Physics · Wave Optics
JEE Main 2026 — 28 January, Morning Shift — Question 36
Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Statement I and the other is labelled as Statement II :
Statement-I : A plane wave after passing through prism remains as plane wave but passing through small pin hole may become spherical wave.
Statement-II : The curvature of a spherical wave emerging from a slit will increase for increasing slit width.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.
- Option A:
Both statement I and statement Il are correct.
- Option B:Correct
Statement I is correct and statement Il is incorrect.
- Option C:
Statement I is incorrect and statement Il is correct.
- Option D:
Both statements 1 and statements ll are incorrect.
Answer: B
Step-by-step solution
Statement I is correct: a plane wave remains a plane wave after passing through a prism (the prism changes direction but not the wavefront's planar nature), while a small pinhole diffracts the wave, producing a spherical wave. Statement II is incorrect: increasing slit width reduces diffraction spreading, so the emerging wave becomes less curved (flatter), not more curved. Thus Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect.
Answer key and solution verified before publishing.
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- Exam
- JEE Main 2026
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Wave Optics
- Topic
- Huygens' Wave Theory and Wavefronts