SF026: PAST YEAR UPS QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 8: PHYSICAL OPTICS

UPS SEMESTER 2

2005-2006

2. (a) What is meant by two coherent sources?

[2 marks]
(b) In a double slits experiment, the separation distance between the second and the fourth
bright fringes is 3.0 𝑚𝑚. The distance from the slits to the screen is 0.8 𝑚 and the wavelength
of the light used is 6.2 × 10−7 𝑚. Calculate the separation distance between the two slits. [Ans:
𝒅 = 𝟑. 𝟑𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝒎 @ 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟏 𝒎𝒎]
[4 marks]
(c) Monochromatic light of wavelength 650 𝑛𝑚 falls on a single slit. If the angle between the
first dark fringe on either side of the central maximum is 20°, determine the width of the slit.
[Ans: 𝒂 = 𝟑. 𝟕𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝒎]
[4 marks]

2006-2007

2. (a) Explain with the aid of a diagram the formation of Newton’s ring.
[4 marks]
(b) Yellow light of wavelength 580 𝑛𝑚 is diffracted by a grating containing 2000 lines per
cm.
(i) Calculate the diffraction angle of the third-order bright fringe. [Ans: 𝜽𝟑 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟒°]
(ii) Determine the existence of the tenth-order bright fringe. [Ans: 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝟏𝟎 =
𝟏. 𝟏𝟔 @ 𝒎 = 𝟖. 𝟔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟗𝟎°, Impossible: 10th order bright fringe does not
exist.]
[6 marks]

2007-2008

2. (a) State TWO conditions of constructive interference.

[2 marks]
(b) In order to reduce reflection of light, the camera lens is covered with a thin layer of
magnesium fluoride of refractive index 1.38. The lens is made of glass of refractive index 1.50.
(i) With the aid of a diagram, explain the formation of interference due to the reflected
light from the layer of magnesium fluoride.
(ii) Calculate the minimum thickness of the layer if the wavelength of light is 550 𝑛𝑚.
[Ans: 𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟔 𝒏𝒎 ]
[8 marks]

2008-2009

2. (a) A Young’s double-slits experiment is performed in air. Describe what will happen to the
interference pattern if
(i) the slit separation is reduced. [Ans: Fringe separation increases.]
(ii) the experiment is submerged in water. [Ans: Fringe separation decreases.]
[4 marks]

PCH 1
SF026: PAST YEAR UPS QUESTIONS

(b) Young’s double-slits experiment is performed using light of wavelength 589 𝑛𝑚. The
distance between the slits and the screen is 2 𝑚. The tenth dark fringe is observed 7.26 𝑚𝑚
from the central maximum. Calculate
(i) the slit separation. [Ans: 𝒅 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎]
(ii) the distance of the fifth bright fringe from the central maximum. [Ans: 𝒚𝒎 =
𝟑. 𝟖𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎]
[6 marks]

2009-2010

2. (a) A single slit produces a diffraction pattern when illuminated by a monochromatic light.
Explain the effect on the separation of the fringes if
(i) the slit width is increased. [Ans: Separation of fringes decreased.]
(ii) the wavelength of the light is decreased. [Ans: Separation of fringes decreased.]
[5 marks]
−7
(b) A sodium light of wavelength 5.89 × 10 𝑚 is incident normally onto a diffraction
grating. The angle between the central bright fringe and the first bright fringe is 17.4°.
Calculate
(i) the number of lines per mm of the grating. [Ans: 𝑵 = 𝟓𝟎𝟖 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒎]
(ii) the maximum order that can be obtained. [Ans: 𝒎 = 𝟑]
[5 marks]

2010-2011

2. (a) (i) What is meant by interference?

(ii)

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2 shows two glass slides separated by a thin piece of paper at one end. When it is
illuminated with a light of wavelength 595 𝑛𝑚, there are 140 bright fringes produced.
Calculate the thickness of the paper. [𝑨𝒏𝒔: 𝒕𝒎 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝒎]
[4 marks]
(b) Light of wavelength 550 𝑛𝑚 is incident normally to a diffraction grating with slits of 7.6 ×
103 lines per cm. How many bright spectral lines that can be observed? [Ans: 𝟐 + 𝟐 + 𝟏 = 𝟓]
[6 marks]

PCH 2