Physics Important 2-Mark Questions

and Answers
UNIT I: Wave Optics
1. State the principle of superposition of waves.

When two or more waves overlap in space, the resultant displacement at any point is
the vector sum of the displacements due to individual waves.

2. What is interference of light?

Interference of light is the phenomenon where two coherent light waves superpose to
form a resultant intensity that may be higher or lower than the individual intensities.

3. Explain the conditions for constructive and destructive interference.

Constructive interference occurs when the path difference is an integral multiple of

wavelength. Destructive interference occurs when the path difference is an odd multiple
of half the wavelength.

4. What are Newton’s rings? How are they formed?

Newton’s rings are concentric circular fringes formed due to the interference of light
reflected from the top and bottom surfaces of a thin air film between a plano-convex
lens and a glass plate.

5. Define Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction.

Fresnel diffraction occurs when either the source or screen or both are at finite
distances from the obstacle. Fraunhofer diffraction occurs when both the source and
screen are at infinite distances.

6. What is a diffraction grating?

A diffraction grating is an optical device with a large number of equally spaced parallel
slits that diffract light to produce an interference pattern.

7. Differentiate between dispersive power and resolving power of a grating.

Dispersive power is the ability of a grating to separate different wavelengths. Resolving

power is its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced wavelengths.

8. What is polarization? Name the types of polarization.

 Polarization is the orientation of the oscillations of light waves in a particular direction.
Types include linear, circular, and elliptical polarization.

9. Explain polarization by double refraction.

When unpolarized light passes through an anisotropic crystal, it splits into two
polarized rays — ordinary and extraordinary — traveling with different velocities.

10. What is the function of a Nicol prism?

A Nicol prism is used to produce and analyze plane polarized light by eliminating the
ordinary ray through total internal reflection.

UNIT II: Crystallography and X-ray Diffraction

11. Define space lattice, basis, and unit cell.

A space lattice is a 3D arrangement of points. A basis is a group of atoms associated with

each point. A unit cell is the smallest repeating unit in the lattice.

12. What are Bravais lattices?

Bravais lattices are the 14 distinct 3D lattice types that describe all possible crystal
structures.

13. Calculate the packing fraction for a simple cubic (SC) structure.

Packing fraction = (Volume occupied by atoms)/(Total volume) = π/6 ≈ 0.52.

14. What are Miller indices? How are they determined?

Miller indices are a set of three integers that denote the orientation of crystal planes.
They are inversely proportional to the intercepts on the axes.

15. Derive the expression for interplanar spacing in terms of Miller indices.

d = a / √(h² + k² + l²), where a is the lattice constant and h, k, l are the Miller indices.

16. State Bragg’s law of X-ray diffraction.

nλ = 2d sinθ, where n is the order of diffraction, λ is the wavelength, d is the interplanar

spacing, and θ is the angle of incidence.

17. What is the significance of X-ray diffractometer?

It is used to determine the crystal structure and interatomic spacing of materials.

18. Differentiate between Laue’s method and powder method.

 Laue’s method uses a single crystal and stationary beam; powder method uses
powdered samples and rotating mount.

19. What is coordination number? Give examples for SC, BCC, and FCC.

Coordination number is the number of nearest neighbors. SC: 6, BCC: 8, FCC: 12.

20. Explain the concept of packing fraction in BCC and FCC structures.

BCC: 0.68, FCC: 0.74. It indicates the fraction of volume occupied by atoms in the unit
cell.

UNIT III: Dielectric and Magnetic Materials

21. Define dielectric polarization.

Dielectric polarization is the alignment of electric dipoles in a dielectric material when

placed in an electric field.

22. What are dielectric susceptibility and dielectric constant?

Dielectric susceptibility is the measure of how easily a material can be polarized.

Dielectric constant is the ratio of permittivity of the material to the permittivity of free
space.

23. Explain electronic and ionic polarizations.

Electronic polarization is due to the displacement of electron clouds, while ionic

polarization arises from the relative displacement of positive and negative ions in an
ionic crystal.

24. What is the Clausius-Mossotti equation?

It relates the dielectric constant (εr) to the polarizability (α) of molecules: (εr - 1)/(εr +
2) = (Nα)/(3ε0).

25. Define complex dielectric constant and dielectric loss.

The complex dielectric constant includes both storage and loss: ε* = ε' - jε''. Dielectric
loss represents energy dissipation as heat.

26. What is magnetization? How is it related to magnetic susceptibility?

Magnetization is the magnetic moment per unit volume. It is related to susceptibility by

M = χH.

27. Classify magnetic materials with examples.

 Types include diamagnetic (bismuth), paramagnetic (aluminum), ferromagnetic (iron),
antiferromagnetic (MnO), and ferrimagnetic (ferrites).

28. Explain the domain theory of ferromagnetism.

Ferromagnetic materials are divided into domains with uniform magnetization. When
magnetized, the domains align in the direction of the field.

29. What is hysteresis? How does it differ for soft and hard magnetic materials?

Hysteresis is the lag between magnetization and the magnetic field. Soft materials have
narrow loops (easy to magnetize/demagnetize), hard materials have wide loops.

30. Define retentivity and coercivity.

Retentivity is the residual magnetism after removing the field. Coercivity is the reverse
field needed to demagnetize the material.

UNIT IV: Quantum Mechanics and Free Electron Theory

31. State Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.

It is impossible to simultaneously determine the exact position and momentum of a

particle: Δx·Δp ≥ ħ/2.

32. What are the properties of a wave function?

It must be single-valued, finite, continuous, and square-integrable.

33. Write the Schrödinger’s time-independent wave equation.

(-ħ²/2m)(d²ψ/dx²) + Vψ = Eψ

34. Solve for the energy levels of a particle in a 1D infinite potential well.

Eₙ = n²h²/8mL², where n is a positive integer, L is the width of the well.

35. What are the limitations of classical free electron theory?

It fails to explain specific heat, electrical conductivity at low temperature, and does not
consider quantum nature of electrons.

36. Explain Fermi-Dirac distribution.

It gives the probability that an energy state is occupied by an electron: f(E) = 1 / [exp((E
- EF)/kT) + 1].

37. Define Fermi energy and density of states.

 Fermi energy is the highest occupied energy level at 0 K. Density of states is the number
of states per unit energy per unit volume.

38. How does quantum free electron theory improve upon classical theory?

It incorporates quantum principles, explains Fermi energy, specific heat, and

conductivity accurately.

39. What is the significance of Fermi level in solids?

It determines the electrical properties of materials and position of energy bands.

40. Derive the expression for electrical conductivity using quantum free electron
theory.

σ = ne²τ/m, where n is electron density, e is charge, τ is relaxation time, and m is

electron mass.

UNIT V: Semiconductors
41. Differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors.

Intrinsic semiconductors are pure; extrinsic are doped with impurities to increase
conductivity.

42. What is the Fermi level in an intrinsic semiconductor?

It lies midway between the conduction and valence bands.

43. Explain the formation of energy bands in solids.

Due to interaction of atomic orbitals in solids, discrete energy levels form continuous
energy bands.

44. Derive the expression for electrical conductivity in intrinsic semiconductors.

σ = neμe + peμh, where n, p are carrier densities; μe, μh are mobilities.

45. How does temperature affect the Fermi level in extrinsic semiconductors?

With increase in temperature, the Fermi level shifts toward the intrinsic level.

46. Define drift and diffusion currents in semiconductors.

Drift current is due to electric field. Diffusion current is due to carrier concentration
gradient.

47. State Einstein’s relation for semiconductors.

 D/μ = kT/q, where D is diffusion coefficient, μ is mobility, k is Boltzmann constant, T is
temperature, and q is charge.

48. What is the Hall effect? How is it used to determine carrier concentration?

Hall effect is the development of a voltage across a conductor when a magnetic field is
applied. Hall voltage helps find carrier type and concentration.

49. Explain the working principle of a Hall probe.

A Hall probe uses the Hall effect to measure magnetic field strength by detecting the
Hall voltage.

50. How does doping affect the conductivity of a semiconductors?

Doping increases the number of free charge carriers, thus increasing conductivity.