Q1) Consider: radio waves (r), visible light (v), infrared light (i), xrays (x), and ultraviolet light (u). In order of increasing frequency,
they are:
1) r, v, i, x, u
2) r, i, v, u, x
3) i, r, v, u, x
4) i, v, r, u, x
5) r, i, v, x, u
Q2) The order of increasing wavelength for blue (b), green (g), red
(r), and yellow (y) light is:
1) r, y, g, b
2) r, g, y, b
3) g, y, b, r
4) b, g, y, r
5) b, y, g, r
Q3) The main difference between a radio wave and a light
wave is its
1) speed
2) wavelength
3) frequency
4) all of these
5) two of these
Q4) Is it correct to say that in every case,
without exception, any radio wave travels faster
than any sound wave?
1) yes
2) no
Q5) Visible light has a frequency of about:
1) 5  1018 Hz
2) 5  1016 Hz
3) 5  1014 Hz
4) 5  1012 Hz
5) 5  1010 Hz
Q6) When we look at the sun, we are seeing it as it was 8
minutes ago. So we can only see the sun “in the past.” When
you look at the back of your own hand, do you see it “now”
or “in the past”?
1) now
2) in the past
Q7) How long does it take light from your outstretched hand
to reach your eyes?
1) 1 ms
2) 1 s
3) 1 ns
4) 1 ps
5) none of the above
Q8) Radio waves of wavelength 3 cm have a frequency of:
1) 1 MHz
2) 9 MHz
3) 100 MHz
4) 10,000 MHz
5) 900 MHz
Q9) An electromagnetic wave is traveling in the -y
direction. At one point and one instant the magnetic
field is in the +z direction. The direction of the
electric field at that point and instant is:
1) -y
2) +y
3) +z
4) -x
5) +x
Q10) An electromagnetic wave is transporting energy in the
negative y direction. At one point and one instant the magnetic
field is in the positive x direction. The electric field at that point
and instant is:
1) positive y direction
2) negative y direction
3) positive z direction
4) negative z direction
5) negative x direction
Q11) Television broadcast signals are EM waves. Old-fashioned
TV receiver antennas came in two forms: "bunny ears" (two
straight antennas) and in a circular loop. Which set would pick up
a changing magnetic field?
1) The "bunny ears."
2) The circular loop.
3) Both work equally well.
Q12) The electric field in unpolarized light:
1) has no direction at any time
2) rotates rapidly
3) is always parallel to the direction of propagation
4) changes direction randomly and often
5) remains along the same line but reverses direction randomly and
often
Q13) In a stack of three polarizing sheets, the first
and third are crossed while the middle one has its
axis at 45o to the axes of the other two. The fraction
of the intensity of the incident unpolarized light
that is transmitted (I/I0) by the stack is
1) 0
2) 1/2
3) 1/3
4) 1/4
5) 1/8
Q14) Three polarizing sheets are placed in a stack with the
polarizing directions of the first and third perpendicular to each
other. What angle should the polarizing direction of the middle
sheet make with the polarizing direction of the first sheet to obtain
maximum transmitted intensity when unpolarized light is incident
on the stack?
1) 0º
4) 60º
2) 30º
5) 90º
Q15) A polarized beam of light passes
through three ideal polaroid filters. The
filters, in order 1st, 2nd, 3rd, are tilted at 0o,
45o, and 90o with respect to the incoming
beam's axis. Does any light get through the
all the filters and come out the other side?
1) Some light gets through.
2) No light gets through.
3) 45º
E
c
Q16) The figure shows four pairs of polarizing sheets, seen face-on. Each
pair is mounted in the path of initially unpolarized light. The polarization
direction of each sheet is referenced to either the x or y axis. Rank the
pairs according to the fraction of the initial intensity that they pass,
greatest first.
1) all tie
2) a, d, b, c
3) d, b, c, a
4) d, a, b, c
5) none of the above
Q17) The diagrams show four pairs of polarizing sheets, with the
polarizing directions indicated by dashed lines. The two sheets of each
pair are placed one behind the other and the front sheet is illuminated by
unpolarized light. The incident intensity is the same for all pairs of sheets.
Rank the pairs according to the intensity of the transmitted light, least to
greatest.
1) 1, 2, 3, 4
2) 4, 2, 1, 3
3) 2, 4, 3, 1
4) 2, 4, 1, 3
5) 3, 1, 4, 2
Q18) Light with an intensity of 1 kW/m2 falls normally on a
surface and is completely reflected. The radiation pressure is:
1) 1 kPa
2) 3 × 1011 Pa
3) 1.7 × 10-6 Pa
4) 3.3 × 10-6 Pa
5) 6.7 × 10-6 Pa
Q19) Light of uniform intensity shines perpendicularly on a totally
absorbing surface, fully illuminating the surface. If the area of the surface
is decreased, do
(a) the radiation pressure and
(b) the radiation force on the surface
increase, decrease, or stay the same?
1) (a) decrease (b) decrease
2) (a) decrease (b) same
3) (a) same
(b) same
4) (a) same
(b) decrease
5) none of the above
Q20) Two plane mirrors are separated by 120o, as the drawing
illustrates. If a ray strikes mirror M1 at a 65o angle of incidence, at
what angle  does it leave mirror M2?
1) 25o
2) 35o
3) 45o
4) 55o
5) 65o
Q21) A light ray passes from water into air. Of the
diagrams below, which most clearly resembles the light
ray’s path?
1) I
2) II
3) III
Q22) If while standing on a bank you wished to spear a
fish in front of you, would you aim above, below, or
directly at the observed fish to make a direct hit?
1) above
2) below
3) directly at
Q23) A fish swims below the surface of the water at P. An
observer at O sees the fish at
1) a greater depth than it really is.
2) the same depth.
3) a smaller depth than it really is.
Q24) A fish swims below the surface of the water. Suppose an
observer is looking at the fish from point O straight above the fish.
The observer sees the fish at
1) a greater depth than it really is.
2) the same depth.
3) a smaller depth than it really is.
Q25) (a) If while standing on a bank you wished to spear a fish in
front of you, would you aim above, below, or directly at the
observed fish to make a direct hit? (b) If instead, you zapped the
fish with a laser, would you aim above, below, or directly at the
observed fish?
1) (a) above
2) (a) above
3) (a) below
4) (a) below
5) (a) below
(b) above
(b) directly at
(b) above
(b) below
(b) directly at
Q26) When light travels from medium X to
medium Y as shown:
1) both the speed and the frequency decrease
2) both the speed and the frequency increase
3) both the speed and the wavelength decrease
4) both the speed and the wavelength increase
5) both the wavelength and the frequency are unchanged
Q27) The diagram shows the passage of a ray of light from air into
a substance X. The index of refraction of X in
air
1) 0.53
2) 0.88
3) 1.9
4) 2.2
5) 3.0
Q2) An incident light ray passes from one medium to another, where
it is bent towards the normal. Which of the following is true?
1) The speed of light in the second medium is greater than that in
the first.
2) The speed of light in the second medium is less than that in the
first.
3) The frequency of the light wave is greater in the second medium
than in the first.
4) The wavelength of the light wave is greater in the second
medium than in the first.
Q28) The incident ray (shown gray in the figure) consists of
red and blue light. The approximate index of refraction for
visible light is indicated for each material. Which of the
three parts show physically possible refraction?
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) none of them
Q29) Which of the three drawings here (if any) show physically
possible refraction?
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) none of the above
Q30) The figure shows the path of a ray of light as it travels
through air and crosses a boundary into water. Assume that
nwater = 1.33. What is the angle of refraction for this situation?
1) 0.37o
2) 22o
3) 41o
4) 60o
5) none of the above
Q31) Two slabs with parallel faces are made from different types
of glass. A ray of light travels through air and enters each slab at
the same angle of incidence, as the drawing shows. Which slab has
a greater index of refraction?
1) Slab A
2) Slab B
Q32) A ray of light passes through 3 regions labeled I, II, and III,
as shown. How do the indices of refraction of regions I and III
compare?
II
I
1) nI > nIII
2) nI < nIII
3) nI = nIII
4) Impossible to tell.
III
35o
25o
25o
40o
Q33) A light ray inside glass is totally internally reflected from an
air-glass interface as shown. The air surrounding the glass is
replaced with water. With the same light ray in the glass, the total
internal reflection will now...
air
glass
1) definitely not occur.
2) definitely occur.
3) not enough information to know/ don't know.
Q34) The figure below shows four long horizontal layers of different
materials, with air above and below them. The index of refraction of each
material is given. Rays of light are sent into the left ends of each layer as
shown. In which layer (give the index of refraction) is there a possibility
of totally trapping the light in that layer so that, after many reflections, all
the light reached the right end of the layer?
1) n = 1.3 (top layer)
2) n = 1.5
3) n = 1.4
4) n = 1.3 (bottom layer)
Q35) The figure below shows total internal reflection taking place
in a glass prism. The index of refraction of this glass is:
1) at least 1.50
2) at most 1.50
3) at least 1.41
4) at most 1.41
5) impossible; TIR cannot occur as shown
Q36) The illustration shows total internal reflection taking place in
a piece of glass. The index of refraction of this glass:
1) is at least 2.0
2) is at most 2.0
3) is at least 1.15
4) is at most 1.15
5) need more information
Q37) Suppose the prism in this sample
problem has the index of refraction n = 1.4.
Does the light still totally internally reflect if
we keep the incident ray horizontal but rotate
the prism (a) 10° clockwise and (b) 10°
counterclockwise in the figure below?
1) (a) yes
2) (a) yes
3) (a) no
4) (a) no
(b) yes
(b) no
(b) yes
(b) no