : (SS2 + S2P) – (SS1 + S1P) = (SS2 – SS1) + (S2P – S1P) =
(0.25 + S2P – S1P)

For maxima, path diff. = n

So S2P – S1P = n – 0.25 = (n – 0.25)

For minima, path diff. 2n 1

2
So S2P – S1P = (2n + 0.5) /2

XII – Physics 130