Physics · Science General

Optics and Light Properties

2,019 Questions

Optics and light properties focus on the behavior of light, including reflection, refraction, dispersion, and polarization. This topic also covers the wave nature of light, illumination, and the functioning of optical instruments like microscopes. Questions on these concepts are common in general science sections of SSC, Railways, and State exams.

Reflection and mirrorsRefraction and mediumsLight wave theoriesPolarization and intensity

Optics and Light Properties Questions

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Flint glass is used in the preparation of lenses and prisms.
  2. The waves received by our television sets are cosmic waves.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement (1) is correct. Flint glass is used in the preparation of lenses and prisms. Statement (2) is incorrect. The waves received by our television sets are micro waves (radio waves).

Multiple choice

Match the following:

 
(1) Shape of a rain drop (a) Refraction
(2) Lustre of a diamond (b) Surface tension
(3) Visibility of sun for sometime even after sunset (c) Doppler effect
(4) Changing volume of a siren of an ambulance (d) Total internal reflection

  1. <font face="Arial" size="2">(1)</font> - (d), <font face="Arial" size="2">(2)</font> - (a), <font face="Arial" size="2">(3)</font> - (c) and <font face="Arial" size="2">(4)</font> - (b)

  2. <font face="Arial" size="2">(1)</font> - (a), <font face="Arial" size="2">(2)</font> - (b), <font face="Arial" size="2">(3)</font> - (d) and <font face="Arial" size="2">(4)</font> - (c)

  3. <font face="Arial" size="2">(1)</font> - (a), <font face="Arial" size="2">(2)</font> - (c), <font face="Arial" size="2">(3)</font> - (b) and <font face="Arial" size="2">(4)</font> - (d)

  4. <font face="Arial" size="2">(1)</font> - (b), <font face="Arial" size="2">(2)</font> - (d), <font face="Arial" size="2">(3)</font> - (a) and <font face="Arial" size="2">(4)</font> - (c)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(1)  Shape of a rain drop - (b) Surface tension (2) Lustre of a diamond - (d) Total internal reflection

(3) Visibility of sun for sometime even after sunset - (a) Refraction of light (4) Changing volume of a siren of an ambulance - (c) Doppler's effect

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. An air bubble in water behaves as a concave lens.
  2. The duration of day appears to be increased by 2 min. due to atmospheric refraction.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only (1)

  2. Only (2)

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. Neither (1) nor (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement (1) is correct. An air bubble in water behaves as a concave lens, which diverges the sun rays falling on it.  Statement (2) is incorrect. The duration of day appears to be increased by 4 min. due to atmospheric refraction. (2 min. in the morning and 2 min. in the evening)

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Mirage (a naturally occurring optical phenomenon in which displaced image of a distant object or the sky is seen) is observed in deserts due to refraction.
  2. An air bubble under water shines brightly due to total internal reflection.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. A mirage is caused by the total internal reflection of light at layers of air of different densities. Statement (2) is correct. Water bubbles shine because of total internal reflection. The speed of light is faster inside an air bubble than in water. Thus, the light gets reflected away from the bubble around outside, looking like a mirror.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Holography is the method of producing 3D images by means of laser light.
  2. In day light, oil or soap film appears coloured due to interference.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Holography is a technique, which enables three-dimensional images to be made. It involves the use of a laser, interference, diffraction, and light intensity. Statement 2 is also correct. Oil or soap film appears coloured due to interference. Thin-film interference is the phenomenon that occurs when incident light waves reflected by the upper and lower boundaries of a thin film and interfere with one another to form a new wave.

Multiple choice

Light travels in a ______________.

  1. curved path

  2. straight line

  3. zig-zag manner

  4. all of the above

  5. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It is correct. Light always travels in a straight line. 

Multiple choice

The shape of the shadow of an object is dependent on __________________.

  1. the colour of the object

  2. the colour of the light

  3. the colour of the screen

  4. the orientation of the object with respect to beam of light

  5. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is correct. The shape of the shadow of an object is dependent on the orientation of the object with respect to beam of light.

Multiple choice

If the distance of the object from the source of light is decreased, the size of the shadow ________, provided the distance between the source of light and the screen is constant.

  1. decreases

  2. increases

  3. does not change

  4. none of the above

  5. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It is correct. The size of the shadow will increase if the distance of the object from source of light is decreased and the distance between the source of light and screen remains unchanged.