Tag: the nature of light

Questions Related to the nature of light

Which of the following rays have the highest frequency?

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. Radiowaves

  2. Infrared rays

  3. Gamma rays

  4. X-rays

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Gamma rays have the highest frequency.

The speed at which the light travels in vacuum is -

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. $\displaystyle 3\times { 10 }^{ 8 }m/s$

  2. $\displaystyle 3\times { 10 }^{ 3 }m/s$

  3. $\displaystyle 3\times { 10 }^{ 4 }m/s$

  4. $\displaystyle 3\times { 10 }^{ 10 }m/s$

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The speed at which the light travels in vacuum is $3×10^8m/s$

In vacuum, electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. $3 \times {10}^{8} {m}/{s}$

  2. $3 \times {10}^{6} {m}/{s}$

  3. $3 \times {10}^{-8} {m}/{s}$

  4. $3 \times {10}^{18} {m}/{s}$

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In vacuum, electromagnetic waves travel at speed of $3\times { 10 }^{ 8 }$ m/s.

C = speed of EM waves
C = $\frac { 1 }{ \sqrt { { \mu  } _{ 0 }{ \varepsilon  } _{ 0 } }  } $
                ${ \mu  } _{ 0 }$ = permaebility of free space
                ${ \varepsilon  } _{ 0 }$ = permittivity of free space
putting the value of ${ \mu  } _{ 0 }$ and ${ \varepsilon  } _{ 0 }$ we get value of C approximately $3\times { 10 }^{ 8 }$ m/s.
                ${ \mu  } _{ 0 }$ = $1.257\times { 10 }^{ -6 }$ Henry/meter
                ${ \varepsilon  } _{ 0 }$ = $8.85\times { 10 }^{ -12 }$ Farad/meter

Reflection of a light wave at a fixed point results in a phase difference between incident and reflected wave of

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

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

  2. $2 \pi $ rad

  3. $\pi$ rad

  4. $\dfrac{\pi}{2}$ rad

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Reflection of light wave at fixed point result in phase difference b/w incident and reflected ray of $\pi$. The wave gets inverted. Inversion behavior is noticed when medium is connected to dense medium.

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given.


Which of the following has/have zero average value in a plane electromagnetic wave?

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. Both magnetic and electric fields

  2. electric field only

  3. Magnetic field only

  4. None of these

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A. Both magnetic and electric field.


Because both electric and magnetic field oscillate as sine and cosine wave, which over one period, average value is zero.

Which of the following statement is false for the properties of electromagnetic waves?

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. Both electric and magnetic field vectors attain the maxima and minima at same place and same time.

  2. The energy in electromagnetic wave is divided equally between electric and magnetic field vectors.

  3. Both electric and magnetic field vectors are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction of propagation of wave.

  4. These waves do not require any material medium for propagation.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

In electromagnetic waves,

1. The electric field and magnetic field varies continuously with time and have maxima and minima at same place and at same time.
2. Both electric and magnetic field have same energy.
3. both electric and magnetic field are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to direction of propagation.
4. These waves don't require any material medium to propagate, they can propagate in vacuum as well.
So, the false statement will be the statement given in the option $(C)$
Hence, the correct option is $(C)$

The electric field of a plane electromagnetic wave is given by
$\vec{E} = E _0 \dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} \cos (kz + \omega t)$
At $t = 0$, a positively charged particle is at the point $(x, y , z) = \left(0, 0 , \dfrac{\pi}{k} \right)$. If its instantaneous velocity at $(t = 0)$ is $v _0 \hat{k}$, the force acting on it due to the wave is :

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. parallel to $\hat{k}$

  2. parallel to $\dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}}$

  3. antiparallel to $\dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}}$

  4. zero

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

$\vec{E} = E _0 \left(\dfrac{i + j}{\sqrt{2}}\right) \cos (kz + wt)$


$\therefore$ unit vector along electric field, $\vec{E} = \left(\dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} \right)$


Direction of electromagnetic wave is in (-z) direction 

$\therefore \hat{C} = -\hat{k}$  wave direction.

Let $\hat{B} $ is the unit vector along the direction of magnetic field.

$\hat{B} = \hat{C} \times \hat{E} = -\hat{k} \times \left(\dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} \right) = - \left(\dfrac{\hat{k} \times i + \hat{k} \times j}{\sqrt{2}} \right)$

$\hat{B} = -\left(\dfrac{\hat{j} + (-i)}{\sqrt{2}} \right)  = \left(\dfrac{\hat{i} - \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} \right)$

$\vec{F _e} =$ electric force on the charge particle 

$\vec{F _e} = $ unit vector of electric force $= \dfrac{q \hat{E}}{|q\hat{E}|} = \hat{E}$

$\vec{F} _e = \dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}}$

$\vec{F} _b = $ magnetic force $= q \vec{V} \times \vec{B} = q \left(V _0 \hat{k} \times \dfrac{i - j}{\sqrt{2}}\right)$

$\vec{F} _b = q V _0 \left[\dfrac{\hat{k} \times \hat{i} - \hat{k} \times \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} \right] = q V _0 \left[\dfrac{\hat{j} - (-\hat{i})}{\sqrt{2}}\right]$

$\vec{F} _b = q V _0 \left(\dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} \right)$

$\vec{F} _{Net} = \hat{F} _e + \hat{F} _b = \dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} + \dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}} = \dfrac{2}{\sqrt{2}} (\hat{i} + \hat{j})$

$\therefore \hat{F} _{Net} = $ unit vector $= \dfrac{\hat{i} + \hat{j}}{\sqrt{2}}$

Option (B) is correct.

The Schrodinger equation for a free electron of mass m and energy E written in terms of the wave function $\psi $ is $\frac{d^2\psi}{dx^2}+\frac{8 \pi ^2mE}{h^2}\psi =0$. The dimensions of the coefficient $\psi$ of in the second term must be

physics observing space: telescopes maxwell's equations the nature of light introduction to electromagnetic waves

  1. $[M^1L^1]$

  2. $[L^2]$

  3. $[L^{-2}]$

  4. $[M^1L^{-1}T^1]$

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

By dimensional analysis the dimensions of each term in an equation must be the same. In the first term the second derivative with respect to distance x indicates the dimensions of the coefficient $\psi$ of to be $[L^{-2}]$ and hence the answer.

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)?

physics refraction of light the nature of light speed of light and optical density introduction to light

  1. $150\ nm$

  2. $200\ nm$

  3. $300\ nm$

  4. $400\ nm$

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Correct Option: B

When light is refracted into a denser medium,

physics refraction of light the nature of light speed of light and optical density introduction to light

  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

Show answer
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.