Resistor network with mirror symmetry

JEE Advanced 2012 Paper 1, Question 12

For the resistance network shown in the figure, choose the correct option(s).

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  1. The current through PQ is zero.
  2. I_1 = 3 A.
  3. The potential at S is less than that at Q.
  4. I_2 = 2 A.

Solution

We can speed up the solution by noticing the mirror symmetry of the circuit. Let the current I_1 split into two parts I_a and I_b at the node X (see figure). Similarly, let the currents going into node Y be I_a' and I_b'. If we were to reverse the polarity of the 12 \, {\rm V} battery connected to the circuit, all currents would simply reverse direction, but their magnitudes would remain the …

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Electromagnetic induction in a twisted loop

JEE Advanced 2017 Paper 1, Question 5

A circular insulated copper wire loop is twisted to form two loops of area A and 2 A as shown in the figure. At the point of crossing the wires remain electrically insulated from each other. The entire loop lies in the plane (of the paper). A uniform magnetic field {\bf B} points into the plane of the paper. At t=0, the loop starts rotating about the common diameter as axis with a constant angular velocity \omega in the magnetic field. Which of the following options is/are correct?

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  1. The emf induced in the loop is proportional to the sum
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Sliding on a block with a circular cut

JEE Advanced 2017 Paper 1, Question 2

A block of mass M has a circular cut with a frictionless surface as shown. The block rests on the horizontal frictionless surface of a fixed table. Initially the right edge of the block is at x=0, in a co-ordinate system fixed to the table. A point mass m is released from rest at the topmost point of the path as shown and it slides down. When the mass loses contact with the block, its position is x and the velocity is v. At that instant, which of the following options is/are correct?

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  1. The position
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Triangle on a concave mirror

JEE Advanced 2018 Paper 2, Question 4

A wire is bent in the shape of a right angled triangle and is placed in front of a concave mirror of focal length f, as shown in the figure. Which of the figures shown in the four options qualitatively represent(s) the shape of the image of the bent wire? (These figures are not to scale.)

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Related article: Optics without ray diagrams: Mirrors

Solution

If the object is kept between a concave mirror and its focal point the image is virtual and upright (see this note). Recall that an object at a distance …

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Three glass cylinders

JEE Advanced 2019 Paper 2, Question 6

Three glass cylinders of equal height H=30 \, {\rm cm} and same refractive index n=1.5 are placed on a horizontal surface as shown in figure. Cylinder I has a flat top, cylinder II has a convex top and cylinder III has a concave top. The radii of curvature of the two curved tops are same (R=3 \, {\rm m}). If H_{1}, H_{2}, and H_{3} are the apparent depths of a point X on the bottom of the three cylinders, respectively, the correct statement(s) is/are:

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  1. H_{2}>H_{1}
  2. H_{3}>H_{1}
  3. H_{2}>H_{3}
  4. 0.8 \, {\rm cm} < (H_{2}-H_{1}) < 0.9 \, {\rm cm}

Solution

We can get some intuition for what happens in each case by drawing some simple ray diagrams, as …

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