Sr PHYSICS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

• NOTE: Refer all the questions from text book with these important questions:

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:

WAVES
1. Explain the formation of stationary waves in stretched strings and hence deduce the laws of
transverse waves in stretched string?
2. Explain the formation of stationary wave in an air column enclosed in open pipe. Derive the
equations for the frequencies of the harmonics produced?
3. How are stationary waves formed in closed pipes? Explain the various modes of vibrations and
obtain relations for their frequencies?
4. What is Doppler effect? Obtain an expression for the apparent frequency of sound heard when the
source is in motion with respect to an observer at rest?
5. What is Doppler shift? Obtain an expression for the apparent frequency of sound heard when the
observer is in motion with respect to a source at rest?

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
6. State Kirchhoff’s laws for electrical network. Using these laws deduce the condition for balancing
in a Wheatstone bridge.
7. State the working principle of Potentiometer explain with the help of circuit diagram. How the
end of two primary cells are compared by using the Potentiometer.
8. State the working principle of Potentiometer explain with the help of circuit diagram. How
Potentiometer is used, to determine the internal resistance of the primary cell.
NUCLEI
9. Explain the principle and working of a nuclear reactor with the help of a labeled diagram.
10. What is radioactivity? State the law of radioactive decay. Show that radioactive decay is
exponential in nature.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:

RAY OPTICS AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS

1. Define critical angle. Explain total internal reflection using a neat diagram?
2. Explain the formation of a mirage.
3. Explain the formation of a rainbow?
4. Why does the setting sun appear red?

5. With a neat labelled diagram explain the formation of image in a simple microscope.
WAVES OPTICS
6. Explain Doppler effect in light. Distinguish between red shift and blue shift?
7. Derive the expression for the intensity at a point where interference of light occurs. Arrive at
conditions for maximum and zero intensity.
8. How do you determine the resolving power of your eye?
9. Does the principle of conservation of energy hold for interference and diffraction phenomena?

ELECRICTIC CHARGES AND FIELDS

10. Derive an expression for the intensity of electric field at a point on the axial line of a dipole.
11. Derive an expression for the couple acting on a electric dipole in a uniform electric field.
12. Derive an expression for the intensity of the electric field at a point on the equatorial plane of an
electric dipole.
13. State and explain Coulomb’s inverse square law in electricity.
14. Define intensity of electric field at a point. Derive an expression for the intensity due to a point
charge.
15. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics and its importance.

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

16. Explain series and parallel combination of capacitors. Derive the formula for equivalent
capacitance in each combination.
17. Derive an expression for the electric potential due to point charge.
18. Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

19. Explain behaviour of dielectrics in an external field.

20. Derive an expression for the potential energy of an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric
field?

MOVING CHARGES AND MAGNETISM

21. State and prove Ampere's law.
22. Derive an expression for the magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron.
23. State and explain Biot-Savart law.
24. Derive an expression for the magnetic induction at the centre of a current carrying circular coil
using Biot-Savart law?
25. What are the basic components of cyclotron? Mention its uses?

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION

26. Obtain an expression for the mutual inductance of two long co-axial solenoids.
27. Describe the ways in which Eddy currents are used to advantage.

28. Obtain an expression for the emf induced across a conductor which is moved in a uniform
magnetic field which is perpendicular to the plane of motion.

ATOMS
29. What are the limitations of Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom?
30. Explain the different types of spectral series.
31. Describe Rutherford atom model. What are the drawbacks of this model?
32. State the basic postulates of Bohr’s theory of atomic spectra.

33. Explain the impact parameter?

SEMICONDUCTORS
34. What is a Rectifier? Explain the working of Halfwave and Fullwave rectifiers with diagrams.
35. What are n-type and p-type semiconductors? How is a semiconductor junction formed?
36. Define NAND and NOR gates. Give their truth tables.
37. What is zener diode? Explain how it is used as voltage regulator?
38. What is photodiode? Explain its working with a circuit diagram and its I-V characteristics.
39. Explain the working of a solar cell and draw its I-V characteristics.
40. Explain the operation of a NOT gate and give its truth table.
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
RAY OPTICS AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
1. What is Power of a convex lens? What is its units.
Ans: The reciprocal of focal length of lens.
S.I unit: Dioptre(D)
2. What is dispersion? Which colour gets relatively more dispersed?
Ans: The splitting of white light into different colours is called Dispersion.
Violet colour is more dispersed.
3. What is myopia? How can it be corrected?
Ans: The image of object formed in front of the retina is called myopia.
It is corrected by using Concave lens(Diverging lens)
4. What is Hypermetropia ? How can it be corrected?
Ans: The image of object formed behind the retina is called hypermetropia.
It is corrected by using Convex lens(converging lens)
5. Define Focal length and Radius of curvature of a concave lens.
Ans: Focal length:- The distance between principle focus and pole of the spherical mirror is called
focal length.
Radius of curvature:- The distance of the centre of curvature of the spherical mirror from its pole
is called Radius of curvature.
6. What is optical density and how is it different from mass density?
 Ans:Mass density is the mass per unit volume of a substance.
However, optical density is the measure of how fast light travels
through a medium. If the speed of light is less in a medium, it is
optically denser.
7. A small angles prism of 4° deviates a ray through 2.48°. Find the refractive index of the
prism.
Ans: For small angled prism d= (  -1)A
 =d/A+1=2.48/4+1=0.62+1=1.62
8. What are the laws of reflection through curved mirrors?
Ans: (i) The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence.
(ii) The incident ray, reflected ray and normal to the reflecting surface lie in the same plane.

MOVING CHARGES AND MAGNETISM

9. What is the importance of Oersted's experiment?
Ans: Every current carrying conductor produces a magnetic field around it and which is
perpendicular to the current carrying conductor.
10. Distinguish between ammeter and voltmeter.
Ans:
Ammeter Voltmeter

1.It is used to measure the current. 1. It is used to measure the potential difference.

2. The resistance of an ideal ammeter is zero. 2. The resistance of an ideal voltmeter is

infinity.

3. To convert a galvanometer into ammeter, a 3. To convert a galvanometer into voltmeter, a

low resistance is connected in parallel to it. high resistance is connected in series to it.

4. In a circuit, the ammeter must be connected in 4. In a circuit, the voltmeter must be connected
series. in parallel.

11. What is the principle of the moving coil galvanometer?

Ans: When a current carrying coil is placed in uniform magnetic field, it experiences torque.
Hence it rotates.
Current in the coil is directly proportional to the deflecting angle.
By using MCG we can measure a current of order is 10-9.
12. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer into an ammeter?
Ans: A small(low) resistance is connected in parallel to the moving coil galvanometer.
13. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer into a voltmeter?
Ans: A high resistance is connected in series to the moving coil galvanometer.
14. A circular coil of radius „r‟ having „N‟ turns carries a current „I‟. What is its magnetic
moment?
(OR) What is the magnetic moment associated with a solenoid?
Ans: Magnetic moment (M)= NIA= NIπr2, here r is radius, A is area
MAGNETISM AND MATTER
15. Define magnetic declination?
Ans: The acute angle between magnetic meridian and geographical meridian at a place is called
angle of declination.
16. Define magnetic inclination or angle of dip?
Ans: The angle between direction of total strength of earth's magnetic field and horizontal
component of earth magnetic field.
tanI=Bv/Bh= BsinI/BcosI
17. What are the units of magnetic moment, magnetic induction and magnetic field?
Ans: Magnetic moment(M): A/m2
Magnetic induction(B): Tesla or Gauss
Magnetic field (H): A/m
18. Magnetic lines force form continuous closed loops. Why?
Ans: Since, Isolated magnetic poles do not exist. (Or) Outside the magnet the lines from North
Pole to South pole and inside the magnet from South pole to North Pole. Thus magnetic lines of
force are formed closed loops.
19. What do you understand by the „Magnetization‟ of a sample?
Ans: Magnetisation ‘I’ of a sample is defined as the magnetic dipole moment per unit volume.
I=M/V}, It is a vector. It’s S.I unit is A/m.
20. Classify the following materials with regard to magnetism: Manganese, Cobalt, Nickel,
Bismuth, Oxygen, Copper.
Ans: 1.Ferro magnetic: Cobalt, Nickel, 2.Para magnetic: Oxygen, Manganese, 3. Dia magnetic:
Bismuth, Copper
21. What happens to compass needle at Earth's poles? {or} What direction compass needle
points at poles? Which needle to be used at poles?
Ans: The compass needle will align itself perpendicular to earth's surface because there is only
vertical component of earth's magnetic field at poles. BH=0
Dip needle used at poles.
22. The horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field at a certain place is 2.6×10^-5T and
the angle of dip is 60°. What is the magnetic field of the earth at this location?
Ans: Given that, BH =2.6×10-5T, angle=60°
BH =Bcoso, B= BH /cosθ=2.6×10-5/cos60°=2.6×2×10-5=5.2×10-5T

ALTERNAING CURRENT
23. What is the phenomenon involved in the working of a transformer?
Ans: Mutual induction between two coils.
24. What type of transformer is used in a 6V bed lamp?
Ans: Step down transformer.
25. What is transformer ratio?
 Ans: Transformer ratio(T)= number of turns in secondary coil/ number of turns in primary coil=
output emf/input emf
i.e T=Ns/Np=Vs/Vp=Ip/Is
26. Define power factor. On which factors does power factor depends?
Ans: The ratio between resistance to the impedance.
Power factor cos  =R/Z. So it depends on resistance and impedance. Note that Z depends on
frequency.
27. A transformer converts 200V ac into 2000V ac. Calculate the number of turns in the
secondary, if the primary has 10 turns.
Ans: Vs/Vp=Ns/Np
Ns=VsNp/Vp=2000×10/200=100 turns
28. State the expression for the reactance of (i) an inductor and (ii) a capacitor.
Ans (i) Inductive reactance is XL=wL, (ii) Capacitive reactance is XC=1/wC
29. What is the phase difference between ac emf and current in the following?
(i) Pure resistor ii) Pure inductor iii) Pure capacitor
Ans: (i) In pure resistor, Phase difference is zero.
(ii) In pure inductor, Phase difference is 90° or π/2. Current lags behind emf
(iii) In pure capacitor, Phase difference is 90° or π/2. Current leads thevemf
30. What is meant by Wattless component of current?
Ans: In purely inductive or capacitive circuit, the power factor cos  =0 and no power is
dissipated even though current is flowing in the circuit. In such cases, the current is called
wattless current.
31. What is the step up transformer? How it differs from step down transformer?
Ans: A transformer which converts low voltage (high current) into high voltage (low current) is
called step up transformer.
Step down transformer converts high voltage (low current) into low voltage (high current).
32. When does a LCR series circuit have minimum impedance?
Ans: When the inductive reactance is equal to the capacitive reactance.

R 2   XL  XC  . i.e Z=R
2
i.e XL=XC. Z=√
33. What is the phase difference between voltage and current when the power factor in LCR
series circuit is unity?
Ans: Power factor, cos  =1. (  =0°)
i.e Phase difference between voltage and current is 0°.
34. In a transformer the primary and secondary terms ratio is 1:2. If an Ac current of 4A is
flowing through primary. What is the current in secondary?
Ans: Ip/Is=Ns/Np, 4/Is,=2/1, Is=2A.
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
35. What is the principle of production of electromagnetic waves?
Ans: Accelerated charges are produces electromagnetic waves.
36. Micro waves are used in Radars, why?
Ans: Due to short wavelengths, microwaves easily penetrate the earth's atmosphere. Hence they
are used in radars for space vehicle communication.
37. Give two uses of infrared rays? Which animal can detect infrared waves?
 Ans: 1.In earth satellites. 2. In remote control system of TV. 3. For treatment of skin diseases.
4. For taking Photographs where there is no visible light
*Cold blooded animals like Snakes such as Rattlesnakes and Pit vipers can detect infrared waves.
38. What are the applications of micro waves?
Ans: Due to short wavelengths, microwaves are used in
1.In radars systems for air-craft navigation.
2. Speed guns used to time fast balls, automobiles etc.
3. In microwave ovens to raise the temperature of food containing water.
39. What is the average wavelength of X- rays?
Ans: The wavelength of X-rays is 10-8m to 10-13m. So the average wavelength of X-rays is
10-10m.
40. If the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is doubled, what happens to the energy of
photon?
Ans:
Photon energy (E) = hc/ λ, E  1/ λ(Energy is inversely proportional to the wave length)
Given
1   , 2  2 , E1  E, E2  ?
E1 / E2  2 / 1
     E
E2  E1  1   E   
 2   2  2
41. What is the ratio of speed of infrared rays and ultraviolet rays in vacuum?
Ans: The ratio of speed of infrared rays and u.v rays is 1:1. Because these two are em waves
Speed of light=Speed of U.V rays=Speed of I.R. rays= 3 108 m / s
42. What is the relation between the amplitudes of electric and magnetic field in free space for
an electromagnetic wave?
Ans: The ratio of amplitudes of the electric field(Eo) and magnetic (Bo) in free space is equal to
speed of light.
E0/B0=C
43. The charging current for a capacitor is 0.6A. What is the displacement current across it‟s
plates?
Ans: The displacement current is always equal to conduction current. Therefore displacement
current is 0.6A.
DUAL NATURE OF RADIATION & MATTER
44. What are “Cathode rays”?
Ans: The stream of electrons obtained from a cathode in discharge tube known as cathode rays.
These are produced in discharge tube at low pressure 0.001mm Hg and high potential difference
of 10KV.
45. What is „work function‟.
Ans: The minimum energy required by an electron to just escape from the metal surface is called
work function of the metal.
46. What is „Photo electric effect‟?
 Ans: The emission of electrons from a metal surface when radiation of suitable frequency falls on
it is called Photoelectric effect.
47. Write down Einstein‟s photo electric equation.
Ans: E=W0+1/mV2 where E=energy of incident photon, W0 is work function and V is maximum
speed of emitted electron
48. Write down de Broglie‟s relation and explain the terms there in.
Ans: de-Broglie wavelength is  = h/p (or) \= h/mv, where his Planck's constant, m is mass of
the particle, v is velocity of particle.
49. State Heisenberg‟s Uncertainty principle?
Ans: It is impossible to measure both the position and momentum of a particle at the same time
exactly.
∆x×∆p=h/2π; here ∆x is uncerainity in position, ∆p is uncertainity in momentum.
50. Give examples of “photosensitive substances”. Why are they called so?
Ans: Sodium, Potassium, Lithium, Caesium, Calcium, Zinc, Cadmium, Magnesium are examples
of Photosensitive substances.
These materials have very low work function, so that even visible light can emit photoelectrons.
51. What important fact did Millikan's experiment establish?
Ans: Millikan's experiment verifies Einstein's photoelectric equation and determines the value of
Planck’s constant. This experiment leads to acceptance of photon picture of radiation as described
by Einstein.
SEMICONDUCTORS

52. What is an n-type and p-type semiconductors? What are the majority and minority charge
in this semiconductors?
Ans:
n-type semiconductor p-type semiconductor
A pure form of A pure form of
semiconductor is doped semiconductor is doped
with Pentavalent with Trivalent impurity
impurity atoms. atoms.
Electrons are majority and Holes are majority and
holes are minority electrons are minority
charge carriers. charge carriers.
53. What are intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors?
Ans:

Intrinsic semiconductor Extrinsic semiconductor

A pure form of The doped semiconductor is
semiconductor is called called extrinsic
intrinsic semiconductor. semiconductor.
Example: Ge and Si Example: n-type & p-type
semiconductors

54. What is a p-n junction diode? Define deflection layer.

Ans: When a single semiconductor crystal (Ge or Si) is one side doped with Pentavalent and
other side doped with Trivalent impurities then a layer in the crystal separating the p-type and n-
type is called p-n junction. A p-n junction with two electrodes is called p-n junction diode.
Depletion layer: A small region on both sides of the p-n junction which is depleted of charge
carriers and has only immobile ions is called depletion layer.
55. How is a battery connected to a junction diode in (i) Forward and (ii) Reverse bias?
Ans: (i) In forward bias positive terminal of battery co
56. What the circuit symbols for p-n-p and n-p-n transistors.
Ans:

57. Which gates are called Universal gates?

Ans: NAND gate and NOR gates are called universal gates.
58. In which bias can a zener diode be used as voltage regulator?
Ans: In reverse bias.
59. What happens to the width of the depletion layer in a p-n junction diode when it is (i)
forward biased (ii) reverse biased ?
Ans: (i) In forward bias width of depletion layer decreases. (ii) In reverse bias width of depletion
layer increases.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
60. What are basic blocks of communication system?
Ans: Transmitter, Channel and Receiver
61. What is sky wave propagation?
Ans: When the radio waves from the transmitted antenna reach the receiving antenna after the
reflection from the ionosphere, it is called Sky wave propagation and the waves are called Sky
waves.
62. Define modulation. Why is it necessary?
 Ans: The process of combining audio frequency signal with high frequency signal is called
modulation.
NECESSARY OF MODULATION
1. To reduce the size of antenna.
2. To avoid mixing of signal from different transmitters.
3. To transmit the frequencies to long distances.
63. Mention the basic methods of modulation.
Ans: 1. Amplitude modulation(AM) , 2. Frequency modulation (FM), 3. Phase modulation (PM).
64. What is the difference between Amplitude modulation Frequency modulation?
Ans: Amplitude modulation: The amplitude of carrier wave is varied in accordance with
modulating signal, keeping the frequency and phase of carrier waves are constant.
Frequency modulation: The amplitude of carrier wave is varied in accordance with modulating
signal, keeping the amplitude and phase of carrier waves are constant.
65. Define Amplifier and Amplification factor?
Ans: An amplifier is an electronic device that raises the strength of a weak signal. The ratio of
output voltage/current to input voltage/current is called amplification factor.
66. Mention the various parts of the ionosphere?
Ans: Various parts of Ionosphere are
1.D-layer (Part of Stratosphere),
2. E-layer (Part of Stratosphere),
3. F1-layer (Part of Mesosphere), 4. F2-layer (Part of Thermosphere).
1. Mention the frequency range of speech signals.
Ans: For speech signals, the frequency range is 300Hz to 3100Hz.
2. Which type of communication is employed in mobile phones?
Ans: Wireless communication system (space wave) is used in mobile phones.
3. What is „world wide web‟ (WWW)?
Ans: It is an encyclopedia of knowledge accessible to everyone round the clock throughout the
year, through a computer connected to internet.
LAQ'S RELATED PROBLEMS
1. A Wire of resistance 4R is bent in the form of a circle. What is the effective resistance
between the ends of the diameter?
2. In a Potentiometer arrangement a cell of emf 1.25V gives a balance point at 35.0cm length
of the wire. If the cell is replaced by another cell and the balance point shifts to 63.0cm .
What is the emf of the second cell?
3. The four resistors 20ohm, 40ohm, (20+X)ohm, 80ohm, S respectively from a wheat stone
bridge, find the value of X , if bridge is balanced.
4. The half-life of radium is 1600 years. How much time does 1g of radium take to reduce to
0.125g.
5. How much 235 92255𝑈𝑈 is consumed in a day in an atomic power house operating
at400MW, provided the whole of 235U is converted into energy?
6. Find the energy equivalent of one atomic mass unit in joules.
7. If one microgram of 235U is completely destroyed in an atom bomb, how much energy will
be released?
8. A pipe 30cm long is open at both ends. Find the fundamental frequency, velocity of sound in
air is 330m/s.
9. A steel wire 0.72m long has a mass of 5.0×10^-3kg. If the wire is under a tension of 60N.
What is the speed of transverse waves on the wire?
10. A closed organ pipe 70cm long is sounded. If the velocity of sound is 331 m/s. What is the
fundamental frequency of vibration of the air column?
11. Two organ pipes of lengths 65cm and 70cm respectively, are sounded simultaneously. How
many beats per second will be produced between the fundamental frequencies of the two
pipes. (Velocity of sound=330m/s).