Physical Optics Quiz! Trivia

Explanation
In Young's double-slit experiment, the fringe width is determined by the wavelength of the electrons. According to the equation for fringe width, w = λD/d, where w is the fringe width, λ is the wavelength, D is the distance from the slits to the screen, and d is the distance between the slits. If the speed of the electrons is increased, their wavelength will decrease due to the de Broglie equation, λ = h/p, where h is Planck's constant and p is the momentum of the electrons. As a result, the fringe width will decrease.

Explanation
The distance between the 4th bright fringe on one side and the 3rd bright fringe on the other side of the central bright fringe can be calculated using the formula for fringe separation in Young's double-slit experiment:

Δy = (λD) / d

Where Δy is the fringe separation, λ is the wavelength of light, D is the distance between the screen and the slits, and d is the distance between the slits.

Given that the slits are 0.05 cm apart (0.0005 m), the screen is 1 m away from the slits, and the wavelength of sodium light is 5893 A (589.3 nm or 0.0005893 m), we can calculate the fringe separation.

Δy = (0.0005893 m * 1 m) / 0.0005 m = 1.1786 m

Since the question asks for the distance in millimeters, we convert the result:

1.1786 m * 1000 = 1178.6 mm

The distance between the 4th bright fringe on one side and the 3rd bright fringe on the other side of the central bright fringe is approximately 1178.6 mm.

Explanation
In Young's double-slit experiment, the intensity of light at the maxima and minima in the interference pattern is determined by the square of the amplitude of the resultant wave at that point. The amplitude of the resultant wave is determined by the superposition of waves from both slits. Since the widths of the slits are in the ratio 1:25, the amplitudes of the waves from the slits will also be in the same ratio. The intensity is proportional to the square of the amplitude, so the ratio of intensities at the maxima and minima will be (1/25)^2 : 1^2 = 1/625 : 1 = 1 : 625. Simplifying this ratio gives 9/4, which is the ratio of Imax/Imin.

Explanation
The formula for the width of the central maximum in the Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of a single slit as observed on a screen is given by 2f λ/e. This formula takes into account the focal length (f) of the lens, the wavelength of light (λ), and the width of the slit (e). It suggests that the width of the central maximum is directly proportional to the product of the focal length and the wavelength, and inversely proportional to the width of the slit. This means that as the focal length or wavelength increases, or as the width of the slit decreases, the width of the central maximum will also increase.

Explanation
When light passes through a single slit, it diffracts and forms a diffraction pattern. The central maximum is the bright spot in the center of the pattern, and the first-order maximum is the first bright spot on either side of the central maximum. The angular separation between these two maxima can be calculated using the formula: θ = λ / w, where θ is the angular separation, λ is the wavelength of light, and w is the width of the slit. Plugging in the values given in the question (λ = 5890 A = 5890 x 10^-10 m and w = 0.25 mm = 0.25 x 10^-3 m), the angular separation is calculated to be 0.0035 rad.

Explanation
The angle between the direction of propagation and the plane of polarization is 0 degrees. This means that the light waves are propagating in the same plane as the polarization of the light. In other words, the electric field of the light waves is oscillating in a single plane as it travels.

Explanation
When unpolarized light passes through a polaroid, it becomes polarized in a single plane. When this polarized light passes through another polaroid, the intensity of the emergent light depends on the angle between the principal planes of the two polaroids. In this case, the angle between the principal planes of polaroid A and polaroid B is 45 degrees. When the angle between the principal planes is 45 degrees, the intensity of the emergent light is half of the original intensity. Therefore, the correct answer is I0/4.

Explanation
When monochromatic light of a specific wavelength is incident on a metallic cathode, electrons are emitted from the cathode due to the photoelectric effect. To stop the photocurrent from flowing, a potential difference must be applied between the cathode and the anode to counteract the emission of electrons. The minimum potential difference required to stop the photocurrent is equal to the work function of the cathode. In this case, the work function is given as 2.5 eV, so the potential difference needed is 2.5 V. However, the question asks for the potential difference in volts, not electron volts. Since 1 eV is equal to 1.6 x 10^-19 J, the potential difference in volts is calculated by dividing the work function by the charge of an electron (1.6 x 10^-19 C). Thus, the potential difference required is 2.5 V / (1.6 x 10^-19 C) = 3.75 V. Therefore, the correct answer is 3.75 V.

Explanation
The work function of a material is the minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from its surface. In this question, the stopping potential is given as 5V, which is the maximum kinetic energy that an electron can have after being emitted from the material. The stopping potential is related to the wavelength of the incident radiation by the equation E = hc/λ, where E is the energy of a photon, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength of the radiation. By rearranging the equation, we can find that λ = hc/E. Plugging in the given values, we get λ = (6.63 x 10^-34 J.s x 3 x 10^8 m/s) / (5 eV x 1.6 x 10^-19 J/eV) = 2.48 x 10^-7 m. This wavelength corresponds to the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Explanation
The de Broglie wavelength of a particle is inversely proportional to its momentum. Since the kinetic energy of a particle is directly proportional to its momentum, we can say that the de Broglie wavelength is inversely proportional to the square root of the kinetic energy. Therefore, the ratio f1/f2 will be proportional to the square root of the ratio of the kinetic energies, which is E1/2.