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17-Phys-A7 Optics: December 2018

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

  1. Question 1 Definitions and short concept questions
  2. Question 2 Step-index multimode optical fiber — NA and modal dispersion
  3. Question 3 Fresnel/Fraunhofer diffraction and aperture patterns
  4. Question 4 Polarizers, Malus's law, and photoelasticity
  5. Question 5 A practical light source — structure, operation, applications
  6. Question 6 Diffraction-grating spectroscopy of hydrogen emission lines
  7. Question 7 Thin-lens imaging — ray diagram and matrix optics
  8. Question 8 Astronomical telescope — aperture stop, system matrix, resolving power
  9. Question 9 Two-source interference and the Michelson interferometer
  10. Question 10 Thin-film interference in a glass plate

Start with Question 1 →

17-Phys-A7, Optics — National Exams, December 2018. 3 hours; closed book (approved Sharp/Casio calculator only). Total 78 marks. Questions 1–6 are mandatory; the paper then offers a choice of Question 7 or 8, and a choice of Question 9 or 10. Every question is solved in full below as a complete study resource, including both members of each either/or pair.

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, for Maxwell's equations).

Note on question choice
Q7/Q8 and Q9/Q10 are each an either/or pair on the printed paper (only one of each counted toward the 78-mark total). As a complete study resource, all four (7, 8, 9, 10) are solved in full below.