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Chapter 10 Wave Optics Physics Practice Worksheet for Class 12
Students should use these Class 12 Physics chapter-wise worksheets for daily practice to improve their conceptual understanding. This detailed test papers include important questions and solutions for Chapter 10 Wave Optics, to help you prepare for school tests and final examination. Regular practice of these Class 12 Physics questions will help improve your problem-solving speed and exam accuracy for the 2026 session.
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Wave Optics MCQ Questions with Answers Class 12 Physics
Question. Newton postulated his corpuscular theory of light on the basis of
(a) Newton’s rings
(b) rectilinear propagation of light
(c) colour through thin films
(d) dispersion of white light into colours.
Answer: B
Question. In Huygen’s wave theory, the loucs of all points in the same state of vibration is called
(a) a half period zone
(b) a wavefront
(a) a ray
(d) vibrator
Answer: B
Question. Huygen’s concept of secondary wave
(a) allows us to find the focal length of a thick lens
(b) is a geometrical method to find a wavefront
(c) is used to determine the velocity of light
(d) is used to explain polarisation
Answer: B
Question. Light waves are
(a) electromagnetic waves in nature
(b) cosmic rays
(c) infra–red rays
(d) invisible in atmosphere
Answer: A
Question. The electromagnetic waves travel with a velocity
(a) equal to the velocity of sound
(b) equal to the velocity of light
(c) less than the velocity of light
(d) greater than the velocity of light
Answer: B
Question. We shift Young’s double slit experiment from air to water.Assuming that water is still and clear, it can be predicted that the fringe pattern will
(a) remain unchanged
(b) disappear
(c) shrink
(d) be enlarged
Answer: C
Question. In Young’s double slit interference experiment, the distance between two sources is 0.1 mm. The distance of the screen from the sources is 20 cm. Wavelength of light used is 5460 Å. Then the angular position of the first dark fringe is
(a) 0.08°
(b) 0.16°
(c) 0.20°
(d) 0.32°
Answer: B
Question. In Young’s double slit interference experiment if the slit separation is made 3 folds the fringe width becomes
(a) 1/3 fold
(b) 3 fold
(c) 3/6 fold
(d) 6 fold
Answer: A
Question. Two slits separated by a distance of 1 mm are illuminated with red light of wavelength 6.5 × 10–7 m. The interference fringes are observed on a screen placed 1 m from the slits.The distance between third dark fringe and the fifth bright fringe is equal to
(a) 0.65 mm
(b) 1.63 mm
(c) 3.25 mm
(d) 4.88 mm
Answer: B
Question. In Young’s double slit experiment if the slit widths are in the ratio 1 : 9, the ratio of the intensity at minima to that at maxima will be
(a) 1
(b) 1/9
(c) 1/4
(d) 1/3
Answer: C
Question. Two waves having the intensities in the ratio of 9 : 1 produce interference. The ratio of maximum to minimum intensity is equal to
(a) 10 : 8
(b) 9 : 1
(c) 4 : 1
(d) 2 : 1
Answer: C
Question. Two coherent monochromatic light beams of intensities I and 4 I are superposed. The maximumm and minimum possible intensities in the resulting beam are
(a) 5 I and I
(b) 5 I and 3 I
(c) 9 I and I
(d) 9 I and 3 I
Answer: C
Question. In the two separate set-ups of the Young’s double slit experiment, fringes of equal width are observed when lights of wavelengths in the ratio 1 : 2 are used. If the ratio of the slit separation in the two cases is 2 : 1, the ratio of the distances between the plane of the slits and the screen, in the two set ups in
(a) 4 : 1
(b) 1 : 1
(c) 1 : 4
(d) 2 : 1
Answer: A
Question. If an inteference pattern has maximum and minimum intensities in the ratio of 36 : 1 then what will be the ratio of amplitudes
(a) 5 : 7
(b) 7 : 4
(c) 4 : 7
(d) 7 : 5
Answer: A
Question. When viewed in white light, soap bubbles show colours because of
(a) interference
(b) scattering
(c) diffraction
(d) disperscion
Answer: A
Question. A diffraction pattern is obtained using a beam of red light.What happens if the red light is replaced by blue light
(a) no change
(b) diffraction bands become narrower and crowded together
(c) bands become broader and farther apart
(d) bands disappear
Answer: B
Question. Diffraction and interference indicate
(a) wave nature
(b) particle nature
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above
Answer: A
Question. The condition for observing Fraunhofer diffraction from a single slit is that the light wavefront incident on the slit should be
(a) spherical
(b) cylinderical
(c) plane
(d) elliptical
Answer: C
Question. Sound waves do not exhibit
(a) refraction
(b) interference
(c) diffraction
(d) polarisation
Answer: D
Question. Polarisation of light proves the
(a) corpuscular nature of light
(b) quantum nature of light
(c) transverse nature of light
(d) longitudinal wave nature of light
Answer: C
Question. Light waves can be polarised because they
(a) have high frequencies
(b) have short wavelength
(c) are transverse
(d) can be reflected
Answer: C
Question. A single slit of width b is illuminated by a coherent monochromatic light of wavelength λ. If the second and fourth minima in the diffraction pattern at a distance 1 m from the slit are at 3 cm and 6cm respectively from the central maximum,what is the width of the central maximum ? (i.e. distance between first minimum on either side of the central maximum)
(a) 1.5 cm
(b) 3.0 cm
(c) 4.5 cm
(d) 6.0 cm
Answer: B
Question. A single slit of width 0.1 mm is illuminated by a parallel beam of light of wavelength 6000 Å and diffraction bands are observed on a screen 0.5 m from the slit. The distance of the third dark band from the central bright band is :
(a) 3 mm
(b) 9 mm
(c) 4.5 mm
(d) 1.5 mm
Answer: B
Question. The angular width of the central maximum in a single slit diffraction pattern is 60°. The width of the slitis 1μm.The slit is illuminated by monochromatic plane waves. If another slit of same width is made near it, Young’s fringes can be observed on a screen placed at a distance 50 cm from the slits. If theobserved fringe width is 1 cm, what is slit separation distance?
(a) 75 μ m
(b) 100 μ m
(c) 25 μ m
(d) 50 μ m
Answer: C
Question. A mixture of light, consisting of wavelenght 590 nm and an unknown wavlength, illuminates Young’s double lit and gives rise to two overlapping interference patterns on the screen. The central maximum of both lights coincide.Further, it is observed that the third bright fringe of known light coincides with the 4th bright fringe of the unknown light. From this data, the wavelength of the unknown light is
(a) 393.4 nm
(b) 885.0 nm
(c) 442.5 nm
(d) 776.8 nm
Answer: C
Question. A Young’s double slit experiment uses a monochromatic source. The shape of the interference fringes formed on a screen
(a) straight line
(b) parabola
(c) hyperbola
(d) circle
Answer: C
Question. The condition for obtaining secondary maxima in the diffraction pattern due to single slit is
(a) a sin θ = nλ
(b) a sin θ = (2n - 1)λ/2
(c) a sin θ = (2n -1)λ
(d) a sin θ = nλ/2
Answer: B
Question. Consider a light beam incident from air to a glass slab at Brewster’s angle as shown in figure.
A polaroid is placed in the path of the emergent ray at point P and rotated about an axis passing through the centre and perpendicular to the plane of the polaroid.
(a) For a particular orientation, there shall be darkness as observed through the polaroid
(b) The intensity of light as seen through the polaroid shall be independent of the rotation
(c) The intensity of light as seen through the polaroid shall go through a minimum but not zero for two orientations of the polaroid
(d) The intensity of light as seen through the polaroid shall go through a minimum for four orientations of the polaroid
Answer: C
Question. Two Polaroids P1 and P2 are placed with their axis perpendicular to each other. Unpolarised light I0 is incident on P1. A third polaroid P3 is kept in between P1 and P2 such that its axis makes an angle 45° with that of P1 . The intensity of transmitted light through P2 is
(a) I0/4
(b) I0/8
(c) I0/16
(d) I0/2
Answer: B
Question. In Young’s double slit experiment, the slits are 2 mm apart and are illuminated by photons of two wavelengths λ1 = 12000Å and λ2 = 10000Å. At what minimum distance from the common central bright fringe on the screen 2 m from the slit will a bright fringe from one interference pattern coincide with a bright fringe from the other ?
(a) 6 mm
(b) 4 mm
(c) 3 mm
(d) 8 mm
Answer: A
Question. The intensity at the maximum in a Young's double slit experiment is I0. Distance between two slits is d = 5l, where l is the wavelength of light used in the experiment. What will be the intensity in front of one of the slits on the screen placed at a distance D = 10 d ?
(a) I0
(b) I0/4
(c) 3/4 I0
(d) I0/2
Answer: D
Question. Unpolarised light of intensity 32 W m–2 passes through three polarizers such that the transmission axis of the last polarizer is crossed with that of the first. The intensity of final emerging light is 3 W m–2. The intensity of light transmitted by first polarizer will be
(a) 32 W m–2
(b) 16 W m–2
(c) 8 W m–2
(d) 4 W m–2
Answer: B
Question. Figure shows a standard two slit arrangement witn slits S1, S2, P1, P2 are the two minima points on either side of P (figure).
At P2 on the screen, there is a hole and behind P2 is a second 2-slit arrangement with slits S3, S4 and a second screen behind them.
(a) There would be no interference pattern on the second screen but it would be lighted
(b) The second screen would be totally dark
(c) There would be a single bright point on the second screen
(d) There would be a regular two slit pattern on the second screen
Answer: D
Question. A radar sends radiowaves of frequency v towards an aeroplane moving with velocity va. A change Dn is observed in the frequency of reflected waves which is higher than original frequency. The velocity of aeroplane is (va << c)
(a) c Δn/v
(b) 2cΔn/Δn
(c) cΔn/2v
(d) Δn/2cv
Answer: C
Question. A beam of light of λ = 600 nm from a distant source falls on a single slit 1 mm wide and the resulting diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 2 m away. The distance between first dark fringes on either side of the central bright fringe is:
(a) 1.2 cm
(b) 1.2 mm
(c) 2.4 cm
(d) 2.4 mm
Answer: D
Question. Aperture of the human eye is 2 mm. Assuming the mean wavelength of light to be 5000 Å, the angular resolution limit of the eye is nearly
(a) 2 minute
(b) 1 minute
(c) 0.5 minute
(d) 1.5 minute
Answer: B
Question. For a parallel beam of monochromatic light of wavelength 'λ', diffraction is produced by a single slit whose width 'a' is of the wavelength of the light. If 'D' is the distance of the screen from the slit, the width of the central maxima will be:
(a) Dλ/a
(b) Da/λ
(c) 2Da/λ
(d) 2Dλ/a
Answer: D
Question. A parallel beam of monochromatic unpolarised light is incident on a transparent dielectric plate of refractive index 1/√3 . The reflected beam is completely polarised. Then the angle of incidence is
(a) 30º
(b) 60º
(c) 45º
(d) 75º
Answer: A
Question. Consider sunlight incident on a slit of width 104 Å. The image seen through the slit shall
(a) be a fine sharp slit white in colour at the centre
(b) a bright slit white at the centre diffusing to zero intensities at the edges
(c) a bright slit white at the centre diffusing to regions of different colours
(d) only be a diffused slit white in colour
Answer: A
Question. In a diffraction pattern due to a single slit of width 'a', the first minimum is observed at an angle 30° when light of wavelength 5000 Å is incident on the slit. The first secondary maximum is observed at an angle of :
(a) sin-1(1/4)
(b) sin-1(2/3)
(c) sin-1(1/2)
(d) sin-1(3/4)
Answer: D
Question. If the polarizing angle of a piece of glass for green light is 54.74°, then the angle of minimum deviation for an equilateral prism made of same glass is
[Given, tan 54.74° = 1.414]
(a) 45°
(b) 54.74°
(c) 60°
(d) 30°
Answer: D
Question. In the Young’s double-slit experiment, the intensity of light at a point on the screen where the path difference is λ is K, (λ being the wave length of light used). The intensity at a point where the path difference is λ/4, will be:
(a) K
(b) K/4
(c) K/2
(d) Zero
Answer: C
DIRECTIONS for : Each question contains STATEMENT-1 and STATEMENT-2. Choose the correct answer from the following-
(a) Statement -1 is false, Statement-2 is true
(b) Statement -1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement -2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1
(c) Statement -1 is true, Statement-2 is true; Statement -2 is not a correct explanation for Statement-1
(d) Statement -1 is true, Statement-2 is false
Question. Statement 1 : In Young’s double slit experiment if wavelength of incident monochromatic light is just doubled, number of bright fringe on the screen will increase.
Statement 2: Maximum number of bright lunge on the screen is inversely proportional to the wavelength of light used.
Answer: A
Question. Statement 1 : In YDSE number of bright fringe or dark fringe can not be unlimited
Statement 2 : In YDSE path difference between the superposing waves can not be more than the distance between the slits.
Answer: B
Question. Statement 1 : In YDSE, if a thin film is introduced in front of the upper slit, then the fringe pattern shifts in the downward direction.
Statement 2 : In YDSE if the slit widths are unequal, the minima will be completely dark.
Answer: A
Question. Statement 1 : In YDSE, if I1 = 9I0 and I2 = 4I0 then Imax/Imin = 25 .
Statement 2 : In YDSE Imax = (√I1 + √I2)2 and Imin = (√I1 - √I2)2
Answer: B
ONE MARK QUESTIONS
Question. What type of wave front will emerge from a distant sources and a point source?
Answer : Plane wavefront and spherical wavefront
Question. What is the shape of wave front on earth for sunlight?
Answer : Plane wavefront
Question. What are coherent sources of light?
Answer : Two sources having constant phase difference.
Question. In what way the diffraction from each single slit related to interference pattern in double slit experiment?
Answer : In diffraction we have varying fringe intensity while in interference we have constant intensity.
Question. How does the angular separation between fringes in single slit diffraction experiment change when the distance of separation between the slit and screen is doubled?
Answer : As θ = λ⁄a, No change in angular separation.
TWO MARKS QUESTIONS
Question. Why does the bluish colour predominate in a clear sky?
Answer : The violet colure of light scattered most, as our eyes are more sensitive to blue colour therefore bluish colour dominate in clear sky.
Question. Explain the reddish appearance of the sun at sunrise and sunset.
Answer : Sun is farthest at sunrise and sunset. The red colure scattered least and there is reddish appearance.
Question. Why red light is used in traffic signals?
Answer : As red colour scattered least.
Question. How scattering of light depends upon its wavelength?
Answer : Amount of Scattering α 1/λ4
Question. Explain the role of scattering in polarization of sunlight?
Answer : Through the process of scattering light is plane polarized.
FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS
Question: (a) distinguish between linearly polarized and unpolarised light.
(b) Show that the light waves are transverse in nature.
(c) Why does the light from a clear blue portion of the sky show a rise and fall of i8ntensity when viewed through a Polaroid which is rotated? Explain by drawing necessary diagram.
Answer : (a) Unpolarized light: A light wave, in which the electric vector oscillates in all possible directions in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation, is known as unpolarised light.
(b) Linearly polarized light: if the oscillations of the electric vectors are restricted to just one direction, in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation, the corresponding light is known as linearly polarized light.
(c) (Image 19)
Question. (a) How does the angular separation between fringes in single-slit diffraction experiment change when the distance of separation between the slit and screen is doubled?
(b) Show that the angular width of the first diffraction fringe is half that of the central fringe.
(c) Explain why the maxima at θ =(n+1/2)λ/a becomes weaker with increasing n.
Answer : (a)Angular separation is θ = β/D = λ/d
Since θ is independent of D, angular separation would remain same.
(b) Angular width:
Condition for first minima on the screen, a sinθ = λ or θ = λ/a
angular width of the central fringe = 2θ = 2λ/a
while angular width of the first diffraction fringe = λ/a
hence angular width of the first half of the angular width of central fringe
Unpolarised light passing through Polaroid P1 gets linearly polarized.(as the electric field vector components parallel to the pass axis of P1 are transmitted whereas the others are blocked.)
When the polarized light is incident on a Polaroid P2, kept crossed with respect to P1, then these components also gets blocked and no light is transmitted beyond P2.
(c) it is due to the scattering of light by molecules of earth’s atmosphere. Under the influence of the electric field of the incident wave, the electrons in the molecules acquire components of motion in both these directions. Charges, accelerating parallel to the double arrows, do not radiate energy towards the observer since their acceleration has no transverse component. The radiation scattered by the molecules is therefore represented by dots, I.e. it is polarized perpendicular to the plane of the figure.
Question: (a) Show using a proper diagram how unpolarised light can be linearly polarised by reflection from a transparent glass surface.
(b) The figure shows a ray of light falling normally on the face AB of an equilateral glass prism having refractive index 3/2 placed in water having refractive index 4/3. Will this ray suffer total internal reflection on striking the face AC. Justify your answer.
Answer : (Image 20)
At surface AC , sin ic= 1/ w µ g
sin i c = µw / µ g = 8/9 = 0.86 while sin 600 = 0.816
So incident angle is smaller than critical angle so total internal reflection does not take place.
Question: A symmetric biconvex lens of radius of curvature R and made of glass of refractive index 1.5, is placed on a layer of liquid placed on top of a plane mirror as shown in the figure. An optical needle with its tip on the principal axis of the lens is moved along the axis until its real, inverted image coincides with the needle itself. The distance of the needle from the lens is measured to be x. On removing the liquid layer and repeating the experiment, the distance is found to be y. Obtain the expression for the refractive index of the liquid in terms of x and y.
Answer : F = focal length of combination of convex lens & plano concave lens (liquid)
f1 = focal length of convex lens , f2 = focal length of plano concave lens (liquid)
We know distance of pin from lens will be the focal length and
we have 1/ F = 1/ f1 + 1/ f2 i.e. 1/ f2 = 1/ F - 1/ f1
1/ f2 = 1/ x - 1/ y eqn. (i)
Use Lens makers formula for convex lens 1/f1 = (µ g – 1)( 1/R1 - 1/R2 )
1/y = (1.5 – 1)[( 1/R– (-1/R)] i.e. 1/y = 1/R i.e. y = R eqn. (ii)
By using Lens makers formula for plano concave lens 1/ f2 = (µw – 1)[1/(-R) – 1/∞]
Put value of 1/ f2 from eqn. (i) 1/ x - 1/ y = _ (µw – 1) / R
Put value of R from eqn. (ii) 1/ x - 1/ y = (- 1/ y)* (µw – 1) by solving µw = 2 – (y/x)
Question: (a) Draw a ray diagram to show image formation when concave mirror produces real, inverted & magnified image of the object.
(b) Obtain a mirror formula and write the expression for the linear magnification.
(c) Explain two advantages of reflecting telescope over refracting telescope.
Answer : (Image 21)
( C ) (i) Reflecting telescope have height resolving power due to a large aperture of mirror.
(ii) Due to availability of paraboloidal mirror, the image is free from chromatic and spherical aberration.
Question: (a) Define wave front . Using Huygens’ principle, verifying the law of reflection at a plane surface.
(b) In a single slit diffraction experiment , the width of the slit is made double the original width. How does it affect the size and intensity central diffraction band ?
( c ) When tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from a distance source , a bright spot is seen at the centre of the obstacle. Explain why ?
Answer : (Image 22)
(b) as we know width of central maxima β0 = 2D/d i.e. width of central maxima is inversely proportional to width of the slit hence size of central diffraction band becomes half. Intensity of central diffraction band becomes 4 times as the area of central diffraction band becomes ¼ th.
( c ) When tiny circular obstacle is placed in the path of light from a distance source , a bright spot is seen at the centre of the obstacle. Light when pass from border of circular obstacle it diffracted toward centre of the obstacle. In centre part all diffracted wavefront meet thats why centre becomes bright.
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Important Practice Resources for Class 12 Physics
Chapter 10 Wave Optics CBSE Class 12 Physics Worksheet
Students can use the Chapter 10 Wave Optics practice sheet provided above to prepare for their upcoming school tests. This solved questions and answers follow the latest CBSE syllabus for Class 12 Physics. You can easily download the PDF format and solve these questions every day to improve your marks. Our expert teachers have made these from the most important topics that are always asked in your exams to help you get more marks in exams.
NCERT Based Questions and Solutions for Chapter 10 Wave Optics
Our expert team has used the official NCERT book for Class 12 Physics to create this practice material for students. After solving the questions our teachers have also suggested to study the NCERT solutions which will help you to understand the best way to solve problems in Physics. You can get all this study material for free on studiestoday.com.
Extra Practice for Physics
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