AP Physics 2 : Other Optics Principles
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Optics
Light rays encounter a mystery optical device, resulting in a new distribution of the light waves as shown. Assume the light travels from right to left.
What type of reflecting or refracting surface is depicted?
Converging lens
Converging mirror
Diverging mirror
Diverging lens
Plane (flat) mirror
Converging lens
In a converging lens, the light waves pass through it and have their angles altered so that they point closer together than they did before they went through the lens. In the picture, the light waves are diverging from a point until they go into the lens, at which point they no longer diverge from each other. Therefore, this is a converging lens. Because the waves are travelling the same direction the whole time, it can't be the converging or diverging mirrors. If the lens were diverging, they'd be more separated. If it were a plane mirror, the waves would get polarized (they'd have the same phase angle).
Example Question #1 : Other Optics Principles
If a person with near point distance of 20cm observes a fine detailed coin with magnifying glass with an angular magnification of 5, what is the focal length?
Use the formula for focal length.
Solve for focal length by substituting known values.
Example Question #93 : Optics
Malus' law:
Where 
Unpolarized light passes through a polarizer. It then passes through another at angle 
Using Malus' law.
Since the initial light is unpolarized, there will be no intensity lost.
Example Question #94 : Optics
Malus' law:
Where
Unpolarized light passes through a polarizer. It then passes through another polarizer at angle 
None of these
Use Malus' law.
The light's intensity is reduced by the final two polarizers. It is thus necessary to use Malus' law twice.
Where 
Combining equations:
Plug in values:
Example Question #95 : Optics
Malus' law:
Where
Unpolarized light passes through a polarizer. It then passes through another polarizer at angle 
None of these
Use Malus' law.
The light's intensity is reduced by the final two polarizers. We will need to use Malus' law twice.
Where 
Combining equations:
Plug in values:
Example Question #1 : Other Optics Principles
Malus' law:
Where
Unpolarized light passes through a polarizer. It then passes through another polarizer at angle 
None of these
Use Malus' law.
The light's intensity is reduced by the final two polarizers. We will need to use Malus' law twice.
Where 
Combine equations:
Plug in values:
Example Question #1 : Other Optics Principles
Malus' law:
Where
Unpolarized light passes through a polarizer. It then passes through another polarizer at angle 
None of these
Use Malus' law.
The light's intensity is reduced by the final two polarizers. We will need to use Malus' law twice.
Where 
Combine equations:
Plug in values:
Example Question #2 : Other Optics Principles
Malus' law:
Where
Unpolarized light passes through a polarizer. It then passes through another polarizer at angle 
None of these
Use Malus' law.
The light's intensity is reduced by the final two polarizers. We will need to use Malus law twice.
Where 
Combine equations:
Plug in values:
Example Question #3 : Other Optics Principles
You are passing a ray of light through clear alcohol to determine properties. You shine the light ray exactly 
Suppose that the alcohol surface will completely reflect the incoming light beam like a mirror. At what angle will the angle of reflectance be to the normal of the surface of the alcohol?
Assuming the alcohol works like a perfect mirror, the angle of reflectance will equal the angle of incidence. Therefore, the angle of reflectance will be
Example Question #1 : Other Optics Principles
The diffraction of waves refers to the
phase change of 180 degrees that occurs on reflection of a wave at a fixed end
change in wavelength that occurs when two waves cross one another
spreading of waves from their initial line of travel
resultant disturbance of two or more waves at every point
slowing down of one wave in the presence of another
spreading of waves from their initial line of travel
Diffraction is the bending of light around an object. It is seen in the Double Slit experiment in which waves are spread out from their initial line of travel.
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