Question 1

The intensity of unpolarized light passing through a single sheet of polarizing material changes by a factor of:

Accepted Answer

A)  1. 
B)  0.5. 
C)  cos θ. 
D)  cos2 θ. 
A)  1. 
B)  0.5. 
C)  cos θ. 
D)  cos2 θ. B

Question 2

When light shines on a lens placed on a flat piece of glass,interference occurs which causes circular fringes called Newton's rings.The two beams that are interfering come:

Accepted Answer

A)  from the top and bottom surface of the lens. 
B)  from the top surface of the lens and the top surface of the piece of glass. 
C)  from the bottom surface of the lens and the top surface of the piece of glass. 
D)  from the top and bottom surface of the flat piece of glass. 
A)  from the top and bottom surface of the lens. 
B)  from the top surface of the lens and the top surface of the piece of glass. 
C)  from the bottom surface of the lens and the top surface of the piece of glass. 
D)  from the top and bottom surface of the flat piece of glass. C

Question 3

Two flat glass plates are in contact along one end and are separated by a sheet of paper 5.0 × 10−6 m thick at the other end.The top plate is illuminated by a monochromatic light source of wavelength 399 nm.How many dark parallel bands will be evident across the top plate? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

Accepted Answer

A)  13 
B)  23 
C)  12 
D)  25 
E)  ​21 
A)  13 
B)  23 
C)  12 
D)  25 
E)  ​21 D

Question 4

The blue tint of a coated camera lens is largely caused by what effects?

Accepted Answer

A)  diffraction 
B)  refraction 
C)  polarization 
D)  interference 
A)  diffraction 
B)  refraction 
C)  polarization 
D)  interference

Question 5

What wavelength monochromatic source in the visible region (390 to 710 nm)can be used to constructively reflect off a soap film (n = 1.46)if the film is 108 nm thick?

Accepted Answer

A)  620 nm 
B)  579 nm 
C)  631 nm 
D)  585 nm 
E)  ​566 nm 
A)  620 nm 
B)  579 nm 
C)  631 nm 
D)  585 nm 
E)  ​566 nm

Question 6

The dark spot observed in the center of a Newton's rings pattern is attributed to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  polarization of light when reflected 
B)  polarization of light when refracted 
C)  phase shift of light when reflected 
D)  phase shift of light when refracted 
A)  polarization of light when reflected 
B)  polarization of light when refracted 
C)  phase shift of light when reflected 
D)  phase shift of light when refracted

Question 7

In order to produce a sustained interference pattern by light waves from multiple sources,which of the following conditions must be met?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sources are coherent. 
B)  Sources are monochromatic. 
C)  Both choices above are valid. 
D)  None of the choices above are valid. 
A)  Sources are coherent. 
B)  Sources are monochromatic. 
C)  Both choices above are valid. 
D)  None of the choices above are valid.

Question 8

A Young's double-slit apparatus is set up so that a screen is positioned 1.8 m from the double slits,and the spacing between the two slits is 0.048 mm.What is the distance between alternating bright fringes on the screen if the light source has a wavelength of 689 nm? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

Accepted Answer

A)  0.0002 m 
B)  0.026 m 
C)  0.014 m 
D)  0.060 m 
E)  ​0.018 m 
A)  0.0002 m 
B)  0.026 m 
C)  0.014 m 
D)  0.060 m 
E)  ​0.018 m

Question 9

Helium-neon laser light (λ = 632.8 nm)is sent through a single slit of width 0.56 mm.What is the width of the central maximum on a screen 1.5 m in back of the slit? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

Accepted Answer

A)  1.7 mm 
B)  0.8 mm 
C)  3.4 mm 
D)  2.5 mm 
E)  ​5.1 mm 
A)  1.7 mm 
B)  0.8 mm 
C)  3.4 mm 
D)  2.5 mm 
E)  ​5.1 mm

Question 10

Plane polarized light is sent through two consecutive polarizers,the first having its plane of polarization in the same direction as the incident light and the second having its plane at 90° to the original plane of polarization.A third polarizer,with plane of polarization at 21.6° to the original plane of polarization,is placed between the two other polarizers.What fraction of the original intensity now gets through?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  0.432 
C)  0.747 
D)  0.059 
E)  ​0.232 
A)  0 
B)  0.432 
C)  0.747 
D)  0.059 
E)  ​0.232

Question 11

A beam of unpolarized light in air strikes a flat piece of glass at an angle of incidence of 51.6°.If the reflected beam is completely polarized,what is the index of refraction of the glass?

Accepted Answer

A)  1.59 
B)  1.26 
C)  1.61 
D)  1.47 
E)  ​1.90 
A)  1.59 
B)  1.26 
C)  1.61 
D)  1.47 
E)  ​1.90

Question 12

A beam of plane polarized light is incident on 3 polarizers,the first with an axis at 33° to the original plane of polarization,the second at 42° to the original plane of polarization,and the third at 90° to the original plane of polarization.What angle does the plane of polarization of the transmitted light make with the original plane of polarization of the original beam?

Accepted Answer

A)  33° 
B)  81° 
C)  180° 
D)  42° 
E)  ​The answer is not given. 
A)  33° 
B)  81° 
C)  180° 
D)  42° 
E)  ​The answer is not given.

Question 13

That light can undergo interference is evidence that it:

Accepted Answer

A)  has electric properties. 
B)  is made of corpuscles. 
C)  behaves like a wave. 
D)  has a phase of 180°. 
A)  has electric properties. 
B)  is made of corpuscles. 
C)  behaves like a wave. 
D)  has a phase of 180°.

Question 14

"Perfect mirrors" are made by

Accepted Answer

A)  coating a glass surface with an extremely pure layer of silver or aluminum. 
B)  coating a glass surface with an extremely pure layer of silver or aluminum and then coating the metal surface with a quarter-wavelength thickness of the dielectric magnesium fluoride. 
C)  stacking thin layers of different dielectric materials on a glass surface. 
D)  heating an ordinary mirror almost to its melting point. 
A)  coating a glass surface with an extremely pure layer of silver or aluminum. 
B)  coating a glass surface with an extremely pure layer of silver or aluminum and then coating the metal surface with a quarter-wavelength thickness of the dielectric magnesium fluoride. 
C)  stacking thin layers of different dielectric materials on a glass surface. 
D)  heating an ordinary mirror almost to its melting point.

Question 15

A Young's double slit has a slit separation of 1.9 × 10−5 m on which a monochromatic light beam is directed.The resultant bright fringes on a screen 0.8 m from the double slit are separated by 2.3 × 10−2 m.What is the wavelength of this beam? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

Accepted Answer

A)  16 nm 
B)  287 nm 
C)  546 nm 
D)  546 nm. 
E)  ​350 nm 
A)  16 nm 
B)  287 nm 
C)  546 nm 
D)  546 nm. 
E)  ​350 nm

Question 16

A silicon monoxide thin film (n = 1.45)of thickness 73.8 nm is applied to a camera lens made of glass (n = 1.55).This will result in a destructive interference for reflected light of what wavelength?

Accepted Answer

A)  571 nm 
B)  342 nm 
C)  428 nm 
D)  310 nm 
E)  ​535 nm 
A)  571 nm 
B)  342 nm 
C)  428 nm 
D)  310 nm 
E)  ​535 nm

Question 17

The blue light from the sky has been polarized by:

Accepted Answer

A)  selective absorption. 
B)  reflection. 
C)  double refraction. 
D)  scattering. 
A)  selective absorption. 
B)  reflection. 
C)  double refraction. 
D)  scattering.

Question 18

A diffraction grating has 6000 lines/cm.What is the slit separation?

Accepted Answer

A)  6.0 μm 
B)  1.7 μm 
C)  167 nm 
D)  600 nm 
E)  ​Not enough information 
A)  6.0 μm 
B)  1.7 μm 
C)  167 nm 
D)  600 nm 
E)  ​Not enough information

Question 19

An unpolarized beam of light is incident on a pane of glass (n = 1.36)such that the reflected component coming off the glass is completely polarized.What is the angle of incidence in this case?

Accepted Answer

A)  42.7° 
B)  6.53° 
C)  0.94° 
D)  53.7° 
E)  ​47.4° 
A)  42.7° 
B)  6.53° 
C)  0.94° 
D)  53.7° 
E)  ​47.4°

Question 20

When light passes from a material with a high index of refraction into material with a low index of refraction:

Accepted Answer

A)  none of the light is reflected. 
B)  some light is reflected without a change of phase. 
C)  some light is reflected with a 180° change of phase. 
D)  the light that is not reflected has a 180° change of phase. 
A)  none of the light is reflected. 
B)  some light is reflected without a change of phase. 
C)  some light is reflected with a 180° change of phase. 
D)  the light that is not reflected has a 180° change of phase.

Exam 24: Wave Optics

The intensity of unpolarized light passing through a single sheet of polarizing material changes by a factor of:

When light shines on a lens placed on a flat piece of glass,interference occurs which causes circular fringes called Newton's rings.The two beams that are interfering come:

Two flat glass plates are in contact along one end and are separated by a sheet of paper 5.0 × 10−6 m thick at the other end.The top plate is illuminated by a monochromatic light source of wavelength 399 nm.How many dark parallel bands will be evident across the top plate? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

The blue tint of a coated camera lens is largely caused by what effects?

What wavelength monochromatic source in the visible region (390 to 710 nm)can be used to constructively reflect off a soap film (n = 1.46)if the film is 108 nm thick?

The dark spot observed in the center of a Newton's rings pattern is attributed to which of the following?

In order to produce a sustained interference pattern by light waves from multiple sources,which of the following conditions must be met?

A Young's double-slit apparatus is set up so that a screen is positioned 1.8 m from the double slits,and the spacing between the two slits is 0.048 mm.What is the distance between alternating bright fringes on the screen if the light source has a wavelength of 689 nm? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

Helium-neon laser light (λ = 632.8 nm)is sent through a single slit of width 0.56 mm.What is the width of the central maximum on a screen 1.5 m in back of the slit? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

A beam of unpolarized light in air strikes a flat piece of glass at an angle of incidence of 51.6°.If the reflected beam is completely polarized,what is the index of refraction of the glass?

That light can undergo interference is evidence that it:

"Perfect mirrors" are made by

A Young's double slit has a slit separation of 1.9 × 10−5 m on which a monochromatic light beam is directed.The resultant bright fringes on a screen 0.8 m from the double slit are separated by 2.3 × 10−2 m.What is the wavelength of this beam? (1 nm = 10−9 m)

A silicon monoxide thin film (n = 1.45)of thickness 73.8 nm is applied to a camera lens made of glass (n = 1.55).This will result in a destructive interference for reflected light of what wavelength?

The blue light from the sky has been polarized by:

A diffraction grating has 6000 lines/cm.What is the slit separation?

An unpolarized beam of light is incident on a pane of glass (n = 1.36)such that the reflected component coming off the glass is completely polarized.What is the angle of incidence in this case?

When light passes from a material with a high index of refraction into material with a low index of refraction:

Introduction

Introduction: Part A

Motion in One Dimension

Motion in One Dimension: Part A

Vectors and Two-Dimensional Motion

Vectors and Two-Dimensional Motion: Part A

The Laws of Motion

The Laws of Motion: Part A

Energy

Energy: Part A

Momentum and Collisions

Momentum and Collisions: Part A

Rotational Motion and the Law of Gravity

Rotational Motion and the Law of Gravity: Part A

Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics

Rotational Equilibrium and Rotational Dynamics: Part A

Solids and Fluids

Solids and Fluids: Part A

Thermal Physics

Thermal Physics: Part A

Energy in Thermal Processes Heat and Internal Energy

Energy in Thermal Processes Heat and Internal Energy: Part A

The Laws of Thermodynamics Work in Thermodynamic Processes

The Laws of Thermodynamics Work in Thermodynamic Processes: Part A

Vibrations and Waves

Vibrations and Waves: Part A

Sound

Sound: Part A

Electric Forces and Electric Fields

Electric Forces and Electric Fields: Part A

Electrical Energy and Capacitance

Electrical Energy and Capacitance: Part A

Current and Resistance Electric Current

Current and Resistance Electric Current: Part A

Direct-Current Circuits Sources of EMF

Direct-Current Circuits Sources of EMF: Part A

Magnetism Magnets

Magnetism Magnets: Part A

Induced Voltages and Inductance

Induced Voltages and Inductance: Part A

Alternating-Current Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves

Alternating-Current Circuits and Electromagnetic Waves: Part A

Reflection and Refraction of Light

Reflection and Refraction of Light: Part A

Mirrors and Lenses

Mirrors and Lenses: Part A

Wave Optics: Part A

Optical Instruments

Optical Instruments: Part A

Relativity

Relativity: Part A

Quantum Physics Blackbody Radiation and Plancks Hypothesis

Quantum Physics Blackbody Radiation and Plancks Hypothesis: Part A

Atomic Physics

Atomic Physics: Part A

Nuclear Physics

Nuclear Physics: Part A

Nuclear Energy and Elementary Particles

Nuclear Energy and Elementary Particles: Part A

Particle Collisions, Mediating Photons, and Quark Structures: Exploring the Fundamentals of Physics

Filters

Two flat glass plates are in contact along one end and are separated by a sheet of paper 5.0 × 10−⁶ m thick at the other end.The top plate is illuminated by a monochromatic light source of wavelength 399 nm.How many dark parallel bands will be evident across the top plate? (1 nm = 10−⁹ m)

A Young's double-slit apparatus is set up so that a screen is positioned 1.8 m from the double slits,and the spacing between the two slits is 0.048 mm.What is the distance between alternating bright fringes on the screen if the light source has a wavelength of 689 nm? (1 nm = 10−⁹ m)

Helium-neon laser light (λ = 632.8 nm)is sent through a single slit of width 0.56 mm.What is the width of the central maximum on a screen 1.5 m in back of the slit? (1 nm = 10−⁹ m)

A Young's double slit has a slit separation of 1.9 × 10−⁵ m on which a monochromatic light beam is directed.The resultant bright fringes on a screen 0.8 m from the double slit are separated by 2.3 × 10−² m.What is the wavelength of this beam? (1 nm = 10−⁹ m)