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VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS ( 2 MARKS)

1. ch bias can a Zener diode be

useWrite formula for the velocity of wave in a
string.

Ans. v = √ T
μ
where T is Tension in the string and µ is
the linear density of the string.

2. Write Newton’s law for velocity of sound in a gas.

How it is corrected by Laplace?

Ans. Newton’s formula v = √ P

d
, Laplace Formula v
= √ ɼP/d

3. Write formula for velocity of longitudinal wave in a

solid bar.

Ans. v = √ Y
d
, where Y is the Young’s modulus of the
material of the solid, d its density.

4. Write down expression for the beat frequency and

explain the terms.

Ans. Beat frequency = n1˜n2,wheren1, n2 are the

individual frequencies.
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5. Define power of a convex lens. What is its unit?

Ans. The reciprocal of focal length of a lens is defined

as its power. Unit of power of a lens is diopter (D) or
cm-1.

6. What is dispersion? Which color gets relatively

more dispersed?

Ans. The phenomenon of separation of white light

into its constituent colors is called dispersion of light.
Violet color deviates relatively more.

7. What is an optical fiber? What is its working

principle?

Ans. It is a transmission medium without any

appreciable loss of energy. It works on the principle
of Total Internal Reflection.

8. What is meant by the statement ‘charge is

quantized’?

Ans. Any existing charge is an integral multiple of the

charge of electron.
Q = n e, where n = 1,2,3,…..etc.
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9. Repulsion is the sure test of charging than

attraction. Why?
Ans. There may be a force of attraction between un-
like charges and between a charged body and an
uncharged body. But there is always a force of
repulsion between like charges only.
10. How many electrons constitute 1 C of charge?

Ans. q = n e , n = q / e
= 1C / 1.6x10-19 C = 0.625 x 1019

11. What happens to the weight of a body when it is

positively charged?

Ans. Decreases, because positive charge means losing

of electrons.

12. What happens to the force between two charges

if the distance between them is (a) halved? And (ii)
doubled?

Ans. F α 1/ d2 (a) as the distance is halved, force

increases four times.
(b) as the distance is doubled, force decreases four
times.
13. The electric lines of force do not intersect. Why?
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Ans. If they intersect, the field at that point has two

directions, which is meaningless.
14. State Gauss law in electrostatics.

Ans. The total normal electric flux through a closed

surface is equal to 1 / ε0 times the charge enclosed by
1
the surface.∫ E . ds= ε 0 Q

15. What are meant by equipotential surfaces?

Ans. The locus of all points which are at the same

potential .

16. Why is the electric field always at right angles to

the equipotential surface?

Ans. Work done over an equipotential surface is zero

(since V=0). This implies
θ =900 i.e., electric field is perpendicular to the
equipotential surface.
17. What happens to the capacitance of a parallel
plate capacitor if the area of its plates is doubled?
ε0A
Ans. C = d . As the plate area is doubled, its
capacitance will become doubled.

18. A 12pF capacitor is connected to a 50V battery.

How much electrostatic energy is stored in the
capacitor?
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1 1
Ans. U = 2 C V2 = 2 12 x 10-12 x 50 x 50 = 15 x 10-9 J

19. State Ohm’s law and write its mathematical

form.
Ans. The current flowing through a conductor is
proportional to the P.D. across its ends.
Mathematically, V = I R
20. Define resistivity (or) specific resistance.
Ans. The resistance of a conductor of unit length and
unit area of cross-section is defined as the resistivity.
21. Define temperature coefficient of resistance.

Ans. The ratio of increase in the resistance of a

material to its resistance at zero degree centigrade
per one degree centigrade rise of temperature.

22. If a wire is stretched to double its original

length without loss of mass, how will the resistivity
of the wire be influenced?

Ans. No change. Resistivity of a wire depends on the

material of the wire only.

23. Why is manganin used for making standard

resistors?

Ans. Temperature coefficient of resistance ( α ) for

manganin is very less.
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24. Two wires of equal length, of copper and

manganin, have the same resistance. Which wire is
thicker?
RA
Ans. ρ = l , As the resistivity of manganin is more
than copper wire, it is thicker than copper.

25. What are ohmic and non-ohmic devices?

Ans. The devices which obey ohm’s law are called
ohmic devices and the devices which does not obey
ohm’s law are called non-ohmic devices.
26. State Ampere’s law and Biot-Savart law.

Ans. Ampere’s Law: ∫ B . dl= μ0I. Biot-Savart Law: dB

μ 0 I dlsin θ
= 4 π r ∗2

27. What is the force on a conductor of length L

carrying current I placed in a magnetic field of
induction B? When does it become maximum?

Ans. F = B I L sin θ. F will be maximum when θ =

900.

28. What is the force on a charged particle of

charge ‘q’ moving with a velocity’v’ in a uniform
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magnetic field of induction ‘B’? When does it

become maximum?

Ans. F = B q v sin θ. F will be maximum when θ =

900.

29. Distinguish between Ammeter and Voltmeter.

Ans.
S.NO Ammeter Voltmeter
.
1 Ammeter is a device Voltmeter is a device
to measure current. to measure Voltage or
P.D.
2 It is always connected It is always connected
in series to an in parallel to an
external circuit. external circuit.

30. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer

into an ammeter?

Ans. A moving coil galvanometer is converted into an

ammeter by connecting a small resistance in parallel
to it.

31. How do you convert a moving coil galvanometer

into a voltmeter?
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Ans. A moving coil galvanometer is converted into a

voltmeter by connecting a high resistance in series to
it.

32. What happens to compass needle at the earth’s

poles?

Ans. It rests in the North-South direction of Earth.

33. What are the units of magnetic moment,

magnetic induction and magnetic field?

Ans. magnetic moment – A-m2 , magnetic induction

and magnetic field - tesla

34. Magnetic lines form continuous closed loops.

Why?

Ans. Magnetic mono-poles will not exist.

35. What did the experiments of Faraday and

Henry show?

Ans. A time-varying magnetic field induces an

electric field.

36. State Faraday’s law of electromagnetic

induction.
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Ans. Whenever the magnetic flux through a coil

changes, an emf is induced in that coil.

37. State Lenz’s law.

Ans. The direction of the induced emf is such that it

opposes the original cause that produced it.

38. What are eddy currents?

Ans. When large pieces of metals are subjected to a

changing magnetic field, electric field is induced and
the currents produced by this electric field are called
eddy currents.

39. What do you understand by self inductance?

Ans. When the magnetic flux through a coil changes,

an emf is induced in that coil. This phenomenon is
called self-inductance.

40. A transformer converts 200V ac into 2000V dc.

Calculate the number of turns in the secondary if
the primary has 10 turns?
Ns Es
Ans. Np = Ep

Ns
10
= 2000
200
= 10. ---›Ns = 100.
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41. What type of transformer is used in a 6V bed

lamp?

Ans. Step-down transformer.

42. What is the principle involved in the working of

a transformer?

Ans. Mutual Inductance.

43. Define power factor. On which factors does

power factor depend?

Ans. The cosine of the phase angle between voltage

and current in ac circuit is defined as power factor. It
depends on the phase difference between voltage and
current.

44. What is meant by wattless component of

current?

Ans. Current in an AC circuit at which the phase

difference between voltage and current is 900

45. Write expressions for reactance of an inductor

and a capacitor.

Ans. Inductive Reactance XL = ωL and capacitive

reactance XC = 1 / ωC
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46. What is the average wavelength of X-rays?

Ans. 0.50 nm ( nano meter )

47. Give any two uses of infrared rays?

Ans. 1. To keep the greenhouses warm

2. For taking photographs in fog, smoke etc.

48. If the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation is

doubled, what happens to the energy of photon?

Ans. E = h υ = h c / λ .
As the wavelength is doubled, energy becomes halved.

49. What is the principle of production of

electromagnetic waves?

Ans. The variations in electric and magnetic field

vectors perpendicular to each other leads to the
production of electromagnetic disturbances in space.

50. What are the applications of microwaves?

Ans. 1. Used in Radar system for air-craft navigation

2. Used in micro-wave ovens.
51. Microwaves are used in Radars. Why?

Ans. Because of their narrow wavelength.

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52. What are cathode rays?

Ans. A stream of fast moving electrons.

53. What is photoelectric effect?

Ans. The phenomenon of emission of electrons from a

metal plate when light of sufficient wavelength falls
on it.

54. Write down Einstein’s photoelectric equation.

Ans. h υ = φ + Emax.

55. Write down deBroglie relation and explain the

terms therein.

Ans. The wavelength associated with a moving

particle λ = h / m v, where h is Planck’s constant, m is
the mass of the particle and v is its velocity.

56. State Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Ans. The product of uncertainties in the the

measurement of two physical quantities is of the
order of Planck’s constant. ∆x. ∆px = h / 2π.

57. What is the angular momentum of electron in

the second orbit of Bohr’s model of Hydrogen
atom?
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Ans. m v r = n ( h / 2π ) . Given n = 2. Hence, m v r =

2 ( h / 2π ) = h / π.

58. What is the physical meaning of negative energy

of an electron?

Ans. Electron is bound to the nucleus.

59. What are isotopes and isobars?

Ans. Elements of same atomic no. but different mass

numbers are called isotopes and elements of same
mass no. and different atomic no. are called isobars.

60. What is amu? What is its energy equivalent?

Ans. a m u is defined as the mass of (1/12) th of Carbon

isotope 6C12 . Energy equivalent to 1 amu is 935 MeV.

61. What will be the ratio of the radii of two nuclei

of mass numbers A1 and A2 ?

Ans. R α (A)1/3 Therefore, R1 / R2 = ( A1 / A2)1/3

62. Neutrons cannot produce ionization. Why?

Ans. Because neutrons have no charge.

63. What are thermal neutrons? What is their

importance?
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Ans.The slow moving neutrons with K.E. 0.025 MeV

are called thermal neutrons. These neutrons will
participate in the fission of 92U235

64. What is the value of neutron multiplication

factor in a controlled reaction and in an
uncontrolled chain reaction?

Ans. K = 1, for controlled chain reaction and K

greater than 1 for un-controlled chain reaction.

65. What is the role of control rods in a nuclear

reactor?

Ans. To control the number of neutrons released in

the fission process.

66. Why nuclear fusion reactions are called

thermonuclear reactions?

Ans. Because they are possible only at very high

temperatures.

67. What is a chain reaction?

Ans. In 92U235 reaction, in each fission at least 3

neutrons are released, and each of them causes
further fission in three more uranium nuclei resulting
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in the release of 9 neutrons. The nine neutrons split

nine more nuclei and release 27 neutrons. This
process continues, the number of neutrons released
increases, this process is called Chain Reaction.

68. What is the function of moderator in a nuclear

reactor?

Ans. To slow down the fast moving neutrons.

69. What is an n-type semiconductor? What are the

majority and minority charge carriers in it?

Ans. An impure semiconductor doped with a penta-

valent impurity is called an n-type semiconductor.
Electrons are the majority carriers and holes are the
minority charge carriers.

70. What is intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductor?

Ans. A semiconductor in its pure form is called an

intrinsic semiconductor. A doped semiconductor is
called an extrinsic semiconductor.

71. What is a p-type semiconductor? What are the

majority and minority charge carriers in it?

Ans. An impure semiconductor doped with a tri -

valent impurity is called a p-type semiconductor.
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Holes are the majority carriers and electrons are the

minority charge carriers.

72. What is a p-n junction? Define depletion layer.

Ans. When a p-type material is joined with an n-type

material, a p-n junction is formed.
A thin layer formed on both sides of the junction
which is depleted (lack off) of free charges is called a
depletion layer.
73. What is the maximum percentage of
rectification in half wave and full wave rectifiers?

Ans. 40.6 % in half wave rectifier and 81.2 % in full

wave rectifier.

74. Write the expression for the efficiency of a full-

wave rectifier and a half-wave rectifier?

Ans. Full wave rectifier : η = 0.812 RL / rf + RL

Half wave rectifier : η = 0.406 RL / rf + RL
rf is the forward resistance of the diode and R L is the
load resistance.

75. What happens to the width of depletion layer in

a p-n junction when it is

(i) forward biased (ii) reverse biased ?

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Ans. Decreases in forward bias and increases in

reverse bias.

76. Draw the circuit symbols for n-p-n and p-n-p

transistors.

Ans.

77. In which bias Zener diode is used as voltage

regulator?

Ans. Reverse bias.

78. Which gates are called universal gates?

Ans. NAND gate and NOR gate

79. What are the basic blocks of a communication

system?
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Ans. (1) transmitter

(2) receiver and
(3) transmission channel.

80. What is WWW?

Ans. Knowledge of encyclopedia available to users

through Internet.

81. Mention the frequency range of speech signals.

Ans. 300 Hz to 3100 Hz.

82. What is sky wave propagation?

Ans. When the radiowaves from the transmitting

antenna reach the receiving antenna after reflection
in the ionosphere, the wave propagation is called sky
wave propagation.

83. Mention the various parts of the ionosphere.

Ans. D layer ( part of Stratosphere), E layer ( part of

Stratosphere), F1 layer (part of Mesosphere) and F2
layer ( part of Thermosphere)

84. Define modulation. Why is it necessary?

Ans. Combining of audio signals with high frequency

carrier wave is called modulation.
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Necessity : (1) To limit the size of receiving antenna

(2) To avoid mixing of signals.
85. Mention the basic methods of modulation.
Ans. (1) Amplitude Modulation
(2) Frequency Modulation
(3) Phase Modulation.

86. Which type of communication is employed in

Mobile Phones?

Ans. Space Wave Communication.

*****