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JEE Main Ray and Wave Optics — practice questions

Explore 24 free Ray and Wave Optics questions in JEE Main Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Ray and Wave Optics questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–24 of 24.

Snell's law states:Read the answer and worked solution →Apparent depth of object at real depth d in water (n = 4/3) seen from above is:Read the answer and worked solution →Refractive index of medium where speed of light is v is:Read the answer and worked solution →For a concave mirror, focal length f relates to radius of curvature R as:Read the answer and worked solution →Object placed beyond center of curvature C of a concave mirror gives image that is:Read the answer and worked solution →For a convex lens, object placed at 2f forms image at:Read the answer and worked solution →Power of a lens of focal length 20 cm (in dioptres):Read the answer and worked solution →Two thin lenses with powers +5 D and -3 D in contact. Equivalent power:Read the answer and worked solution →For thin prism of refracting angle A (small), deviation δ is approximately:Read the answer and worked solution →Critical angle for glass-air interface (n_glass = 1.5):Read the answer and worked solution →In optical fibers, light travels by:Read the answer and worked solution →In Young's double slit experiment, fringe width β with screen at distance D and slit separation d:Read the answer and worked solution →For YDSE with λ = 500 nm, d = 0.2 mm, D = 1 m, fringe width is:Read the answer and worked solution →Resolving power of telescope with aperture D and wavelength λ (Rayleigh criterion):Read the answer and worked solution →Brewster's law: at angle of polarization i_B, the relation between i_B and refractive index n is:Read the answer and worked solution →Resolving power of microscope is proportional to:Read the answer and worked solution →Two coherent sources of intensities I₁ and I₂ interfere. Maximum intensity in pattern:Read the answer and worked solution →For thin-film interference (oil on water), constructive interference for reflection condition:Read the answer and worked solution →Refractive index of medium 1 with respect to medium 2 (denoted ₁n₂ or n₁/n₂). If ₁n₂ = 1.5 and ₂n₃ = 4/3, then ₁n₃ =Read the answer and worked solution →Speed of light in glass (n = 1.5) is approximately:Read the answer and worked solution →Diffraction effects are more noticeable when the obstacle/aperture size is:Read the answer and worked solution →For thin lens, when image distance equals object distance (|v| = |u|), object position is:Read the answer and worked solution →Reflection or refraction?Read the answer and worked solution →True or false: opticsRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Snell's law states:

  1. n₁ θ₁ = n₂ θ₂
  2. n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂
  3. sin θ₁/sin θ₂ = n₁/n₂
  4. θ₁ = θ₂
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Correct answer: B. n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂

**Snell's law:** n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂. Angles measured from normal. When light enters denser medium (n₂ > n₁), it bends TOWARD normal. Foundation of lens design, fiber optics.

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Apparent depth of object at real depth d in water (n = 4/3) seen from above is:

  1. d
  2. d × n
  3. d × n²
  4. d/n = 3d/4 (object appears shallower)
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Correct answer: D. d/n = 3d/4 (object appears shallower)

Light from object refracts when leaving water; image position shifts. **For viewing perpendicular:** apparent depth = real depth / n. A 1 m deep pool appears 75 cm deep when viewed from above.

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Refractive index of medium where speed of light is v is:

  1. n = v/c
  2. n = c × v
  3. n = c/v
  4. n = v²/c
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Correct answer: C. n = c/v

n = c/v. Higher n means slower light propagation. **Vacuum:** n = 1. Water: n ≈ 1.33, so v_water ≈ 2.26 × 10⁸ m/s. **Glass:** n ≈ 1.5, v ≈ 2 × 10⁸ m/s.

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