Worksheets

PRACTICE
Class 12 - Physics
Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 225

1. a. At what distance should the lens be held in order to view the squares distinctly with the maximum possible [3]
magnifying power?
b. What is the magnification in this case?
c. Is the magnification equal to the magnifying power in this case? Explain.

2. A 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Give the location of the [3]
image and the magnification. Describe what happens as the needle is moved farther from the mirror.
3. Two monochromatic rays of light are incident normally on the face AB of an isosceles right-angled prism ABC. [3]
The refractive indices of the glass prism for the two rays 1 and 2 are respectively 1.35 and 1.45. Trace the path
of these rays after entering through the prism.

4. In the given figure, for what value of ∠ i should a ray of light be incident on the face of a prism of refracting [3]
angle 60°, so that it just suffers total internal reflection at other face? (For prism, μ = 1.524)

5. a. An object is placed in front of a converging lens. Obtain the conditions under which the magnification [3]
produced by the lens is (i) negative and (ii) positive.

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 b. A point object is placed at O in front of a glass sphere as shown in figure.

Show the formation of image by the sphere.

–
6. A ray of light passes through a prism of refractive index √2 as shown in the figure. Find: [3]

a. The angle of incidence (∠r ) at face AC.

2

b. The angle of minimum deviation for this prism.

7. You are given three lenses L1, L2 and L3 each of focal length 10 cm. An object is kept at 15 cm in front of L1 as [3]

shown. The final real image is formed at the focus I of L3 .

Find the separation between L1, L2 and L3.

8. You are given three lenses L1, L2 and L3 each of focal length 20 cm. An object is kept at 40 cm in front of L1. [3]
The final real image is formed at the focus I of L3. Find the separations between L1, L2and L3.

9. A card sheet divided into squares each of size 1 mm2 is being viewed at a distance of 9 cm through a magnifying [3]
glass (a converging lens of focal length 9 cm) held close to the eye.
a. What is the magnification produced by the lens? How much is the area of each square in the virtual image?
b. What is the angular magnification (magnifying power) of the lens?
c. Is the magnification in (a) equal to the magnifying power in (b)? Explain.

10. i. A ray of light incident on the face AB of an equilateral glass prism, shows minimum deviation of 30°. [3]
Calculate the speed of light through the prism.
ii. Find the angle of incidence at face AB, so that the emergent ray grazes along the face AC.

11. An optical instrument uses a lens of 100 D for the objective lens and 50 D for its eye piece. When the tube [3]

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 length is kept at 20 cm, the final image is formed at infinity.
a. Identify the optical instrument.
b. Calculate the magnification produced by the instrument.
12. The mixture a pure liquid and a solution in a long vertical column (i.e, horizontal dimensions << vertical [3]
dimensions) produces diffusion of solute particles and hence a refractive index gradient along the vertical
dimension. A ray of light entering the column at right angles to the vertical has deviated from its original path.
Find the deviation in travelling a horizontal distance d << h, the height of the column.
–
13. A ray is incident on a prism of material of refractive index √2 at point M such that it grazes along NC after [3]
emerging from the prism, as shown in the figure.

Find:
a. the critical angle for the prism.
b. the angle of refraction at face AB.

14. A diver looking up through water (μ = 4

) sees the outside world contained in a circular area on the surface of [3]
3

–
water. If the diver's eyes are √7 m below the surface of water, then calculate the area of the circle.
15. With the help of a ray diagram, show how a compound microscope forms a magnified image of a tiny object, at [3]
least distance of distinct vision. Hence derive an expression for the magnification produced by it.
16. a. With the help of a ray diagram, show how a concave mirror is used to obtain an erect and magnified image of [3]
an object.
b. Using the above ray diagram, obtain the mirror formula and the expression for linear magnification.
17. Calculate the position of the image of an object when placed at [3]
i. Focus of a convex lens
ii. Focus of a concave lens
18. Consider a convex spherical surface of radius of curvature R, separating two media of refractive indices n1 and [3]

n2 (> n1). A point object is placed at a distance u in front of the surface in medium of refractive index n1. Its real
image is formed at a distance v. Obtain a relation between u and v in terms of n1, n2 and R.

19. A point O marked on the surface of a glass sphere of diameter 20 cm is viewed through glass from the position [3]
directly opposite to the point O. If the refractive index of the glass is 1.5, find the position of the image formed.
Also, draw the ray diagram for the formation of the image.

20. Draw a labelled ray diagram showing the formation of an image by an astronomical refracting telescope in [3]
normal adjustment. Hence, obtain the expression for its magnifying power.
21. a. State the conditions for total internal reflection to take place. [3]

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 b. A tank is filled with a transparent liquid to height H. A coin suspended by a thread in the liquid is gradually
lowered till it touches the bottom. The apparent depth is determined corresponding to different positions of
the coin.
i. Plot a graph showing variation of the apparent depth with the real depth of the coin.
ii. What is the physical significance of the slope of the graph?
22. A myopic adult has a far point at 0.1 m. His power of accommodation is 4 diopters. [3]
a. What power lenses are required to see distant objects?
b. What is his near point without glasses?
c. What is his near point with glasses? (Take the image distance from the lens of the eye to the retina to be 2
cm.)
23. A concave mirror forms a real image of an object kept at a distance 9 cm from it. If the object is taken away [3]
from the mirror by 6 cm, the image size reduces to 1

4
th of its previous size. Find the focal length of the mirror.
24. With the help of a ray diagram explain the working of a reflecting telescope. Mention two advantages of a [3]
reflecting telescope over a refracting telescope.
25. How does the refractive index of a transparent medium depend on the wavelength of incident light used? The [3]

velocity of light in glass is 2 x 108 m/ sec and in air is 3 x 108 m/sec. If the ray of light passes from glass to air,
calculate the value of the critical angle.
26. White light reflected at perpendicular incidence from a soap film has, in the visible spectrum, an interference [3]
∘ ∘

maximum at 6000 A and a minimum at 4500 A with no minimum in between. If μ = 4

3
for the film, what is the
film thickness?
27. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 600 nm and 500 nm is used in a Young's double slit experiment. [3]
The slit separation is 1.0 mm and the screen is kept 0.60 m away from the plane of the slits. Calculate:
a. the distance of the second bright fringe from the central maximum for wavelength 500 nm, and
b. the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths coincide.
28. In Young's double slit experiment, using light of wavelength 400 nm, interference fringes of width 'X' are [3]
obtained. The wavelength of light is increased to 600 nm and the separation between the slits is halved. If one
wants the observed fringe width on the screen to be the same in the two cases, find the ratio of the distance
between the screen and the plane of the interfering sources in the two arrangements.
29. A parallel beam of light of wavelength 600 nm is incident normally on a slit of width 0.2 mm. If the resulting [3]
diffraction pattern is observed on a screen 1 m away, find the distance of
a. first minimum, and
b. second maximum, from the central maximum.
30. Explain by drawing a suitable diagram that the interference pattern in a double-slit is actually a superposition of [3]
single-slit diffraction from each slit.
Write two basic features that distinguish the interference pattern from those seen in a coherently illuminated
single slit.
31. In a Young's double slit experiment using light of wavelength 600 nm, the slit separation is 0.8 mm and the [3]
screen is kept 1.6 m from the plane of the slits. Calculate:
i. the fringe width
ii. the distance of (a) third minimum and (b) fifth maximum, from the central maximum.

32. In single slit diffraction, explain why the maxima at θ = (n +

1
)(
λ
) becomes weaker and weaker as n [3]
2 a

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 increases. State two important differences between interference and diffraction pattern.
33. A double-slit apparatus is immersed in a liquid of refractive index 1.33. It has slit separation of 1.0 mm, and [3]
distance between the plane of slits and screen is 1.33 m. The slits are illuminated by a parallel beam of light
∘

whose wavelength in air is 6300 A.

i. Calculate the fringe width.
ii. One of the slits of the apparatus is covered by a thin glass sheet of refractive index 1.53. Find the smallest
thickness of the sheet to bring the adjacent minimum on the axis.
34. In a Young's double-slit experiment, the slits are separated by 0.5 mm and the screen is placed 1.0 m away. It is [3]
found that the ninth bright fringe is at a distance of 8.835 mm from the second dark fringe. Find the wavelength
of light used.
35. a. What do you understand by coherent sources? [3]
b. Derive the expression for the intensity distribution in the interference pattern on the screen when two
harmonic waves having same amplitude (a) and phase difference (ϕ ) are superposed on each other. Hence
obtain the conditions for constructive and destructive interference.
36. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 560 nm and 420 nm is used to obtain interference fringes in a [3]
Young's double slit experiment. Find the least distance from the central maximum, where the bright fringes, due
to both the wavelengths coincide. The distance between the two slits is 4.0 mm and the screen is at a distance of
1.0 m from the slits.
∘

37. A slit of width 'a' is illuminated by red light of wavelength 6500 A. For what value of 'a' will [3]

1. the first minimum fall at an angle of diffraction of 30oand

2. the first maximum fall at an angle of diffraction of 30o?
38. Monochromatic light of wavelength λ is incident normally on a narrow slit of width 'a' to produce a diffraction [3]
pattern on the screen placed at a distance D from the slit With the help of a relevant diagram, deduce the
conditions for maxima and minima on the screen. Use these conditions to show that the angular width of central
maxima is twice the angular width of secondary maxima.
o o [3]
39. A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths 6500A and 5200A, is used to obtain interference fringes in a
Young's double slit experiment.
o
i. Find the distance of the third bright fringe on the screen from the central maximum for wavelength 6500A.
ii. What is the least distance from the central maximum where the bright fringes due to both the wavelengths
coincide?The distance between the slits is 2 mm and the distance between the plane of the slits and the
screen is 120 cm.

40. i. Compare Maxwell's electromagnetic theory with the Huygens wave theory of light. [3]
ii. Define the incident angle of a light wave.

41. i. In what way is diffraction from each slit related to the interference pattern in a double slit experiment. [3]
ii. Two wavelengths of sodium light 590 nm and 596 nm are used, in turn to study the diffraction taking place at
single slit of aperture 2 × 10 −4
m . The distance between the slit and the screen is 1.5 m. Calculate the
separation between the positions of the first maxima of the diffraction pattern obtained in the two cases.
42. Consider a two-slit interference arrangements (Figure) such that the distance of the screen from the slits is half [3]
the distance between the slits. Obtain the value of D in terms of λ such that the first minima on the screen fall at

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 a distance D from the center O.

43. Define the term wavefront. State Huygen's principle. Consider a plane wavefront incident on a thin convex lens. [3]
Draw a proper diagram to show how the incident wavefront traverses through the lens and after refraction
focusses on the focal point of the lens, giving the shape of the emergent wavefront.
44. Using Huygen's principle, for a plane wavefront incident on a plane reflecting surface, draw the reflected [3]
wavefront. Hence prove laws of reflection.
45. Monochromatic light of wavelength 600 nm is incident from air on a glass surface. What are the wavelength, [3]
frequency and speed of refracted light? Refractive index of glass 1.5.
46. For sound waves, the Doppler formula for frequency shift differs slightly between the two situations: [3]
a. source at rest; observer moving, and
b. source moving; observer at rest.
The exact Doppler formulas for the case of light waves in vacuum are, however, strictly identical for these
situations. Explain why this should be so. Would you expect the formulas to be strictly identical for the two
situations in case of light travelling in a medium?
47. Answer the following questions: [3]
a. In a single slit diffraction experiment, the width of the slit is made double the original width. How does this
affect the size and intensity of the central diffraction band?
b. How is the width of the central maximum changed when red light is replaced by blue?
c. In what way is diffraction from each slit related to the interference pattern in a double slit experiment?
∘

48. In a Young's double-slit experiment, red light of wavelength 6000 A is used and the nth bright fringe is obtained [3]
∘

at a point P on the screen. Keeping the same setting, the source is replaced by the green light of 5000 A and now
(n + 1)th bright fringe is obtained at the point P. Calculate the value of n.
49. For a single slit of width a the first minimum of the interference pattern of a monochromatic light of wavelength [3]
occurs at an angle of . At the same angle of , we get a maximum for two narrow slits separated by a
λ λ
λ
a a

distance a. Explain.
50. a. The interference pattern is not observed in Young's double slit experiment when the two sources S1 and S2 [3]

are far apart. Explain.

b. Mention the conditions for the two sources to be coherent.
c. What is the effect on the interference pattern in a Young's double slit experiment, if the source of wavelength
λ is replaced by another source of wavelength 1.5 λ , with the interference pattern still observable?
51. The extent of localisation of a particle is determined roughly by its de Broglie wavelength. If an electron is [3]
localized within the nucleus (of size about 10-14 m) of an atom, what is its energy? Compare this energy with the
typical binding energies (of the order of a few MeV) in a nucleus, and hence argue why electrons cannot reside
in a nucleus.
52. The wavelength of the waves associated with a particle having kinetic energy E is λ . How and by what factor [3]
should its kinetic energy be changed so that the wavelength becomes ( λ

2
) ? Also, find the ratio of the final to the
initial velocity of the particle.

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53. An electron and a proton are accelerated through the same potential. Which one of the two has (i) greater value [3]
of de-Broglie wavelength associated with it and (ii) less momentum? Justify your answer.
54. What is the photo-electric effect? State the laws of photo-electric emission. [3]
55. When light of frequency v1 is incident on a photosensitive surface, the stopping potential is V1. If the frequency [3]
v1
of incident radiation becomes 2
, the stopping potential changes to V2. Find out the expression for the threshold

frequency for the surface in terms of V1 and V2.

If the frequency of incident radiation is doubled, will the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons also be
doubled? Give reason.
56. a. Use Einstein photoelectric equation to depict the variation of the maximum kinetic energy (Ek) of electrons [3]

emitted, with the frequency (v) of the incident radiation.

b. A photosensitive surface is illuminated with a beam of (i) yellow light, and (ii) red light, both of the same
intensity. In which case will
I. photoelectrons have more Ek?

II. more numbers of electrons be emitted?

Justify your answer in each case.
57. Draw graph showing the variation of stopping potential with frequency of incident radiations in relation to [3]
photo-electric effect. Deduce an expression for the slope of this graph using Einstein's photo-electric equation.
58. Define the terms work function and 'threshold frequency' for photo-electric effect. Show graphically how [3]
stopping potential for a given metal varies with frequency of incident radiation. What does the slope of this
graph represent?
59. The de-Broglie wavelength associated with an electron is 0.30 nm. Calculate: [3]
a. the speed, and
b. the kinetic energy (in eV), of the electron.
60. Hydrogen atom in third excited state de-excites to the first excited state. Obtain the expressions for the frequency [3]
of radiation emitted in this process.
Also determine the ratio of the wavelengths of the emitted radiations when the atom de-excites from the third
excited state to the second excited state and from the third excited state to the first excited state.
61. If the frequency of the incident radiation on the cathode of a photo-cell is doubled, how will the following [3]
change:
i. The kinetic energy of the electrons?
ii. Photoelectric current?
iii. Stopping potential?
Justify your answer.
62. i. Why photoelectric effect cannot be explained on the basis of wave nature of light? Give reasons. [3]
ii. Write the basic features of photon picture of electromagnetic radiation on which Einstein's photoelectric
equation is based.

63. a. An electron and a proton are accelerated through the same potential. Which one of the two has [3]

i. greater value of de-Broglie wavelength associated with it, and

ii. lesser momentum?
Justify your answer in each case.

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 b. How is the momentum of a particle related with its de-Broglie wavelength? Show the variation on a graph.
64. Sketch a graph between the frequency of incident radiations and stopping potential for a given photosensitive [3]
material. What information can be obtained from the value of intercept on the potential axis?
A source of light of frequency greater than the threshold frequency is placed at a distance of 1 m from the
cathode of a photo-cell. The stopping potential is found to be V. If the distance of the light source from the
cathode is reduced, explain giving reasons, what change will you observe in the
i. photoelectric current,
ii. stopping potential?
65. Write Einstein’s photoclectric equation using the quantum picture of radiation. [3]
Explain briefly the three characteristic features observed in photoelectric effect which can be explained by
Einstein’s equation and not by the wave theory of light.
[3]
66. a. A monoenergetic electron beam with the electron speed of 5.20 × 106 ms-1 is subject to a magnetic field of
1.30 × 10-4 T normal to the beam velocity. What is the radius of the circle traced by the beam, given e/m for
electron equals 1.76 × 1011C kg-1?
b. Is the formula you employ in (a) valid for calculating the radius of the path of a 20 MeV electron beam? If
not, in what way is it modified?
67. Draw the graph showing the variation of photoelectric current with anode potential of a photocell for [3]
1. the same frequencies but different intensities I3 > I2 > I1 of incident radiation, and
2. the same intensity but different frequencies ν 1 > ν2 > ν3 of incident radiation.
68. An alpha particle is accelerated through a potential difference of 100 V. Calculate: [3]
i. The speed acquired by the alpha particle, and
ii. The de-Broglie wavelength associated with it.

(Take mass of alpha particle = 6.4 × 10-27 kg)

69. a. State briefly, with what purpose was Davisson and Germer experiment performed and what inference was [3]
drawn from this.
b. Obtain an expression for the ratio of the accelerating potentials required to accelerate a proton and an α-
particle to have the same de-Broglie wavelength associated with them.
70. Write the basic features of the photon picture of electromagnetic radiation on which Einstein's photoelectric [3]
equation is based.
71. a. Draw a plot showing the variation of photoelectric current with collector potential for different frequencies [3]
but same intensity of incident radiations.
b. Use Einstein's photoelectric equation to explain the observations from this graph.
c. What change will you observe if the intensity of incident radiation is changed but the frequency remains the
same?
72. Ultra-violet light of wavelength 200 nm from a source is incident on a metal surface. If the stopping potential is [3]
-2.5 V,
a. Calculate the work function of the metal, and
b. How would the surface respond to a high intensity red light of wavelength 6328 A produced by a laser?

73. Consider a thin target (10-2m square, 10-3m thickness) of sodium, which produces a photocurrent of 100μ A [3]

when a light of intensity 100W/m2 (λ = 660nm) falls on it. Find the probability that a photoelectron is produced

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 when a photon strikes a sodium atom. [Take density of Na = 0.97 kg/m3].
74. A beam of monochromatic radiation is incident on a photosensitive surface. Answer the following questions [3]
giving reasons.
i. Do the emitted photoelectrons have the same kinetic energy?
ii. Does the kinetic energy of the emitted electrons depend on the intensity of incident radiation?
iii. On what factors does the number of emitted photoelectrons depend?
75. Red light, however bright it is, cannot produce the emission of electrons from a clean zinc surface. But even [3]
weak ultraviolet radiation can do so. Why?
Electrons are emitted from the cathode of negligible work function, when photons of wavelength λ are incident
on it. Derive the expression for the de Broglie wavelength of the electrons emitted in terms of the wavelength of
the incident light.

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