Tag: refraction of light

Questions Related to refraction of light

A ray of light from a denser medium strikes a rarer medium at an angle of incidence $i$. If the reflected and refracted rays are mutually perpendicular to each other then the critical angle is :

  1. sin$^{-1}$ (tan i)

  2. cos$^{-1}$ (tan i)

  3. cot $^{-1}$ (tan i)

  4. cosec$^{-1}$ (tan i)


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

$i+r=90$  where i is the angle of incidence, r is the angle of refraction


$r=90-i$

From Snell's Law, $\mu \times sin i= 1 \times sin r$

$\mu \times sin i = sin \left ( 90-i \right )$

$\mu = cot\ i$

$\theta _{cric} =sin^{-1} \left ( \dfrac{1}{\mu} \right )=sin^{-1}\left ( tan\ i \right )$

The critical angle for a medium with respect to air $45^0$. The refractive index of that medium with respect to air is:

  1. $\dfrac {\sqrt 3}{2}$

  2. $\dfrac {2}{\sqrt 3}$

  3. $\sqrt 2$

  4. $\dfrac {1}{\sqrt 2}$


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

$C=45^0$


$^{med}\mu _a=\dfrac {1}{sin C}=\dfrac {1}{sin 45^0}$

$=\dfrac {1}{(1\sqrt 2)}=\sqrt 2$

A ray of light travelling in water is incident on its surface open to air. The angle of incidence is $\theta$, which is less than the critical angle. Then there will be?

  1. Only a reflected ray and no refracted ray

  2. Only a refracted ray and no reflected ray

  3. A reflected ray & a refracted ray and the $\angle$ between them would be less than $180^o-20^0$

  4. A reflected ray & a refracted ray and the $\angle$ between them would be greater than $180^o-2\theta$


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

There will be a reflected ray and a refracted ray.since incident angle is less than critical angle, angle between two resultant rays would be between $180^{\circ} - 20^{\circ}$.hence option c

A point source S is placed at the bottom of a transparent block of height 10 mm and refractive index 2.72. It is immersed in a lower refractive index liquid as shown in the figure. It is found that the light emerging from the block to the liquid forms a circular brightspot of diameter 11.54 mm on the top of the block. The refractive index of the liquid is

  1. 1.21

  2. 1.30

  3. 1.36

  4. 1.42


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

We have, 
$ Sin  C = [ 1 + \dfrac {\mu+b}{\mu _l}] = [\dfrac {\mu _1}{2.72}]$


$\implies [ \dfrac {r}{\sqrt {r^2 + h^2}}] = \dfrac {\mu _1}{2.72}$

$\implies \mu _1 = (\dfrac {2.72}{2}) = 1.36$

A ray of light travelling in a transparent medium falls on a surface separating the medium from air at an angle of incidence $45^{\mathrm{o}}$ and undergoes total internal reflection. lf $\mu$ is the refractive index of medium the possible values of $\mu$ are

  1. $\mu =1.3$

  2. $\mu =1.4$

  3. $\mu =1.5$

  4. $\mu =1.6$


Correct Option: C,D
Explanation:

Since, the ray undergoes total internal reflection, 
$ \mu > \dfrac{1}{sin c} $


Now,$ i = 45$

Thus, $sin \  c < sin  \ i $

Thus, $ \mu > \dfrac{1}{sin i} $

OR, $ \mu > \sqrt{2} $

Blue light of wavelength $480\ nanometers$, is most strongly reflected off a thin film of oil on a glass slide, when viewed near normal incidence. Assuming that the index of refraction of the oil is $1.2$ and that of the glass is $1.6$, what is the minimum thickness of the oil film (other than zero)?

  1. $150\ nm$

  2. $200\ nm$

  3. $300\ nm$

  4. $400\ nm$


Correct Option: B

When light is refracted into a denser medium,

  1. its wavelength and frequency both increase

  2. its wavelength increases but frequency remains unchanged

  3. its wavelength decreases but frequency remains unchanged

  4. its wavelength and frequency both decrease


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

$ _1\mu _2 = \dfrac{v _1}{v _2} = \dfrac{v _{rarer}}{v _{denser}} \Rightarrow v _1 > v _2$


$\Rightarrow v _1 > v _2$


$\Rightarrow \lambda _1 f _1 > \lambda _2 f _2$
Where $f$ is the frequency

when light goes from any rarer to any denser medium frequency remain unchanged.

$\therefore f _1 = f _2 = f$

$\Rightarrow \lambda _1 > \lambda _2$

hence wavelength decreases but frequency remains unchanged. 

Option C is correct.

Mark the correct statements (s) for a very thin soap film (RI = 1.33) whose thickness is much less then wavelength of visible light.

  1. Film appears dark.

  2. Film appears shiny.

  3. Film on glass (RI = 1.5) appears dark.

  4. Film on glass (RI = 1.5) appears shiny.


Correct Option: C

When a ray of light enters glass from water, it bends :

  1. Away from the normal due to increase in the speed of light

  2. Away from the normal due to decrease in the speed of light

  3. Towards the normal due to decrease in the speed of light.

  4. Towards the normal due to increase in the speed of light.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

When a ray of light enters from glass to water, it bends towards normal due to increase in speed of light. 

As we know,

          $\mu=\dfrac{c}{v}$

         $\mu$ for water is less than that of glass, as glass acts as a denser medium. $\therefore$ the speed of light in glass will be less than that in water.

A convex lens forms a real image with magnification $m _1$ on a screen. Now, the screen is moved by a distance x and the object is also moved so as to obtain a real image with magnification $m _2 (> m _1) $ on the screen. Then, the focal length of the lens is

  1. $\left [ \dfrac{m _1}{m _2} \right ]x$

  2. $\left [ \dfrac{m _2}{m _1} \right ]x$

  3. $x(m _2-m _1)$

  4. $ \dfrac{x}{(m _2-m _1)} $


Correct Option: D