Category: A-level physics light
Why are sides of ripple tank are sloppy and lined with a sheet of sponge?
Why are sides of ripple tank are sloppy and lined with a sheet of sponge? In order to: (i) Absorb the energy of the ripples. ... Read More
What is wave velocity?
What is wave velocity? Wave velocity is the distance a wave travels in 1 second. S.I unit is ms-1 thank you Read More
What is Trough in waves?
What is Trough in waves? Trough is a region of maximum downward displacement of particles in a transverse wave. thank you Read More
What is Crest in waves?
what is crest in waves? Crest is a region of maximum upward displacement of particles in a transverse wave. Read More
What would be the effect of replacing monochromatic light by white light in Young’s double slit experiment.
What would be the effect of replacing monochromatic light by white light in Young’s double slit experiment. When monochromatic light is replaced with white light ... Read More
What is meant by coherent source of light?
What is meant by coherent source of light? Coherent sources are sources with the same frequency and nearly the same amplitude and constant phase difference ... Read More
State the conditions of necessary for observing diffraction
State the conditions of necessary for observing diffraction The dimensions of aperture should be comparable with wavelength of light. thank you so much Read More
Explain the occurrence of beats in sound
Explain the occurrence of beats in sound Beats are the periodic variation in intensity of sound heard when two notes of nearly equal frequency and ... Read More
Describe how the amplitude of a forced oscillation builds up to a constant value.
Describe how the amplitude of a forced oscillation builds up to a constant value. A constant amplitude is maintained by a periodic input of force ... Read More
Distinguish between free and damped oscillation
Distinguish between free and damped oscillation In free oscillation, the energy and amplitude are constant while in damped oscillation, the total energy and amplitude decrease ... Read More
State two uses of diffraction of light.
State two uses of diffraction of light. Measurements of wavelength of light using diffraction grating For holography (making 3-dimensional images) Thank you so much Read More
Explain the term interference of light
Explain the term interference of light Interference of light is superposition of waves from coherent sources leading to alternate regions of maximum and minimum intensity. ... Read More
Why is light referred to as a transverse wave?
Why is light referred to as a transverse wave? Light is referred as transverse waves because the vibrations of the magnetic and electric vectors Read More
Explain why the amplitude of a wave goes on decreasing as the distance from the source increases
Explain why the amplitude of a wave goes on decreasing as the distance from the source increases As the wave progresses, energy is continuously absorbed ... Read More
Describe how the wavelength of monochromatic light can be measured using a diffraction grating and a spectrometer.
Describe how the wavelength of monochromatic light can be measured using a diffraction grating and a spectrometer. Solution Make the following adjustment The collimator C ... Read More
Explain using Huygens’s principle the diffraction pattern produced by a single slit.
Explain using Huygens’s principle the diffraction pattern produced by a single slit. The diffraction patterns formed are due to superposition of secondary wavelets formed from ... Read More
Define the term principal axis of converging lens.
Define the term principal axis of converging lens. Principal axis of a lens: This is the line joining the centres of curvature of the two ... Read More
Describe how the refractive index of a liquid can be determined using a concave mirror. (5marks) Or, Describe with the aid of a diagram how the refractive index of a transparent liquid may be determined.(5marks)
Describe how the refractive index of a liquid can be determined using a concave mirror. (5marks) Or, Describe with the aid of a diagram how ... Read More
Show that the refractive index, n, of a medium is given by n = (real depth)/(apparent depth)
Show that the refractive index, n, of a medium is given by n = (real depth/apparent depth) Solution Consider an object O viewed normally from ... Read More
Explain why the rays from the sun can still be seen shortly after sunset.
Explain why the rays from the sun can still be seen shortly after sunset. As the sun sets, layers of air near the earth gets ... Read More
Describe an experiment to determine the refractive index of a liquid using travelling microscope
Describe an experiment to determine the refractive index of a liquid using travelling microscope. A vertically traveling microscope having a graduated scale T besides it is ... Read More
Name applications of total internal reflection
Name applications of total internal reflection Transmission of light in optical fiber Transmission of radio waves Determination of refractive index of glass using air cell. ... Read More
Describe how an optical cable transmits light
Describe how an optical cable transmits light. An optical fibre is made of a transparent material coated with another less optically dense material. Light entering ... Read More
(ii) Explain the difficulty encountered in the experiment of determining the refractive index of liquid using air cell when white light is used
Explain the difficulty encountered in the experiment of determining the refractive index of liquid using air cell when white light is used. White light does ... Read More
Derive an expression used to obtain the refractive index of a liquid using air cell.
Derive an expression used to obtain the refractive index of a liquid using air cell. Ray SO is refracted along OB in glass. However, at ... Read More
Describe an experiment to determine the critical angle for a water-air boundary. or Describe an experiment to determine refractive index of liquid using air cell
Describe an experiment to determine the critical angle for a water-air boundary. or Describe an experiment to determine refractive index of liquid using air cell. ... Read More
What is meant by critical angle?
What is meant by critical angle? This is an angle of incidence in a more optically denser medium for which the angle of refraction is ... Read More
Show that a ray of light passing through layers of transparent media separated by parallel boundaries, nsin i = a where a is a constant and n is the refractive index of the medium containing angle i.
Show that a ray of light passing through layers of transparent media separated by parallel boundaries, nsin i = a where a is a constant ... Read More
What is meant by the refractive index of a material?
What is meant by the refractive index of a material? It is the ratio of the sine of angle of incident to the sine of ... Read More
State what brings about refraction of light as it travels from one medium to another.
State what brings about refraction of light as it travels from one medium to another. Refraction of light occurs because light has different velocities of ... Read More
State the laws of refraction of light.
State the laws of refraction of light. Law 1: The incident ray, refracted ray and the normal at the point of incidence all lie in ... Read More
What is meant by refraction of light?
What is meant by refraction of light? Refraction is the bending of light at an interface between two media of different optical densities. Read More
Describe an experiment, including a graphical analysis of the results to determine the focal length of a concave mirror using the No-Parallax method.
Describe an experiment, including a graphical analysis of the results to determine the focal length of a concave mirror using the No-Parallax method. Or You ... Read More
Use a geometrical to derive the relation 1/v + 1/u = 1/f for concave mirror or Derive the concave mirror formula
Use a geometrical to derive the relation 1/v + 1/u = 1/f for concave mirror. Or Derive the concave mirror formula Solution Consider the incidence ... Read More
Define the focal length of concave mirror.
Define the focal length of concave mirror. It is the distance from the pole of the mirror to the point where paraxial rays incident and ... Read More
Show with the aid of a ray diagram that the radius of curvature of a concave mirror is twice the focal length of the mirror.
Show with the aid of a ray diagram that the radius of curvature of a concave mirror is twice the focal length of the mirror. ... Read More
Describe how the focal length of a convex mirror can be measured using a convex lens of known focal length.
Describe how the focal length of a convex mirror can be measured using a convex lens of known focal length. The apparatus is arranged as ... Read More
Describe how mirage is formed.
Describe how mirage is formed. Mirage is an image of the sky formed by total internal reflection of light rays from the sky at air ... Read More
Derive an expression relating the focal length f, of a convex mirror to the object distance, u, and image distance, v.
Derive an expression relating the focal length f, of a convex mirror to the object distance, u, and image distance, v. Solution Consider the incidence ... Read More
Distinguish between a real image and virtual image
Distinguish between a real image and virtual image A real image is an image formed by intersection of rays from an object in a concave ... Read More
Reasons for using prisms rather than plane mirrors in reflecting optical instruments.
Reasons for using prisms rather than plane mirrors in reflecting optical instruments. Un like in prisms, plane mirrors produce multiple images The silvering in plane ... Read More
With the aid of a ray diagram, explain how a thick plane mirror forms multiple images of an object
With the aid of a ray diagram, explain how a thick plane mirror forms multiple images of an object When an object is observed through ... Read More
A ray of light is incident on a plane. The mirror is then turned through an angle α keeping the direction of the incident ray constant. If the reflected ray turned through an angle β, find the relationship between α and β. Or Derive the relation between the angle of rotation of a plane mirror and the angle of deflection of a reflected ray, when the direction of the incident ray is constant.
A ray of light is incident on a plane. The mirror is then turned through an angle α keeping the direction of the incident ray ... Read More
Describe how sextant can be used to determine the angle of elevation of a star.
Describe how sextant can be used to determine the angle of elevation of a star. A sextant consists of a fully silvered mirror M1which can ... Read More
Show that an incident ray reflected successively from two mirrors inclined at an angle θ to each other is rotated through an angle 2θ.
Show that an incident ray reflected successively from two mirrors inclined at an angle θ to each other is rotated through an angle 2θ. The ... Read More
Show that the image formed in a plane mirror is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front
Show that the image formed in a plane mirror is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front Consider an object A ... Read More
State the characteristics of images formed by plane mirror.
State the characteristics of images formed by plane mirror. CHARACTERISTICS OF IMAGES FORMED BY PLANE MIRRORS It is virtual It is erect It is laterally ... Read More
Show that the angle of deviation of a ray of light on a plane surface is twice the glancing angle
Show that the angle of deviation of a ray of light on a plane surface is twice the glancing angle. Let g be the glancing ... Read More
Distinguish between defuse and regular reflection.
Distinguish between defuse and regular reflection. In regular reflection parallel rays on smooth surface are reflected as parallel rays while in diffuse reflection parallel rays ... Read More
State laws of reflection
AO - incident ray ON - nornal OB- reflected ray i = angle of incidence r =angle of reflection LAW 1: The incident ray, the ... Read More
Name the types of beams
There are three types of beams of light. thank u Please subscribe to promote our website. Subscription is free. Click the subscribe button on the ... Read More
What is a beam of light?
What is a beam of light? This is a collection of rays thank u Please subscribe to promote our website. Subscription is free. Click the ... Read More
What is a ray of light?
What is a ray of light? The path taken or indicating the direction along which light energy travels is known as a ray of light. ... Read More
Evidences that light is a form of energy
Evidences that light is a form of energy When light enters our eyes, it enables us to see. When light is absorbed by green plants, ... Read More
(ii) State uses of beats
State uses of beats Measurements of frequency of a note Tuning a musical instrument to a given note Thank u Please subscribe to promote our ... Read More
State differences between progressive and stationary waves
State differences between progressive and stationary waves Progressive wave Stationary wave - There is energy flow along the wave - Vibrations are the same ... Read More
Use Huygens’ principle to show that speed, V, of light in the dielectric is given by V = c/n where c is the speed of light.
Use Huygens’ principle to show that speed, V, of light in the dielectric is given by V = c/n where c is the speed of ... Read More
State Huygens’ Principle
State Huygens’ Principle The Huygens's Principle states that every point on a wave front is a source of wavelets. These wavelets spread out in the forward ... Read More
What is harmonic in sound?
What is harmonic in sound? Harmonic is one of the frequencies that can be produced by a given instrument (both stringed and piped) Please subscribe ... Read More
What is the implication of reverberation in a hall
What is the implication of reverberation in a hall? Reduces clarity of music and speech. Reverberation of a small degree is necessary because it enhance ... Read More