Chapter 28: Reflection And Refraction

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1. When a light beam emerges from water into air, the average light speed

Explanation

When a light beam emerges from water into air, the average light speed increases. This is because the speed of light is slower in water compared to air. When the light beam enters air from water, it transitions from a slower medium to a faster medium, causing an increase in its average speed.

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About This Quiz
Chapter 28: Reflection And Refraction - Quiz

Explore the fundamental principles of light in 'Chapter 28: Reflection and Refraction'. This quiz assesses understanding of light behavior, including emission, reflection paths, and the laws governing refraction.... see moreKey for students enhancing their physics knowledge, focusing on practical and theoretical aspects of light. see less

2. Optical fibers are now used by

Explanation

Optical fibers are now used by surgeons, mechanics, and engineers. Surgeons use optical fibers in minimally invasive surgeries to provide illumination and transmit images from inside the body. Mechanics use optical fibers for inspection and maintenance of hard-to-reach areas in machinery. Engineers utilize optical fibers for various applications such as telecommunications, data transmission, and sensing technology. Therefore, all of these professions benefit from the use of optical fibers.

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3. The image in a pinhole camera is

Explanation

The image in a pinhole camera is always inverted because the light rays passing through the small hole (pinhole) create an inverted image on the opposite side of the camera. This occurs because the rays diverge as they pass through the hole, resulting in an upside-down image. This phenomenon is a result of the basic principles of optics and the way light behaves when passing through a small aperture.

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4. A beam of light travels fastest in

Explanation

The speed of light in a medium is determined by the refractive index of that medium. The refractive index of air is lower compared to glass, water, and plastic. This means that light travels faster in air than in these other materials. Therefore, the correct answer is air.

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5. A "burning glass" used to concentrate sunlight in a tiny spot is a

Explanation

A "burning glass" is a device used to concentrate sunlight in a tiny spot. This implies that the lens is able to converge the sunlight rays to a single point. Therefore, the correct answer is a converging lens, which has the ability to bring parallel rays of light together at a focal point.

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6. Refraction causes the bottom of a swimming pool to appear

Explanation

When light travels from one medium to another, such as from air to water in a swimming pool, it undergoes refraction. Refraction occurs because light travels at different speeds in different mediums. In this case, as light enters the water, it slows down and bends towards the normal (an imaginary line perpendicular to the water's surface). This bending of light causes the bottom of the swimming pool to appear closer to the surface than it actually is.

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7. Atmospheric refraction tends to make daytimes

Explanation

Atmospheric refraction is the bending of light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere. This bending causes the apparent position of the Sun to be slightly higher than its actual position, resulting in the Sun appearing to rise earlier and set later than it would if there was no refraction. As a result, atmospheric refraction makes daytimes longer by extending the duration of daylight.

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8. A person standing waist-deep in a swimming pool appears to have short legs because of light

Explanation

When light passes from one medium to another, it changes direction. This phenomenon is called refraction. In the case of a person standing waist-deep in a swimming pool, the light from their legs travels from the water (a denser medium) to the air (a less dense medium). This causes the light to bend away from the normal, making the legs appear shorter than they actually are. Hence, the person appears to have short legs due to refraction.

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9. The incident light ray, the reflected light ray, and the normal between them

Explanation

When light rays interact with a surface, the incident ray (the incoming ray), the reflected ray (the ray bouncing off the surface), and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface) all lie in the same plane. This is known as the law of reflection. The incident ray and the reflected ray are on opposite sides of the normal, and they both lie in the same plane as the normal. Therefore, the correct answer is that they lie in the same plane.

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10. To see his full height, a boy that is 1 meter tall needs a mirror that is at least

Explanation

A mirror needs to be at least half the height of the person using it in order for them to see their full height. Since the boy is 1 meter tall, the mirror needs to be at least 0.50 meters tall.

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11. Light will almost always travel from one place to another along a path of least

Explanation

Light will almost always travel from one place to another along a path of least time. This is because light travels at a constant speed in a vacuum, and it follows the principle of least time, which states that light will take the path that requires the least amount of time to reach its destination. This principle is based on Fermat's principle of least time, which states that light follows the path that minimizes the travel time between two points. Therefore, when light travels from one place to another, it will always take the path that minimizes the time taken.

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12. Which of the following can be projected onto a viewing screen?

Explanation

A real image can be projected onto a viewing screen. A real image is formed when light rays actually converge at a point, creating an image that can be captured on a screen or a surface. This is in contrast to a virtual image, which is formed when light rays appear to diverge from a point, and cannot be projected onto a screen. Therefore, only a real image can be projected onto a viewing screen.

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13. The type of lens that spreads parallel light is a

Explanation

A diverging lens is the correct answer because it spreads parallel light rays outwards, causing them to diverge. This type of lens has a thinner center and thicker edges, causing light to refract away from the center. A converging lens, on the other hand, brings parallel light rays together at a focal point. A combination converging-diverging lens is not the correct answer as it would have both converging and diverging properties, which is not mentioned in the question.

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14. Diffuse reflection occurs when the size of surface irregularities is

Explanation

Diffuse reflection occurs when the size of surface irregularities is large compared to the wavelength of the light used. This means that the surface is rough and uneven, causing the light to scatter in different directions. In contrast, if the surface irregularities are small compared to the wavelength of light, the reflection would be specular, where the light reflects at the same angle as it hits the surface. Therefore, the correct answer is that diffuse reflection occurs when the size of surface irregularities is large compared to the wavelength of the light used.

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15. Light travels fastest in

Explanation

Light travels fastest in a vacuum because there are no particles to slow it down. In a vacuum, there is no air or any other medium to impede the speed of light, allowing it to travel at its maximum velocity. In contrast, in both warm and cool air, there are molecules present that can scatter and absorb light, causing it to slow down. Therefore, a vacuum provides the least resistance to the propagation of light, resulting in its fastest speed.

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16. Light is emitted when

Explanation

Light is emitted when the electron clouds of atoms are forced into oscillation. This is because when an atom absorbs energy, its electrons move to higher energy levels. When these electrons return to their original energy levels, they release the excess energy in the form of light. This process is known as electron transition or electron oscillation, and it is responsible for the emission of light. Atomic nuclei vibrating, electromagnetic waves emanating from matter, and high-frequency sound waves striking matter do not directly result in the emission of light.

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17. You wish to photograph the image of your little sister, who is standing 2 meters from a plane mirror. Holding the camera beside her head, you should set the distance for

Explanation

When photographing an image in a plane mirror, the distance between the camera and the mirror should be equal to the distance between the mirror and the object being photographed. In this case, since the little sister is standing 2 meters from the mirror, the camera should be placed 2 meters on the other side of the mirror, resulting in a total distance of 4 meters.

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18. Atmospheric refraction makes the daylight hours a bit

Explanation

Atmospheric refraction is the bending of light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere. This bending causes the light to follow a curved path, which results in the apparent position of the Sun being slightly higher in the sky than its actual position. As a result, the daylight hours appear longer than they would be without atmospheric refraction.

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19. A mirage is a result of atmospheric

Explanation

A mirage is a phenomenon that occurs due to the refraction of light. Refraction happens when light passes through different mediums with varying densities, causing the light rays to change direction. In the case of a mirage, the air near the ground is hotter than the air above it, creating a gradient in the refractive index. This causes the light rays to bend and create an optical illusion, making distant objects appear distorted or displaced. Therefore, the correct answer is refraction.

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20. Light refracts when traveling from air into glass because light

Explanation

When light travels from air into glass, it slows down due to the difference in the refractive indices of the two mediums. This change in speed causes the light to bend or refract.

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21. When a pulse of white light is incident on a piece of glass, strictly speaking, the first color to emerge is

Explanation

When a pulse of white light is incident on a piece of glass, the first color to emerge is red. This is because white light is made up of a combination of different colors, and when it passes through a medium like glass, it gets refracted. The different colors in the white light have different wavelengths, and as a result, they get separated. Red light has the longest wavelength among the visible colors, so it gets refracted the least and emerges first when white light passes through glass.

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22. Reflected light from the moon in a lake often appears as a vertical column when the water is

Explanation

When the water in a lake is perfectly still, the reflection of the moon appears as a mirror image, without any distortion. However, when the water is slightly rough, the surface of the lake creates small ripples or waves. These ripples cause the reflected light from the moon to scatter and create a vertical column of light. This phenomenon is known as "scintillation" and is commonly observed when the water is slightly rough.

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23. Rainbows are not usually seen as complete circles because

Explanation

Rainbows are not usually seen as complete circles because the ground is usually in the way. When we see a rainbow, it is formed by the reflection, refraction, and dispersion of sunlight in raindrops. The light enters the raindrop, reflects off the inside surface, and then exits the raindrop. However, to see a complete circle, the observer would need to be at a high vantage point, such as in an airplane or on a mountain, where the ground does not obstruct the view. Since most people view rainbows from ground level, the bottom half of the circle is blocked by the Earth's surface, resulting in an arched shape.

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24. Stars twinkle when seen from the Earth. When seen from the moon, stars

Explanation

Stars twinkle when seen from the Earth because of the Earth's atmosphere causing the light from the stars to scatter. However, the moon does not have an atmosphere, so there is no scattering of light. As a result, stars appear steady and do not twinkle when seen from the moon.

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25. Different colors of light travel at different speeds in a transparent medium. In a vacuum, different colors of light travel at

Explanation

Different colors of light travel at the same speed. This is because in a vacuum, there is no medium to slow down or speed up the different colors of light. The speed of light in a vacuum is constant, regardless of the color of light.

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26. The shortest plane mirror in which you can see your entire image is

Explanation

The correct answer is half your height. This is because a plane mirror reflects light at the same angle it hits the mirror, creating a virtual image that appears behind the mirror. In order to see your entire image in the mirror, the mirror must be tall enough to reflect the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Therefore, a mirror that is half your height will be sufficient to see your entire image.

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27. Objects infinitely far away are focused by a converging lens

Explanation

When an object is infinitely far away, the light rays coming from it are parallel. A converging lens is designed to bring parallel rays of light to a focus at a specific point called the focal point. Therefore, when an object is infinitely far away, the converging lens will focus the parallel rays of light exactly at its focal point.

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28. The image of the "infinitely-far-away" sun produced by a converging lens appears

Explanation

When an object is placed at an infinite distance from a converging lens, the lens forms an image at its focal point. This is because parallel rays of light from the object converge at the focal point after passing through the lens. Therefore, the image of the "infinitely-far-away" sun produced by a converging lens appears at the focal point.

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29. In optical fibers of uniform density, light actually

Explanation

In optical fibers of uniform density, light travels in straight-line segments. This is because the fiber is designed in such a way that the refractive index of the core is greater than the refractive index of the cladding. This causes the light to undergo total internal reflection, bouncing off the walls of the core and traveling in a straight path along the central axis of the fiber. This property allows for efficient transmission of light signals through the fiber without significant loss or distortion.

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30. A surface that is considered rough for infrared waves may be polished for

Explanation

The answer is radio waves because different types of waves interact with surfaces differently. Infrared waves are sensitive to surface roughness and can be absorbed or scattered by rough surfaces, while radio waves are less affected by surface roughness and can pass through or bounce off smoothly. Therefore, a surface that is considered rough for infrared waves can be polished to improve the transmission or reflection of radio waves. Light waves, on the other hand, are also affected by surface roughness and polishing would improve their transmission as well.

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31. Chromatic aberration is absent in

Explanation

Front surface plane mirrors do not suffer from chromatic aberration because they reflect light without bending or refracting it. Chromatic aberration occurs when different wavelengths of light are refracted differently, causing color fringing and blurring. Converging and diverging lenses, on the other hand, can cause chromatic aberration due to the way they refract light.

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32. A yellow-white candle flame reflected from a piece of red glass shows two images; one from each surface.

Explanation

When a yellow-white candle flame is reflected from a piece of red glass, it creates two images. One image is yellow-white because it is the reflection of the original flame. The other image appears red because the red glass filters out all colors except for red, resulting in a red reflection. Therefore, one image is yellow-white and the other is red.

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33. A diver shines light up to the surface of a smooth pond at a 10-degree angle to the normal. Some light passes into the air above, and the part that reflects back into the water makes an angle to the normal of

Explanation

When light travels from a denser medium (water) to a less dense medium (air), it undergoes a change in direction called refraction. The angle of refraction is determined by Snell's law, which states that the ratio of the sines of the angles of incidence and refraction is equal to the ratio of the velocities of light in the two media. In this case, since the angle of incidence is 10 degrees, the angle of refraction will also be 10 degrees. This means that the light that reflects back into the water will make an angle of 10 degrees with the normal.

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34. When light passes through an ordinary window pane, its angle of emergence is

Explanation

When light passes through an ordinary window pane, its angle of emergence is the same as its angle of incidence. This is because the window pane is made of a transparent material with a uniform refractive index, which means that the speed of light remains constant as it passes through the pane. According to the law of refraction, the angle of incidence and the angle of emergence are equal when light passes through a medium with a uniform refractive index. Therefore, the correct answer is that the angle of emergence is the same as its angle of incidence.

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35. The twinkling of the stars is a result of atmospheric

Explanation

The twinkling of stars is caused by the phenomenon of refraction. When starlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, it encounters different layers of air with varying densities. These variations in density cause the light to bend or refract, resulting in the twinkling effect that we observe from the ground. This refraction is responsible for the apparent fluctuation in the brightness of stars, giving them a twinkling appearance.

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36. The secondary rainbow is dimmer than the primary rainbow because

Explanation

The secondary rainbow is dimmer than the primary rainbow because of an extra reflection and refraction in the drops. When light enters a water droplet, it undergoes both reflection and refraction. In the case of the secondary rainbow, the light undergoes an additional reflection before exiting the droplet. This results in a more spread out and dispersed light, causing the secondary rainbow to appear dimmer compared to the primary rainbow.

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37. The moon's redness during a lunar eclipse results from

Explanation

During a lunar eclipse, the moon appears red because of the refraction of Earth's sunrises and sunsets by the Earth's atmosphere. The Earth's atmosphere acts as a lens, bending and scattering the sunlight as it passes through, causing the longer wavelengths (red light) to be more visible. This phenomenon is similar to how the sky appears red during a sunset or sunrise on Earth. The moon reflects this reddened light, giving it a red hue during a lunar eclipse.

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38. Chromatic aberration is a consequence of different colors in a lens having different

Explanation

Chromatic aberration refers to the phenomenon where different colors of light focus at different points when passing through a lens, resulting in blurred or distorted images. This occurs because the speed of light varies for different colors, causing them to bend at different angles as they pass through the lens. Therefore, the correct answer is "speeds."

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39. Standing at the shore of a still lake, the reflected view of scenery on the far side of the lake is the view you would see if you were upside down with your eye in the line of sight

Explanation

When standing at the shore of a still lake, the reflected view of the scenery on the far side of the lake is the view you would see if you were directly beneath yourself, as far below water level as you are above. This is because the reflection in the water appears to be a mirror image of the surroundings, and if you were upside down with your eye in the line of sight where it already is, the reflection would match the actual view. Therefore, the correct answer is directly beneath you, as far below water level as you are above.

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40. Different colors are dispersed by a prism because different colors in the prism have different

Explanation

Different colors are dispersed by a prism because different colors in the prism have different speeds. When white light passes through a prism, it is refracted at different angles depending on its wavelength. This causes the different colors of light to separate and form a spectrum. This phenomenon, known as dispersion, occurs because each color of light travels at a slightly different speed through the prism. Therefore, the correct answer is speeds.

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41. Object and image for a plane mirror lie

Explanation

When an object is placed in front of a plane mirror, the image formed is a virtual image that appears to be behind the mirror. The image is formed by the reflection of light rays from the object. In a plane mirror, the reflection occurs at the same angle as the incidence, resulting in the image appearing to be the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of it. Therefore, the object and its image in a plane mirror lie at equal distances from the mirror.

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42. If you walk towards a mirror at a certain speed, the relative speed between you and your image is

Explanation

When you walk towards a mirror, your image in the mirror also appears to be walking towards you. This is because the light rays from your body reflect off the mirror and reach your eyes, creating the illusion of an image. Since you are moving towards the mirror and your image is also moving towards you, the relative speed between you and your image is the sum of your individual speeds. Therefore, the relative speed between you and your image is twice your speed.

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43. The average speed of light is greatest in

Explanation

The average speed of light is greatest in red glass because red light has the longest wavelength among all visible colors. When light passes through a medium, its speed is inversely proportional to the refractive index of the medium. Since red light has a longer wavelength, it experiences less interaction with the atoms in the glass, resulting in a higher speed compared to other colors. Therefore, the average speed of light is greatest in red glass.

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44. A person who sees more clearly under water without eyeglasses or a face mask is

Explanation

A person who sees more clearly under water without eyeglasses or a face mask is nearsighted. Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry, while close objects can be seen more clearly. When underwater, the water acts as a natural lens and helps to refract light in a way that compensates for the nearsightedness, resulting in improved clarity of vision. This phenomenon does not occur for a person who is farsighted or does not have any vision impairment.

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45. The amount of light reflected from the front surface of a common windowpane is about

Explanation

The correct answer is 4 percent because windowpanes are designed to allow light to pass through them rather than reflect it. Therefore, only a small amount of light is reflected from the front surface of a common windowpane, which is approximately 4 percent.

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46. Your vision is sharpest when your pupil is

Explanation

When the pupil is constricted, it means that it has become smaller in size. This allows less light to enter the eye, which helps to focus the incoming light onto the retina. As a result, the image formed on the retina is clearer and sharper, leading to better vision. On the other hand, when the pupil is dilated, it means that it has become larger in size. This allows more light to enter the eye, but it also causes the incoming light to scatter, leading to a blurry image on the retina and decreased visual acuity. Therefore, the correct answer is constricted.

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47. When you look at yourself in a pocket mirror, and then hold the mirror farther away, you see

Explanation

When you look at yourself in a pocket mirror and hold it farther away, the size of your reflection in the mirror remains the same. This is because the mirror reflects light in a way that preserves the proportions and size of the objects being reflected. Therefore, regardless of the distance between the mirror and your face, you will see the same amount of yourself in the mirror.

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48. The inversion of your image in a plane mirror is actually an inversion of

Explanation

When an object is reflected in a plane mirror, the image appears to be flipped from front to back. This means that the left and right sides of the object are switched in the reflection. However, the up-down orientation remains the same. Therefore, the inversion in a plane mirror is only in the front-back direction.

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49. A fish outside water will see better if it has goggles that are

Explanation

When a fish is outside water, its eyes are not adapted to the air environment. Filling the goggles with water would create an environment similar to the fish's natural habitat, allowing it to see better. Water helps to refract light in a way that is beneficial for underwater vision. Therefore, filling the goggles with water would provide the fish with the best possible vision outside of its natural habitat.

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50. When you view a distant rainbow, each single water drop contributes to the bow

Explanation

When viewing a distant rainbow, each single water drop contributes to the bow by refracting and dispersing light. This refraction and dispersion of light causes the different colors of the rainbow to separate and become visible. However, when we view the rainbow from a distance, we see a combination of all these colors blended together, appearing as a single color to our eyes. Therefore, when viewing a distant rainbow, each individual water drop contributes to the overall appearance of a single color.

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51. A mirage occurs for road surfaces that are

Explanation

A mirage occurs for road surfaces that are warm because the heat from the warm surface causes the air above it to become less dense, creating a temperature gradient. This temperature gradient causes the light rays passing through it to bend, creating an optical illusion that makes it appear as though there is water or a reflective surface on the road.

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52. As a light ray enters or exits a water-air interface at an angle of 15 degrees with the normal, it

Explanation

When a light ray enters or exits a water-air interface at an angle of 15 degrees with the normal, it always bends toward the normal. This phenomenon is known as refraction. Refraction occurs because light travels at different speeds in different mediums. In this case, light travels slower in water than in air, causing it to change direction and bend towards the normal. This bending of light is a result of the change in the speed and direction of the light wave as it passes from one medium to another.

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53. Fermat's principle of least time applies to

Explanation

Fermat's principle of least time states that light takes the path that requires the least amount of time to travel. This principle applies to both reflection and refraction. When light reflects off a surface, it follows the path that minimizes the time taken. Similarly, when light passes through different mediums and undergoes refraction, it still follows the path that minimizes the time taken. Therefore, Fermat's principle of least time applies to both reflection and refraction.

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54. When seen from an airplane, a rainbow sometimes forms a complete circle. When this happens, the plane's shadow is

Explanation

When a rainbow forms a complete circle, it means that the observer is positioned at the center of the circle. In this case, if the observer is in an airplane, the plane's shadow would be cast directly below the observer, which would be in the center of the rainbow. Therefore, the correct answer is "in the center of the rainbow."

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55. The critical angle is least in which of the following?

Explanation

The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light is refracted along the boundary between two media. The critical angle is determined by the refractive indices of the two media involved. Diamond has a higher refractive index compared to glass, water, and vacuum. Since the critical angle is inversely proportional to the refractive index, diamond will have the least critical angle among the given options.

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56. When the pinhole in a pinhole camera is made larger, the image is

Explanation

When the pinhole in a pinhole camera is made larger, more light is able to enter the camera. This results in a brighter image being formed on the camera's screen or film. By increasing the size of the pinhole, the camera is able to capture more light rays, allowing for a brighter and more illuminated image to be produced. Therefore, the image becomes brighter when the pinhole in a pinhole camera is made larger.

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57. When a mirror with a fixed beam on it is rotated through a certain angle, the reflected beam is rotated through an angle that is

Explanation

When a mirror with a fixed beam on it is rotated through a certain angle, the reflected beam is rotated through an angle that is twice as large. This is because the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and when the mirror is rotated, the incident angle and the reflected angle both change by the same amount. Therefore, if the mirror is rotated through an angle x, the incident angle changes by x and the reflected angle changes by 2x, making it twice as large as the angle of rotation.

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58. Which of the following are consequences of light's traveling at different speeds in different media?

Explanation

When light travels through different media, such as air, water, or glass, it can change its speed. This change in speed leads to various consequences. Mirages occur when light rays bend due to the change in speed, creating an illusion of water or objects that are not actually present. Rainbows are formed when light is refracted and reflected within water droplets in the atmosphere. Internal reflection occurs when light rays are completely reflected back into the medium they came from. All of these phenomena are consequences of light traveling at different speeds in different media.

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59. The critical angle for a transparent material is the angle at and beyond which all light within the material is

Explanation

The critical angle for a transparent material is the angle at and beyond which all light within the material is reflected. This means that when light rays enter the material at an angle greater than the critical angle, they do not pass through the material but are instead reflected back.

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60. A lens can be used to take light emanating from a point source and bring it back to another point. This second point is called the first point's image. From what you know about the refraction of various wavelengths of visible light, would red light and blue light from the same source produce images at the same place?

Explanation

The explanation for the correct answer is that blue light has a shorter wavelength compared to red light. According to the properties of refraction, shorter wavelengths of light are refracted more than longer wavelengths when passing through a lens. Therefore, blue light would be refracted more and would converge closer to the lens, resulting in an image formed at a closer distance compared to the image formed by red light.

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61. A mirage occurs for surfaces that are

Explanation

A mirage occurs for surfaces that are both horizontal and vertical. A mirage is an optical illusion caused by the bending of light rays as they pass through layers of air of different temperatures. This bending creates a distorted image of distant objects, often appearing as a shimmering or displaced reflection. Mirages can occur on both horizontal surfaces, such as deserts or roads, where the hot ground heats the air above it, and on vertical surfaces, such as buildings or cliffs, where temperature differences between the air layers cause the bending of light. Therefore, mirages can occur for surfaces that are both horizontal and vertical.

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62. It is difficult to see the roadway in front of you when you are driving on a rainy night mainly because

Explanation

The correct answer is that the film of water on the roadway makes the road less diffuse. When it rains, water accumulates on the road surface, creating a thin film. This film of water reduces the diffuse reflection of light from the road, causing less light to scatter in different directions. As a result, the road appears less illuminated, making it difficult to see the roadway clearly while driving on a rainy night.

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63. When a light ray passes at a non-90 degree angle from water into air, it

Explanation

When a light ray passes at a non-90 degree angle from water into air, it bends away from the normal. This phenomenon is known as refraction. Refraction occurs because light travels at different speeds in different mediums. When light passes from a denser medium (such as water) to a less dense medium (such as air), it speeds up and bends away from the normal. This bending is responsible for various optical effects, such as the apparent bending of a submerged object or the formation of rainbows.

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64. Two plane mirrors are at right angles to each other. A coin placed near the mirrors has at most

Explanation

When a coin is placed near two plane mirrors at right angles to each other, it undergoes multiple reflections. The first reflection occurs on one mirror, producing one image. This image is then reflected off the second mirror, creating a second image. Finally, the second image is reflected off the first mirror again, resulting in a third image. Therefore, the coin placed near the mirrors has at most three images.

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65. If a fish looks upward at 45 degrees with respect to the water's surface, it will see

Explanation

When a fish looks upward at 45 degrees with respect to the water's surface, it will be able to see the sky and possibly some hills. This is because the fish's field of vision will extend beyond the water's surface and into the surrounding environment. The angle at which the fish is looking allows it to see above the water level, giving it a view of the sky and any elevated landforms such as hills that may be visible.

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66. When taking a picture of a nearby object, your camera lens should be moved

Explanation

When taking a picture of a nearby object, the camera lens should be moved farther than one focal length from the film. This is because when the object is close to the lens, the lens needs to be moved further away from the film in order to focus the image properly. If the lens is moved closer than one focal length, the image will be out of focus.

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67. The sun's elliptical shape at sunset can be adequately explained by

Explanation

Both Fermat's principle and the law of refraction can adequately explain the sun's elliptical shape at sunset. Fermat's principle states that light takes the path that requires the least time to travel, and when the sun is near the horizon, the light rays pass through a larger portion of the Earth's atmosphere, which causes the light to bend and create an elliptical shape. The law of refraction explains how light bends when it passes from one medium to another, and in this case, the bending of light as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere causes the elliptical shape of the sun at sunset.

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68. At night an underwater scuba diver aims his flashlight beam toward the surface at an angle of 15 degrees with the normal. Upon emerging, the beam angle will be

Explanation

When light passes from one medium to another, it changes its direction. This phenomenon is known as refraction. The angle of refraction depends on the angle of incidence and the refractive indices of the two mediums involved. In this case, when the scuba diver's flashlight beam emerges from the water to the air, it will bend away from the normal. Since the angle of incidence is 15 degrees, the angle of refraction will be greater than 15 degrees. Therefore, the correct answer is "more than 15 degrees."

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69. Rainbows exist because light is

Explanation

Rainbows exist because light is both reflected and refracted. When light enters a raindrop, it is refracted, or bent, as it passes from air to water and then reflected off the inside surface of the drop. The light is then refracted again as it exits the raindrop and returns to the air. This bending and reflection of light causes the different colors to separate and form a circular arc in the sky, creating a rainbow.

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70. A single raindrop illuminated by sunshine disperses

Explanation

When a raindrop is illuminated by sunshine, it acts as a prism and disperses the light into its constituent colors. This dispersion occurs because different colors of light have different frequencies. The low-frequency colors (such as red) are bent the least, while the high-frequency colors (such as violet) are bent the most. As a result, when we observe a raindrop, we see a range of colors, including low-, middle-, and high-frequency colors. Therefore, the correct answer is that a raindrop illuminated by sunshine disperses either low-, middle-, or high-frequency colors in most cases.

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71. If you wish to send a beam of laser light to a space station that is just above the atmosphere near the horizon, you should aim your laser

Explanation

When aiming a laser beam towards a space station just above the atmosphere near the horizon, it is best to aim the laser along your line of sight. This means that the laser beam should be directed in the same direction as your line of vision towards the space station. This is because light travels in a straight line, and aiming the laser along your line of sight ensures that the beam will reach the space station accurately without any deviation caused by aiming above or below the line of sight.

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72. When light reflects from a surface, there is a change in its

Explanation

When light reflects from a surface, there is no change in its frequency, wavelength, or speed. The frequency and wavelength of light remain the same before and after reflection. The speed of light also remains constant in a given medium. Therefore, the correct answer is "none of these."

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73. If you wish to spear a fish with a regular spear, you should compensate for refraction between the air and water and throw your spear

Explanation

When light passes from one medium to another, such as from air to water, it undergoes refraction, which causes the light rays to change direction. This change in direction can make objects appear higher or lower than their actual position. In the case of spearfishing, if you aim directly at the sighted fish, the refraction will make the fish appear higher than its actual position. Therefore, to compensate for this refraction, you should aim below the sighted fish so that when the light rays refract, the spear will hit the fish accurately.

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74. Refraction results from differences in light's

Explanation

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to the change in its speed. When light travels from a medium with one speed to a medium with a different speed, it changes direction. This change in speed causes the light to bend, resulting in refraction. Therefore, the correct answer is speed.

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75. Ninety-five percent of light incident on a mirror is reflected. How much light is reflected when three of these mirrors are arranged so light reflects from one after the other?

Explanation

When light reflects off a mirror, 95% of it is reflected. If three mirrors are arranged in a way that light reflects from one mirror to the next, the amount of light reflected decreases each time. To find the total amount of light reflected, we need to multiply the reflection percentages of each mirror. 95% * 95% * 95% = 86.3375%, which can be rounded to 86%. Therefore, 86% of light is reflected when three mirrors are arranged in this way.

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76. When white light goes from air into water, the color that refracts the most is

Explanation

When white light passes through a medium like water, it undergoes refraction, which means it changes direction. The amount of refraction depends on the wavelength of the light. Violet light has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum, so it refracts the most when passing from air into water. This is why the color that refracts the most in this scenario is violet.

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77. As monochromatic light passes from air to glass and back to air, changes are observed in its

Explanation

When monochromatic light passes from air to glass and back to air, its wavelength and speed are observed to change. This is because the speed of light is slower in glass than in air, causing the wavelength to decrease as it enters the glass. When the light exits the glass and returns to air, its speed increases again, resulting in a change in wavelength. Therefore, the correct answer is wavelength and speed.

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78. The refraction of light in a diamond is greater for

Explanation

The refraction of light in a diamond is greater for short-wavelength light because diamonds have a high refractive index. Short-wavelength light has a higher frequency and shorter wavelength, which causes it to bend more when passing through a medium with a high refractive index like a diamond. This bending of light is known as refraction, and the greater the refractive index, the more the light will bend. Therefore, short-wavelength light will experience a greater change in direction when passing through a diamond compared to long-wavelength light.

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79. Ninety percent of light incident on a certain piece of glass passes through it. How much light passes through two pieces of this glass?

Explanation

If 90% of light passes through one piece of glass, then for two pieces of glass, the percentage of light that passes through both would be 90% multiplied by 90%, which equals 81%.

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80. If you wish to hit a blue fish with a red laser beam, you should compensate for refraction between the air and water by aiming your laser

Explanation

When a laser beam passes from air to water, it undergoes refraction, which means it changes direction. The light ray bends towards the normal, an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the water. In order to hit the blue fish with the red laser beam, you need to compensate for this refraction. By aiming below the sighted fish, the laser beam will bend upwards and eventually hit the fish.

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81. A primary rainbow is brighter than a secondary rainbow because

Explanation

A primary rainbow is brighter than a secondary rainbow because there is one less reflection inside the water drops. In a primary rainbow, sunlight enters a water droplet, reflects off the inner surface of the droplet, and then exits the droplet. This single reflection causes the light to disperse and form a bright rainbow. In a secondary rainbow, the light undergoes two reflections inside the water droplet before exiting, resulting in a dimmer and less intense rainbow.

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82. Fermat's principle of least time could also be the principle of least distance for the case of

Explanation

Fermat's principle of least time states that light takes the path that requires the least time to travel. In the case of reflection, light reflects off a surface and follows the path that minimizes the time taken to reach the destination. This principle does not apply to refraction, as refraction involves the bending of light as it passes through different mediums, and the path taken by the light is not necessarily the one that minimizes the time taken. Therefore, the correct answer is reflection.

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83. If you wish to hit a red fish with a red laser beam, you should compensate for refraction between the air and water by aiming your laser

Explanation

When light passes from one medium to another, such as from air to water, it undergoes refraction, which means it changes direction. The amount of refraction depends on the properties of the two media. In this case, since the fish is in water and the laser beam is in air, the laser beam will refract as it enters the water. To compensate for this refraction, the laser beam should be aimed directly at the sighted fish so that it will reach the fish accurately.

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84. Your image in a plane mirror is

Explanation

When you look at your image in a plane mirror, it is neither virtual nor real. A virtual image is formed when the light rays do not actually pass through the image, but appear to come from a different location. A real image is formed when the light rays actually converge at the location of the image. In the case of a plane mirror, the image formed is a reflection of the object, but the light rays do not converge or diverge, making the image neither virtual nor real.

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85. When light is refracted, there is a change in its

Explanation

When light is refracted, it undergoes a change in its wavelength. Refraction occurs when light passes from one medium to another, causing the light waves to bend. The speed of light changes as it moves from one medium to another, which leads to a change in the wavelength of the light. The frequency of the light remains constant during refraction. Therefore, the correct answer is wavelength.

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86. Magnification from a lens would be greater if light

Explanation

When light travels slower in glass than it does in air, it causes the light rays to bend towards the normal line, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the lens. This bending of light is known as refraction. In a lens, refraction causes the light rays to converge or come together at a point, which increases the magnification. Therefore, if light travels slower in glass than it does in air, the magnification from a lens would be greater.

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87. If the speed of light in a medium is 2 m 10^8 m/s, the medium's index of refraction is

Explanation

The index of refraction of a medium is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in that medium. In this case, the speed of light in the medium is given as 2 x 10^8 m/s. Since the speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3 x 10^8 m/s, we can calculate the index of refraction by dividing the speed of light in a vacuum by the speed of light in the medium. Therefore, the index of refraction is 3 x 10^8 m/s divided by 2 x 10^8 m/s, which equals 1.5.

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