APPLIED PHYSICS-II (2ND SEMESTER DIPLOMA ENGG STUDENTS

FROM SUMMER 2025 ONWARDS

Unit-7 (Modern Physics)
2 MARKS QUESTIONS & SOLUTIONS

Taxonomy Marking
Q. No. Question
Level Scheme
Q 1. Distinguish between ordinary light and Laser light. L2 2
Ans. Ordinary Light 1
Ordinary light is the mixture of different wave lengths. It is less intense,
spreads out in all directions, incoherent and polychromatic.
Example: Sun light, light bulb.
Laser Light:
Laser Light is a single wavelength. It is highly intense, highly directional, 1
coherent and monochromatic.
Example: He- Ne Laser, semiconductor Laser.
Q2. Define population inversion. L1 2
Ans. Population Inversion creates a situation in which the number of atoms
in higher energy state is more than that in the lower energy state.
Usually at thermal equilibrium, the number of atoms N2 i.e., the
population of atoms at higher energy state is much lesser than the
population of the atoms N1 at lower energy state that is N1>N2.
The Phenomenon of making N2> N1 is known as Population Inversion.

Q3. Write the full form and definition of LASER. L1 2

Ans. LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of 1
Radiation.
Laser is a device which emits a coherent, monochromatic beam of light
through a process called stimulated emission. 1

Q 4. Write four applications of laser. L1 2

Ans.  Bar code readers 0.5

 Computer printers 0.5
 Holography 0.5
 Fibre optic communications 0.5

Q5. Define optical feedback. L2 2

Ans. Light radiation of desired wave length has to be amplified, that brings
the atoms from metastable state (due to population inversion) to ground 2
state (in three level) or lower excited state (in four level). In lasers, the
mechanism used to amplify light radiation is known as optical feedback.

Q6. Write two advantages of optical fiber communication system over L1 2

other communication system.
Ans.
 Faster signal propagation 1
 More information carrying capacity
1
Q7. Define numerical aperture and explain how it can be increased. L2 2
Ans. Numerical aperture (NA) is defined as the sine of the maximum acceptance 1
angle. Mathematically

�� = ���� = ��� − ���

Where α is the maximum acceptance angle
n1 is the refractive index of core of optical fiber
n2 the refractive index of cladding of optical fiber r.
NA can be increased either by increasing the refractive index of the core or 1
by decreasing the refractive index of the cladding.
Q8. Draw refractive index profiles in step index fiber and graded index L3 2
fiber.
Ans.
Refractive index profile of step index Fiber is as given below

1
Refractive index profile of graded index fiber is as given below

Q9. Describe pulse dispersion? Why is it high in step index fiber and low L2 2
in graded index fiber?
Ans.
Pulse dispersion is the spreading out of light pulses as they pass through the 1
optical fiber.
The abrupt change in refractive index at the core-cladding boundary in step
index optical fiber, leading to high pulse dispersion. Whereas, gradually
change in refractive index in graded index fiber, causes low pulse 1
dispersion
Q 10. Write two applications of optical fiber. L2 2

Ans. i. Medical applications: Example- endoscope are used by doctors 1

ii. Sensors: Example-Fiber optic sensors are used as transducers for
measurement of strain and temperature. 1

Q 11. Define nanomaterials and 1 nanometer is equal to how much meter. L1 2

Ans. Nanomaterials are materials having dimensions in Nano Scale (10-9 m) or at
least one dimension in Nano scale. 1
1

1 nanometer=10-9meter

Q 12. Define Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. L2

Ans. Nanoscience is the study of materials and phenomena at nanoscale. 1

Nanotechnology can be defined as synthesis (fabrication), characterization 1

(determine size and properties) and finding applications of nonmaterial.
Q 13. Give two principal factors that causes the properties of Nano Materials L2
to differ significantly from other materials.
Ans. Increased relative surface area: the surface to volume ration increases 1
when we take particle in smaller dimensions.

Quantum confinement effect. The electrons in nanomaterial are restricted

to move in a region of nanometer size and this is known as quantum 1
confinement

Q 14. Write the name of two instruments use for characterization of L1

nanomatreials
Ans. SEM: Scanning Electron Microscopy 1

STM: Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

1
Q15. Write two examples of nanometer size devices. L1
Ans. SET (Single Electron Transistor): It is a switching device that uses 1
controlled electron tunneling to amplify current.

Quantum well and quantum dot lasers: These are semiconductor lasers
that use quantum dots and quantum well as the active laser medium in the 1
light emitting region.
(5 MARKS QUESTIONS & SOLUTIONS)

Q. Taxonomy Marking
Question
No. Level Scheme
Q 1. Distinguish between spontaneous emission and stimulated emission L3 5

Ans. Stimulated Emission Spontaneous emission

a) An atom in the excited state is a) The atom in the excited state

induced to return to the ground returns to the ground state,
state, thereby resulting in thereby emitting a photon, without 1
emission of two photons of same any external inducement is called
frequency and energy is called Spontaneous emission.
Stimulated emission.

b) The emitted photons move in b) The emitted photons move in

the same direction and is highly all directions and are random 1
directional.

c) The radiation is highly intense, c) The radiation is less intense and 1

monochromatic and coherent. is incoherent.
d) The photons are in phase, there d) The photons are not in phase
is a constant phase difference (i.e.) there is no phase relationship 1
between them.

e) Ex: Light from Ruby laser and e) Ex: Light from sodium and 1
He-Ne Laser mercury vapour lamp.

Q2. Write construction and working of semiconductor laser with diagram. L2 5

Ans.

Constuction:
 Active medium is a p-n junction diode made from a single crystal of
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs). 2
 Forward biasing is used as pumping source in semiconductor laser.
 The ends of the depletion region are cleaved such that they act as mirrors
and small optical cavity of micro meter size is formed which helps optical
trapping of photons.
Working:
 When laser diode is forward biased, the electrons and holes combine
to give photons, which are trapped and reflected back and forth in 2
optical cavity in the junction.
 This initiate stimulated emission of the conduction band electrons in
the junction, which gives additional directional photons. The process
continues until an amplified laser beam come out from diode laser.
 The wave length of laser diode is calculated from energy band gap of
the material used in diode.

Q3. Explain the construction and working of Ruby laser with diagram. L2 5
Ans. Construction
 The laser medium in ruby laser consists of a single crystal of ruby rod
which is made doped with small percentage of Cr2O3.
 At the opposite ends of this rod there are two silver polished mirrors.
Whose one is fully polished and other is partially polished.
 A spring is attached to the rod with fully polished end for adjustment
of wave length of the laser light.
 Around the ruby rod a flash light is kept for the pumping source. 2.5
 The whole assembly is kept in the glass tube. Around the neck of the
glass tube the power supply e and switching control is designed in
order to switch on and off the flash light for desired intervals.

Working:
 The ruby laser is a three level solid state laser.
 When we switch on the power supply, the flash of light is obtained
around the ruby rod. This flash causes the electrons within ruby rod to
move from lower energy band towards higher energy band.
 The population inversion takes place at high energy band and
electrons starts back to travel towards the lower energy band.
2.5
 During this movement the electron emits the laser light. This emitted
light travels between the two mirrors where cross reflection takes
place of this light. The stimulated laser light now escapes from
partially polished mirror in shape of laser beam.

Q4. Derive relation between numerical aperture and refractive indices of L3 5

core and cladding.
Ans An optical fiber consists of a solid cylindrical glass rod called core
and another coaxial cylindrical structure surrounding the core
known as cladding. The light wave propagates through optical
fiber by multiple successive total internal reflections.
5

As shown in the above figure, a light ray is passing from any specific
medium to the optical fiber through its core. Further it continues towards
cladding and gets reflected at the core-cladding interface.
Let, �0 : refractive index of the medium 1, �1 : refractive index of the core
�2 : refractive index of the cladding
Applying Snell’s law at medium 1 –core interface
�0 ���� = �1 ����
�
⇒ �0 ���� = �1 sin − ��
2
�
⇒ �0 ���� = �1 ����� ∵ � = 2 − �� ………(1)
Applying Snell’s law at core cladding interface
�
�1 ����� = �2 sin 2
⇒ �1 ����� = �2
�2
⇒ ����� =
�1
�22 �21 −�22
∴ ����� = 1 − sin2 �� = 1− = ………….(2)
�21 �1
Substituting equation (2) in equation (1), we get

�21 − �22
�0 ���� = �1 × = �21 − �22
�1

��� − ���
⇒ ���� =
��
For an optical fiber in air �0 = 1,

���� = �21 − �22

Here, sinα is called as the numerical aperture of the optical fiber

∴ ��������� ��������� (��) = ���� = �21 − �22

This is the require relationship between NA and refractive indices. More the
value of NA, better is the fiber.

Q5. Distinguish between Single mode fiber and Multimode fiber L3 5

Single mode fiber Multimode fiber 1

i. Only one mode of light is i. Many modes of light are
transmitted through the fiber. transmitted through the fiber.
ii. The diameter of core is ii. The diameter of core is about 1
around 5 µm and cladding 50 µm and cladding diameter
diameter is around 50 µm. is around 100 µm.
iii. Difference between refractive iii. Difference between refractive 1
index of core and cladding is index of core and cladding is
very small. large.
iv. Numerical aperture (NA) is iv. Numerical aperture (NA) is 1
small small
v. No pulse dispersion. v. Pulse dispersion exists
vi. Suitable for long distance vi. Suitable for short distance 1
communication. communication such as data
centers, LAN, campus
networks.
Q6. Write two approaches for synthesis of nanomaterials and name of the L1 5
instruments for nanomaterial characterization.
Ans There are two approaches for synthesis of nanomaterials: 2
Top down: Approach to the nanoscale dimension starting with the bulk scale
materials by physical breaking of the source material through high energy
processes.
Example: Ball milling, Mechanical attrition. 2
Bottom up: Approach to the nanoscale dimension starting with the atomic
scale materials by chemical method and other synthesis processes.
Example: chemical precipitation, Chemical vapour deposition.

Instruments used for Nanomaterial characterization are STM (Scanning

Tunneling Microscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), AFM 1
(Atomic Force Microscopy)

Q7. Mention some application of nanotechnology based devices. L1 5

Ans Devices using nanomaterials:

Sensors- Sensors based on nanotechnology can detect very minute amounts 1

of chemical vapours.

Solar Cells- Nano-structured materials can be used to absorb more light and
improve the efficiency of solar cells, generating more electricity from the 1
same amount of sunlight.

High Performance batteries-Nanostructured materials can be used to creat

batteries with significantly increased storage capacity and faster charging 1
time.

Medical diagnostics - Nano-sized probes can be used to detect diseases at

the cellular level, enabling early diagnosis and improved treatment options. 1
Electronics: Nano-wires with excellent conductivity can be used to create
smaller, faster electronic components like transistors, leading to more
powerful and compact devices. 1