AP Physics Problems -- Waves and Light

1.

1974-3 (Geometric Optics)

An object 1.0 cm high is placed 4 cm away from a converging lens having a focal length of 3 cm.
a. Sketch a principal ray diagram for this situation.
b. Find the location of the image by a numerical calculation.
c. Determine the size of the image.

2.

1976-6 (Geometric Optics)

An object of height 1.0 cm is placed 6.0 cm to the left of a converging lens whose focal length is 8.0 cm, as
shown on the diagram above.
a. Calculate the position of the image. Is it to the left or right of the lens? Is it real or virtual?
b. Calculate the size of the image. Is it upright or inverted?
c. Make a diagram like the one above on your own paper and locate the image by ray tracing.
d. What simple optical instrument uses this sort of object-image relationship?

3.

1978-5 (Geometric Optics)

An object 6.0 cm high is placed 30.0 cm from a concave mirror
of focal length 10.0 centimeters as shown above.
a. On your own paper, construct a diagram like the one above,
and locate the image by tracing the three principal rays that
begin at point. Is the image real or virtual? Is it located to the
left or to the right of the mirror?
b. Calculate the position of the image.
c. Calculate the size of the image.
d. Indicate on your diagram how the ray from point P to point Q is reflected, if aberrations are negligible.

4.

1979-5 (Geometric Optics)

A light ray enters a block of plastic and travels along the path shown to the
right.
a. By considering the behavior of the ray at point P, determine the speed
of light in the plastic.
b. Determine what will happen to the light ray when it reaches point Q,
use your own diagram like the one to the right above to illustrate your
conclusion.
c. There is an air bubble In the plastic block that happens co be shaped like a
plano-convex lens as shown to the right. On your own diagram, sketch what
happens to parallel rays of light that strike this air bubble. Explain your
reasoning.

5.

1981-5 (Geometric Optics)

An object O is placed 18 cm from the center of
a converging lens of focal length 6 cm as
illustrated below:
a. On the illustration above, sketch a ray
diagram to locate the Image.
b. Is the Image real or virtual? Explain your
choice.
c. Using the lens equation, compute the
distance of the image from the lens.
A second converging lens, also of focal length
6 centimeters is placed 6 cm to the right of the
original lens as illustrated below.
d. On the illustration above, sketch a ray
diagram to locate the final image that now
will be formed. Clearly indicate the final
image.

6.

1982-6 (Geometric Optics)

An object is located a distance 3f/2 from a thin
converging lens of focal length f as shown in the
diagram to the right.
a. Calculate the position of the image.
b. Trace the three principal rays to verify the position
of the image.
c. Suppose the object remains fixed and the lens is
removed. Another converging lens of focal length f2
is placed in exactly the same position as the first lens. A new real image larger than the first is now
formed. Must the focal length of the second lens be greater or less than f? Justify your answer.

7.

1983-5 (Geometric Optics)

The concave mirror shown above has
a focal length of 20 centimeters. An
object 3 centimeter high is placed 15
centimeters in front of the mirror.
a. Using at least two principal rays,
locate the image on the diagram
above.
b. Is the image real or virtual?
Justify your answer.
c. Calculate the distance of the image from the mirror.
d. Calculate the height of the image.

8.

1986-6 (Geometric Optics)

An object is placed 3.0 cm to the
left of a convex (converging) lens
of focal length f = 2.0 cm, as
shown to the right.
a. Sketch a ray diagram on the
figure above to construct the
image. It may be helpful to use a straightedge such as the edge of the green insert in your construction.
b. Determine the ratio of image size to object size.
The converging lens is removed
and a concave (diverging) lens of
focal length f = -3.0 cm is placed
as shown to the right.
c. Sketch a ray diagram on the
figure above to construct the
image.
d. Calculate the distance of this image from the lens.
e. State whether the image is real or virtual.
The two lenses and the object are then placed as shown below.

f. Construct a complete ray diagram to show the final position of the image produced by the two-lens
system.
9.

1987-5 (Geometric Optics)

Light of frequency 6.0 1014 Hz strikes a glass/air
boundary at an angle of incidence 1. The ray is
partially reflected and partially refracted at the
boundary, as shown above. The index of refraction
of this glass is 1.6 for light of this frequency.
a. Determine the value of 3 if 1 = 30.
b. Determine the value of 2 if 1 = 30.
c. Determine the speed of this light in the glass.
d. Determine the wavelength of this light in the glass.
e. What is the largest value of 1 that will result in a refracted ray?

10.

1988-5 (Geometric Optics)

The triangular prism shown in Figure I has n = 1.5 and
angles of 37, 53, and 90. The shortest side of the prism is
set on a horizontal table. A beam of light, initially horizontal,
is incident on the prism from the left.
a. On Figure I above, sketch the path of the beam as it
passes through and emerges from the prism.
b. Determine the angle with respect to the horizontal (angle
of deviation) of the beam as it emerges from the prism.
c. The prism is replaced by a new prism of the same shape,
which is set in the same position. The beam experiences
total internal reflection at the right surface of this prism.
What is the minimum possible index of refraction of this
prism?
The new prism having the index of refraction found in part c
is then completely submerged in water (n = 1.33) as shown
in Figure II below. A horizontal beam of light is again
incident from the left.
d. On Figure II, sketch the path of the beam as it passes through and emerges from the prism.
e. Determine the angle with respect to the horizontal (angle of deviation) of the beam as it emerges from
the prism.

11.

1989-6 (Geometric Optics)

The plano-convex lens shown above has a focal length f of 20 cm in
air. An object is placed 6.0 cm (3f) from this lens.
a. State whether the image is real or virtual.
b. Determine the distance from the lens to the image.
c. Determine the magnification of this image (ratio of image size to
object size).
d. The object, initially at a distance 3f from the lens, is moved toward
the lens. On the axes below, sketch the image distance as the object
distance varies from 3f to zero.
e. State whether the focal length of the lens would increase, decrease, or
remain the same if the index of refraction of the lens were increased.
Explain your reasoning.

12.

1992-6 (Geometric Optics)

A thin double convex lens of focal length f, = + 15 cm is located at the origin of the x-axis, as shown above.
An object of height 8 cm is placed 45 cm to the left of the lens.
a. On the figure to the right, draw
a ray diagram to show the
formation of the image by the
lens. Clearly show principal
rays.
b. Calculate (do not measure)
each of the following.
i. The position of the image formed by the lens
ii. The size of the image formed by the lens

1992-6 continued
c. Describe briefly what
would happen to the
image formed by the lens
if the top half of the lens
were blocked so that no
light could pass through.
A concave mirror with focal length f2 = + 15 centimeters is placed at x = + 30 centimeters.
d. On the figure below, indicate the position of the image formed by the lens, and draw a ray diagram to
show the formation of the image by the mirror. Clearly show principal rays.

13.

1993-4 (Geometric Optics)

The glass prism shown to the right
has an index of refraction that
depends on the wavelength of the
light that enters it. The index of
refraction is 1.50 for red light of
wavelength 700 nm in vacuum and
1.60 for blue light of wavelength
480 nm in vacuum. A beam of
white light is incident from the left, perpendicular to the first surface, as shown in the figure, and is
dispersed by the prism into its spectral components.
a. Determine the speed of the blue light in the glass.
b. Determine the wavelength of the red light in the glass.
c. Determine the frequency of the red light in the glass.
d. On the figure above, sketch the approximate paths of
both the red and the blue rays as they pass through the
glass and back out into the vacuum. Ignore any
reflected light. It is not necessary to calculate any
angles, but do clearly show the change in direction of
the rays, if any, at each surface and be sure to
distinguish carefully any differences between the
paths of the red and the blue beams.
e. The figure to the right represents a wedge-shaped
hollow space in a large piece of the type of glass
described above. On this figure, sketch the
approximate path of the red and the blue rays as they
pass through the hollow prism and back into the glass.
Again, ignore any reflected light, clearly show
changes in direction, if any, where refraction occurs,
and carefully distinguish any differences in the two
paths.

14.

1994-5 (Geometric Optics)

A point source S of monochromatic light is located
on the bottom of a swimming pool filled with water
to a depth of 1.0 meter, as shown above. The index
of refraction of water is 1.33 for this light. Point P
is located on the surface of the water directly above
the light source. A person floats motionless on a
raft so that the surface of the water is undisturbed.
a. Determine the velocity of the source's light in water.
b. On the diagram above, draw the approximate path of a ray of light from the source S to the eye of the
person. It is not necessary to calculate any angles.
c. Determine the critical angle for the air-water interface.
Suppose that a converging lens with focal length
30 centimeters in water is placed 20 centimeters
above the light source, as shown in the diagram
to the right. An image of the light source is
formed by the lens.
d. Calculate the position of the image with
respect to the bottom of the pool.
e. If, instead, the pool were filled with a
material with a different index of refraction, describe the effect, if any, on the image and its position in
each of the following cases.
i. The index of refraction of the material is equal to that of the lens.
ii. The index of refraction of the material is greater than that of water but less than that of the lens.

15.

1997-5 (Geometric Optics)

An object is placed 30 mm in front of a lens. An image of the object is located 90 mm behind the lens.
a. Is the lens converging or diverging? Explain your reasoning.
b. What is the focal length of the lens?
c. On the axis below, draw the lens at position x = 0. Draw the principal rays and locate the image to show
the situation described above.

d. Based on your diagram in (c), describe the image by answering the following questions in the blank
spaces provided.
Is the image real or virtual? __________
Is the image smaller than, larger than, or same size as the object? __________
Is the image inverted or upright compared to the object? __________
e. The lens is replaced by a concave mirror of focal length 20 mm. On the axis below, draw the mirror at
position x = 0 so that a real image is formed. Draw the principal rays and locate the image to show this
situation.

16.

2001-4 (Geometric Optics)

In an experiment a beam of red light of wavelength 675 nm in air
passes from glass into air, as shown above. The incident and
refracted angles are 1 and 2, respectively. In the experiment,
angle 2 is measured for various angles of incidence 1, and the
sines of the angles are used to obtain the line shown in the
following graph.
a. Assuming n = 1.00 for air,
use the graph to determine a
value for the index of
refraction of the glass for the
red light. Explain how you
obtained this value.
b. For this red light, determine
the following:
i. The frequency in air
ii. The speed in glass
iii. The wavelength in glass
c. The index of refraction of
this glass is 1.66 for violet
light, which has wavelength
425 nm in air.
i. Given the same incident angle 1, show on the ray diagram on the previous page how the refracted
ray for the violet light would vary from the refracted ray already drawn for the red light.
ii. Sketch the graph of sin 2 versus sin 1 for the violet light on the figure on the previous page
that shows the same graph already drawn for the red light.
d. Determine the critical angle of incidence c, for the violet light in the glass in order for total internal
reflection to occur.

17.

2002-4 (Geometric Optics)

A thin converging lens of focal length 10
cm is used as a simple magnifier to examine
an object A that is held 6 cm from the lens.
a. On the figure below, draw a ray diagram
showing the position and size of the
image formed.
b. State whether the image is real or virtual. Explain your reasoning.
c. Calculate the distance of the image from
the center of the lens.
d. Calculate the ratio of the image size to
the object size.
e. The object A is now moved to the right
from x = 6 cm to a position of x = 20
cm, as shown above. Describe the image
position, size, and orientation when the
object is at x = 20 cm.

18.

2003-4 (Geometric Optics)

In your physics lab, you have a concave mirror with
radius of curvature r = 60 cm. You are assigned the
task of finding experimentally the location of a lit
candle such that the mirror will produce an image
that is 4 times the height of the lit candle. You have
an optical bench, which is a long straight track as
shown to the right. Objects in holders can be
attached at any location along the bench. In addition to the concave mirror and the lit candle in holders, you
also have the following equipment.
convex mirror in holder
concave lens in holder
convex lens in holder
meter stick
ruler
screen in holder
a. Briefly list the steps in your procedure that will lead you to the location of the lit candle that produces
the desired image. Include definitions of any parameters that you will measure.
b. On the list of equipment before part a. place check marks beside each additional piece of equipment you
will need to do this experiment.
c. On the scale below, draw a ray diagram of your lab setup in part a. to show the locations of the candle,
the mirror, and the image.
d. Check the appropriate spaces below to indicate the characteristics of your image.
_____real
_____upright
_____larger than object
_____virtual
_____inverted
_____smaller than object
e. You complete your assignment and turn in your results to your teacher. She tells you that another
student, using equipment from the same list, has found a different location for the lit candle. However,
she tells both of you that the labs were done correctly and that neither experiment need be repeated.
Explain why both experiments can be correct.

19.

2007-6 (Geometric Optics)

You are asked to experimentally determine the focal length of a converging lens.
a. Your teacher first asks you to estimate the focal length by using a distant tree visible through the
laboratory window. Explain how you will estimate the focal length.
To verify the value of the focal length, you are to measure several object distances so and image distances si
using equipment that can be set up on a tabletop in the laboratory.
b. In addition to the lens, which of the following equipment would you use to obtain the data?
____Lighted candle ____ Candleholder ____ Desk lamp
____ Plane mirror
____ Vernier caliper ____ Meterstick
____ Ruler
____ Lens holder
____ Stopwatch
____ Screen
____ Diffraction grating
c. On the tabletop below, sketch the setup used to obtain the data, labeling the lens, the distances so and si
and the equipment checked in part b.
You are to determine the focal length using a
linear graph of 1/si versus 1/so. Assume that you
obtain the following data for object distance so
and image distance si.
d. On graph paper, plot the points in the last two
columns of the table above and draw a best-fit
line through the points.
e. Calculate the focal length from the best-fit
line.

20.

2007b-6 (Geometric Optics)

A student is asked to determine the index of refraction
of a glass slab. She conducts several trials for
measurement of angle of incidence a in the air versus
angle of refraction g in the glass at the surface of the
slab. She records her data in the following table. The
index of refraction in air is 1.0.
a. On graph paper, plot sina vs. sing, and draw a line
of best fit.
b. Calculate the index of refraction of the glass slab from your best-fit line.
c. Describe how you could use the graph to determine the critical angle for the glass-air interface. Do not
use the answer to part b for this purpose.
d. On your graph, sketch and label a line for a material of higher index of refraction.

21.

2008-6 (Geometric Optics)

The figure to the right shows a converging
mirror, its focal point F, its center of
curvature C, and an object represented by a
solid arrow.
a. On the figure, draw a ray diagram
showing the three principal rays and the image formed by them.
b. Is the image real or virtual? Justify your answer
c. The focal length of the mirror is 6.0 cm, and the object is located 8.0 cm away from the mirror.
Calculate the position of the image formed by the mirror. (Do not simply measure your ray diagram.)
d. Suppose that the converging mirror is
replaced by a diverging mirror with the
same radius of curvature that is the same
distance from the object, as shown to the
right. For this mirror, how does the size
of the image compare with that of the
object?
_____Larger than the object _____Smaller than the object _____The same size as the object.
Justify your answer.

22.

2008b-6 (Geometric Optics)

A thin converging lens L of focal length 10.0 cm
is used as a simple magnifier to examine an object
O that is placed 6.0 cm from the lens.
a. On the figure above, draw a ray diagram
showing at least two incident rays and the
position and size of the image formed.
b. i. Indicate whether the image is real or virtual.
ii. Justify your answer.
c. Calculate the distance of the image from the center of the lens. (Do NOT simply measure your ray
diagram.)
d. The object is now moved 3.0 cm to the right, as
shown above. How does the height of the new
image compare with that of the previous
image? ____ It is larger. ____ It is smaller.
____ It is the same size.
Justify your answer.

AP Physics B - Geometric Optics

1974-3, converging lens b. 12 cm c. 3 cm
1976-6, converging lens a. -24 cm, left, virtual b. 4 cm d. magnifying glass
1978-5, concave mirror b. 15 cm c. 3 cm
1979-6, refraction, total internal reflection, lens theory a. 0.75 c
1980-4e, converging lens, diverging lens--graphical analysis
1981-5, converging lens, 2 lenses in tandem b. real c. 9 cm
1982-6, converging lens
a. 3f to right of lens c. f2 > f
1983-5, concave mirror
b. virtual c. 60 cm behind mirror d. 12 cm
1986-6, converging & diverging lenses, lenses in tandem
b. 2.0 d. 2.0 cm e. virtual
1987-5, refraction, total internal reflection
a. 30.0 b. 53.1 c. 1.875 108 m/s
d. 3.125 10-7 m e. 38.7
1988-5, refraction, total internal reflection
b. 28
c. 1.67
e. 12
1989-5, converging lens, graphical analysis
a. real b. 30 cm c. (1/2) e. decreases
1990-6 a,b,c, refraction, total internal reflection
a. 34 b. 48 c. 1.8 m
1992-6, converging lens, lens and mirror in tandem
b. 22.5 cm, 4 cm
c. dimmer
1993-4, refraction
a. 1.88 108 m/s
b. 467 nm
c. 4.29 1014 Hz
1994-5, refraction, total internal reflection, converging lens
a. 2.26 108 m/s c. 48.8 d. 40. cm below bottom of pool e. i. light is not alteredno image
e. ii. image is smaller and closer to S.
1997-5, lenses, concave mirror
a. converging b. 22.5 mm d. real, larger, inverted
1999-6, a. experimental design, refraction
a. n1sin1 = n2sin2
2000-4, a. refraction
a. 60.0, 35.3 , 35.3, 60.0
2001-4 refraction, critical angle
a. 1.60 b. i. 4.44 1014 Hz ii. 1.88 108 m/s iii. 423 nm d. 37
2002-4 converging lens
b. virtual c. -15 cm d. 2.5
e. image on opposite side of lens, 20 cm from the lens, the same size as the object, and inverted.
2003-4, experimental design, concave mirror
2006-4, a, b, c, experimental design, graphical analysis, refraction
c. 1.5
2006b-4, a, b, refraction
a. ii. 17.5 iii. 1.99 108 m/s iv. 431 nm
2007-6, experimental design, converging lens
e. 0.30 m
2007b-6 experimental design, refraction b. 1.5
2008-6 concave mirrors, convex mirrors b. real c. 24 cm d. Image is smaller than object
2008b-6 converging lens
b. virtual
c. -15 cm d. new image is larger