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17-Phys-A7 Optics: May 2016

Nivaar worked solution (AI-drafted; not reviewed by a licensed engineer)

  1. Question 1 Definitions and short concept questions
  2. Question 2 Single-slit and grating diffraction, Airy disk, Rayleigh resolution
  3. Question 3 Ray trace through a glass cube, full-length mirror, Galilean telescope
  4. Question 4 TE/TM plane waves and two-beam interference
  5. Question 5 Fresnel reflection/transmission at an air–water interface
  6. Question 6 Three polarizers, a quarter-wave plate, and a birefringent retarder

Start with Question 1 →

98-Phys-A7, Optics — National Exams, May 2016. 3 hours; closed book (formula sheet supplied). Notes 1–7 on the cover page require Q1 and Q2 (mandatory) plus any two of Q3–Q6 for a complete paper; every question is solved below as a full study resource, including all four of Q3–Q6.

Reference texts. Hecht, Optics, 5th ed.; Pedrotti, Pedrotti & Pedrotti, Introduction to Optics, 3rd ed.; Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, 4th ed. (Ch. 9, EM waves in matter).

The 6 real questions (1–6, each 15 marks) are solved in full below.