PHYSICS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (20 WORDS EACH)

1. Cathode ray tube: emits electrons, focuses, deflects, strikes screen to display images. Principle: electron beams
controlled magnetically/electrically.
2. Lissajous figure: pattern comparing signals. Measure unknown frequency by comparing figure loops with known
signal frequency.
3. Radioactive decay: spontaneous emission of particles from unstable nucleus. Randomness checked by Geiger
counter counting emissions statistically.
4. Beta emission: neutron converts to proton/electron. Beta rays: continuous spectrum; no fixed wavelength, depends on
decay energy.
5. Bragg's law: n=2d sin. Interplanar distance relates atomic spacing, determines diffraction angles for X-ray
crystallography.
6. Metal resistance vs. temperature: resistance increases linearly due to more collisions. Graph is straight line showing
positive temperature coefficient.
7. Semiconductors: transistors, diodes, LEDs, ICs. Applications: amplification, switching, rectification, light emission,
energy conversion in circuits.
8. Optically active substances rotate plane polarized light due to asymmetric molecules. Hence called optically active;
example: sugar solution.
9. Plane polarized light: vibrations in one plane. Device: Nicol prism or Polaroid used to produce it from ordinary light.
10. Specific rotation: optical rotation per unit length/concentration. Depends on temperature, wavelength, solution
concentration, type of sugar.
11. Lissajous figure: pattern formed by two signals. Unknown frequency measured by comparing figure to known signal's
frequency.
12. G-M counter: counts radioactive emissions. Characteristic curve shows counts vs. voltage. Changing source position
affects counts plateau.
13. Resolution time: minimum time between pulses. Dead time: detector inactive after pulse. Important for accurate
radiation measurements.
14. Temperature effect: metal resistance increases with temperature. Semiconductor resistance decreases due to
increased charge carriers.
15. Bragg's law: n=2d sin. Interplanar distance (d) depends on atomic arrangement. Determines X-ray diffraction angles
in crystals.
16. Oscilloscope displays signals visually. Signal generator creates waveforms for testing, calibration, and measurement
of electronic circuits.
17. Thermionic emission: electrons emitted from heated surface. Lorentz force: force on moving charge in electric and
magnetic fields.
18. Beta emission: neutron to proton conversion. Beta rays emitted when unstable nucleus seeks stability. Continuous
energy, no fixed wavelength.
19. Hydrogen gas at low pressure: reduces collisions, provides clear path for electron beam, makes e/m measurement
precise in glass tube.
20. Specific rotation depends on temperature. Optical activity changes as molecular rotation varies with thermal energy.
21. Fullwave bridge rectifier: four diodes, converts AC to DC. Diodes conduct alternately. Current directions shown by
arrows.
22. Capacitor filter: smooths pulsating DC by charging/discharging. Reduces ripple, produces steady DC output after
rectification.
23. PNP, NPN transistor diagram: emitter, base, collector. Arrows indicate current direction. PNP arrow inward, NPN
arrow outward.
24. Common emitter amplifier: input base, output collector. Current flows from collector to emitter. Bias resistors,
capacitors shown.
25. CE, CB transistor: input-output curves show base current vs. voltage, collector current vs. collector-emitter voltage
for amplification.
26. Triode valve: plate current vs. plate voltage for different grid voltages. Shows amplification, grid controls electron
flow.
27. Self-inductance: opposes current change. Unit: Henry. One Henry induces one Volt when current changes at one
Ampere per second.
28. Q-factor: resonance sharpness. High Q means low loss. Important in tuning circuits for precise frequency selection.
29. Resistance opposes current flow. Reactance opposes AC. Ripple magnitude depends on filter quality in LRC circuit
output.
30. Bridge rectifier: four diodes. Ripple factor measures AC component left in DC output. Lower ripple, smoother DC.
31. Ballistic galvanometer damping: critical when pointer returns without oscillation. Ensures accurate charge
measurement.
32. Capacitor vs. condenser: same component, different terms. Capacitor is modern term. Stores electric charge in
circuit applications.
33. Transistor amplifies: base current controls large collector current. Provides signal gain. Widely used in electronics.
34. Identify PNP, NPN transistor: symbol arrow direction. PNP inward, NPN outward. Multimeter can test junction
polarity.
35. Transistor vs. vacuum tube: transistor uses semiconductors, smaller, more efficient. Vacuum tube uses heated
cathode, larger, high-voltage.
36. Plate resistance: anode voltage/current ratio. Mutual conductance: output current change per grid voltage. Range
varies per design.
37. Critical damping resistance: stops oscillations quickly. Ensures pointer returns to zero without overshoot in ballistic
galvanometer.
38. External circuit resistance: limits current, affects voltage drop. Controls measurement sensitivity and accuracy in
circuits.
39. Logarithmic decrement: decay rate of oscillations. Ratio of successive amplitudes. = ln(A/A).
40. Self-induction: coil induces EMF in itself. Mutual induction: one coil induces EMF in nearby coil.
41. Capacitance: stores charge. Applications: filters, tuning, energy storage, timing circuits in electronics.
42. Resistance opposes current, reactance opposes AC only, impedance combines both, total opposition in AC circuits.
43. Triode: mutual conductance = output current/grid voltage. Plate resistance = voltage/current ratio. Amplification
factor = product.
44. Bridge rectifier: converts AC to DC using diodes. Diodes conduct alternately for continuous DC output.
45. Transistor parts: collector collects, emitter emits, base controls. Together they switch and amplify signals.
46. Transistor output curve: collector current vs. collector-emitter voltage for constant base current. Shows amplifier
behavior.
47. Rectification: converts AC to DC. Diode allows current one way, blocks other, producing DC output.
48. Faraday's law: changing magnetic flux induces EMF. EMF magnitude proportional to flux change rate.
49. Lissajous figure: pattern from perpendicular oscillations. Compares phase, frequency between two signals on
oscilloscope.
50. Half-shade polarimeter: measures optical rotation. Field half dark, half light. Equal illumination shows rotation angle.
51. Polarization rotation: asymmetric molecules rotate polarized light plane. Direction depends on substance structure.
52. Factors affecting rotation: solution concentration, path length, temperature, wavelength, nature of optically active
substance.
53. Lorentz force: force on moving charge in electric, magnetic fields. F = q(E + v B).
54. Helmholtz coil: uniform magnetic field bends electron beam circular due to Lorentz force acting perpendicular to
velocity.
55. Lissajous pattern: ratio gives figure eight; 3/2 ratio gives three loops. Shows frequency ratio.
56. Cathode ray oscilloscope: displays electrical signals visually using electron beam. Measures voltage waveforms over
time.
57. Polarization: light vibrating in single plane. Created by polarizer. Used in displays, optics, stress analysis.