PHYSICS

Reflection of Light

O I

When a ray of light after incidenting on a boundary separating two media comes back into the
same media, then this phenomenon, is called reflection of light.

Normal
 ∠i = ∠r
Incident Reflected ray  After reflection, velocity, wave length and
ray frequency of light remains same but intensity
i r decreases
Boundary  There is a phase change of  if reflection takes
place from denser medium

Note :  After reflection velocity, wavelength and frequency of light remains same but
intensity decreases.
 If light ray incident normally on a surface, after reflection it retraces the path.

Real and virtual images

If light rays, after reflection or refraction, actually meets at a point then real image is formed
and if they appears to meet virtual image is formed.

(Real image)
I O
O Real image
I
(Virtual object)
(Real image) (Virtual object)

(Real object)
O I
(Virtual image)
(Real object) (Virtual image) (Virtual image)

Plane Mirror.
The image formed by a plane mirror is virtual, erect, laterally inverted, equal in size that of
the object and at a distance equal to the distance of the object in front of the mirror.

x x
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(1) Deviation : Deviation produced by a plane mirror and by two inclined plane mirrors.

Final path
 2
i r Original 
  path

 = (180 – 2i)  = (360 – 2)

Note :  If two plane mirrors are inclined to each other at 90o, the emergent ray is anti-
parallel to incident ray, if it suffers one reflection from each. Whatever be the angle
to incidence.

(2) Rotation : If a plane mirror is rotated in the plane of incidence through angle , by
keeping the incident ray fixed, the reflected ray turned through an angle 2.

IR
IR RR 
 
RR

(3) Images by two inclined plane mirrors : When two plane mirrors are inclined to each
other at an angle , then number of images (n) formed of an object which is kept between them.
 360  360
(i) n  1  ; If  even integer
   
360
(ii) If  odd integer then there are two possibilities

(a) Object is placed symmetrically (b) Object is placed asymmetrically

 360  360
n  1 Object n
    Object
/2 
/2 

Note :  If θ = 0o i.e. mirrors are parallel to each other so n   i.e. infinite images will be
formed.
360
 If θ = 90o, n  1  3
90
360
 If θ = 72o, n   1  4 (If nothing is said object is supposed to be symmetrically
72
placed).
(4) Other important informations
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(i) When the object moves with speed u towards (or away) from the plane mirror then image
also moves toward (or away) with speed u. But relative speed of image w.r.t. object is 2u.
(ii) When mirror moves towards the stationary object with speed u, the image will move with
speed 2u.

O I O I

u u Rest 2u
u
Mirror at rest Mirror is
moving

(iii) A man of height h requires a mirror of length at least equal to h/2, to see his own
complete image.
(iv) To see complete wall behind himself a person requires a plane mirror of at least one third
the height of wall. It should be noted that person is standing in the middle of the room.
H
H E
E M' M'
h E h
h 3
h
2
M' M'

L B
d d

Example Concepts
s
 The reflection from a denser medium causes an additional phase change of  or path change of /2 while reflection from
rarer medium doesn't cause any phase change.
Incident light
 We observe number of images in a thick plane mirror, out of them only second is brightest.
(100%)
10%

80% Brightest image

9%

0.9%

 To find the location of an object from an inclined

I plane mirror, you have to see the perpendicular distance of the object from the
mirror.
O I
M M

Correct Wrong
O OM = MI
OM = MI

Example: 1 A plane mirror makes an angle of 30o with horizontal. If a vertical ray strikes the mirror,
find the angle between mirror and reflected ray
(a) 30o (b) 45o (c) 60o (d) 90o
Solution : (c) Since angle between mirror and normal is 90o and reflected ray (RR) makes IR
30o
an angle of 30o with the normal so required angle will be   60 . o
30o
RR
 = 60o
30o
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Example: 2 Two vertical plane mirrors are inclined at an angle of 60 o with each other. A ray of light
travelling horizontally is reflected first from one mirror and then from the other. The
resultant deviation is
(a) 60o (b) 120o (c) 180o (d) 240o
Solution : (d) By using   (360  2 )    360  2  60  240 o

Example: 3 A person is in a room whose ceiling and two adjacent walls are mirrors. How many images
are formed
[AFMC 2002]

(a) 5 (b) 6 (c) 7 (d) 8

360
Solution : (c) The walls will act as two mirrors inclined to each other at 90 o and so sill form 1  3
90
images of the person. Now these images with object (Person) will act as objects for the
ceiling mirror and so ceiling will form 4 images as shown. Therefore total number of images
formed = 3 + 4 = 7

I1 O

I1 O
I2 I3

Four images by
I2 I3 ceiling
Three images by walls

Note :  The person will see only six images of himself (I1 , I 2 , I 3 , I1' , I 2' , I 3' )

Example: 4 A ray of light makes an angle of 10 o with the horizontal above it and strikes a plane mirror
which is inclined at an angle  to the horizontal. The angle  for which the reflected ray
becomes vertical is
(a) 40o (b) 50o (c) 80o (d) 100o
Solution : (a) From figure Vertical RR

    10  90
 IR

   40 o
10o Horizontal line

Plane mirror

Example: 5 A ray of light incident on the first mirror parallel to the second and is reflected from the
second mirror parallel to first mirror. The angle between two mirrors is
(a) 30o (b) 60o (c) 75o (d) 90o
Solution : (b) From geometry of figure

      180 o

   60 o   

Example: 6 A point object is placed mid-way between two plane mirrors distance 'a' apart. The plane
mirror forms an infinite number of images due to multiple reflection. The distance between
the nth order image formed in the two mirrors is
(a) na (b) 2na (c) na/2 (d) n2 a
Solution : (b)
 PHYSICS
M' M Reflection of Light
III II order I order I order II order III
order image image image image order
image O image

I3' I2' I1' a/2 a/2 I1 I2 I3

a/2 a/2
a
3a/2 3a/2
5a/2 5a/2

From above figure it can be proved that seperation between nth order image formed in the
two mirrors = 2na
Example: 7 Two plane mirrors P and Q are aligned parallel to each other, as shown in the figure. A light
ray is incident at an angle of  at a point just inside one end of A. The plane of incidence
coincides with the plane of the figure. The maximum number of times the ray undergoes
reflections (including the first one) before it emerges out is
l
(a)
d tan  l

d
(b) d
l tan  

(c) ld tan 
(d) None of these
Solution : (a) Suppose n = Total number of reflection light ray undergoes before exist out.
x = Horizontal distance travelled by light ray in one reflection.
l
x x
So nx = l also tan  
d
l d  
 n
d tan 
Example: 8 A plane mirror and a person are moving towards each other with same velocity v. Then the
velocity of the image is
(a) v (b) 2v (c) 3v (d) 4v
Solution : (c) If mirror would be at rest, then velocity of image should be 2v. but due to the motion of
mirror, velocity of image will be 2v + v = 3v.
Example: 9 A ray reflected successively from two plane mirrors inclined at a certain angle undergoes a
deviation of 300o. The number of images observable are
(a) 10 (b) 11 (c) 12 (d) 13
Solution : (b) By using   (360  2 )  300  360  2
360
   30 o . Hence number of images   1  11
30

Tricky example: 1

A small plane mirror placed at the centre of a spherical screen of radius R. A beam of light is falling
on the mirror. If the mirror makes n revolution. per second, the speed of light on the screen after
reflection from the mirror will be

nR nR
(a) 4nR (b) 2nR (c) (d)
2 4

Solution : (a) When plane mirror rotates through an angle , the reflected ray rotates through an angle 2. So
spot on the screen will make 2n revolution per second

 Speed of light on screen v  R  2 (2n)R  4nR

 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Tricky example: 2

A watch shows time as 3 : 25 when seen through a mirror, time appeared will be
[RPMT 1997; JIPMER 2001, 2002]

(a) 8 : 35 (b) 9 : 35 (c) 7 : 35 (d) 8 : 25

Solution : (a) For solving this type of problems remember
Actual time = 11 : 60 – given time
So here Actual time = 11 : 60 – 3 : 25 = 8 : 35

Tricky example: 3

When a plane mirror is placed horizontally on a level ground at a distance of 60 m from the foot of
a tower, the top of the tower and its image in the mirror subtend an angle of 90 o at the eye. The
height of the tower will be [CPMT 1984]

(a) 30 m (b) 60 m (c) 90 m (d) 120 m

h
Solution : (b) Form the figure it is clear that  tan 45 o
60
 h = 60 m
Tower

45o
45o 60 m
Image

Curved Mirror.
It is a part of a transparent hollow sphere whose one surface is polished.

C P P C
F F
Principle axis

Converges the light rays Diverges the light rays

(1) Some definitions :

(i) Pole (P) : Mid point of the mirror
(ii) Centre of curvature (C) : Centre of the sphere of which the mirror is a part.
(iii) Radius of curvature (R) : Distance between pole and centre of curvature.
(Rconcave = –ve , Rconvex = +ve , Rplane = )
(iv) Principle axis : A line passing through P and C.
(v) Focus (F) : An image point on principle axis for which object is at 
(vi) Focal length (f) : Distance between P and F.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

R
(vii) Relation between f and R : f (fconcare = –ve , fconvex = + ve , fplane =  )
2
(viii) Power : The converging or diverging ability of mirror
(ix) Aperture : Effective diameter of light reflecting area.
Intensity of image  Area  (Aperture)2
(x) Focal plane : A plane passing from focus and perpendicular to principle
axis.
(2) Rules of image formation and sign convention :
Rule (i) Rule (ii) Rule (iii)

F F F F C C

(3) Sign conventions :

Incident ray
(i) All distances are measured from the pole. +

(ii) Distances measured in the direction of incident rays are taken

– +
as positive while in the direction opposite of incident rays are taken
negative. Principle
axis
(iii) Distances above the principle axis are taken positive and Mirror or Lens –

below the principle axis are taken negative.

Note :  Same sign convention are also valid for lenses.

Use following sign while solving the problem :

Concave mirror
Convex mirror
Real image (u ≥ f) Virtual image (u< f)

Distance of object u  – u  – u  –
Distance of image v  – v  + v  +
Focal length f  – f  – f  +
Height of object O + O+ O  +
Height of image I  – I + I  +
Radius of curvature R  – R – R  +
Magnification m – m+ m  +
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(4) Position, size and nature of image formed by the spherical mirror

Mirror Location of the Location of the Magnification, Nature

object image Size of the
image Real Erect
virtual inverted
(a) Concave At infinity At focus i.e. v = f m << 1, Real inverted
i.e. u = ∞ diminished
Away from centre Between f and 2f m < 1, diminished Real inverted
of curvature (u > i.e.
2f) f < v < 2f
At centre of At centre of m = 1, same size as Real inverted
C F P curvature u = 2f curvature i.e. v = that of the object

2f
Between centre of Away from the m > 1, magnified Real inverted
curvature and centre of curvature
focus : v > 2f
F < u < 2f
At focus i.e. u = f At infinity i.e. v = m = ∞, magnified Real inverted
∞
Between pole and v>u m > 1 magnified Virtual erect
focus u < f
(b) Convex At infinity i.e. u = At focus i.e., v = f m < 1, diminished Virtual erect
∞
P F C
 Anywhere between Between pole and
m < 1, diminished Virtual erect
infinity and pole focus

Note :  In case of convex mirrors, as the object moves away from the mirror, the image
becomes smaller and moves closer to the focus.
 Images formed by mirrors do not show chromatic aberration.
 For convex mirror maximum image distance is it’s focal length.
 In concave mirror, minimum distance between a real object and it's real image is
zero.
(i.e. when u = v = 2f)

Mirror formula and magnification.

For a spherical mirror if u = Distance of object from pole, v = distance of image from pole, f =
Focal length, R = Radius of curvature, O = Size of object, I = size of image, m = magnification (or
linear magnification ), ms = Areal magnification, A o = Area of object, A i = Area of image

1 1 1
(1) Mirror formula :   ; (use sign convention while solving the problems).
f v u

Note :  Newton’s formula : If object distance (x1) and image distance (x2) are measured

from focus instead of pole then f 2  x 1 x 2

 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light 9

Size of object
(2) Magnification : m =
Size of image

Linear magnification
Areal magnification
Transverse Longitudinal

When a object is placed When object lies along the

perpendicular to the principle axis then its longitudinal
principle axis, then linear magnification
b
magnification is called lateral mb
I (v 2  v1 )
or transverse magnification. m  a
O (u2  u1 ) ma
It is given by
If object is small;
I v f f v If a 2D-object is placed with it's plane
m    dv  v 
2
perpendicular to principle axis
O u f u f m   
du  u 
It's Areal magnification
(* Always use sign
convention while solving the Also Length of Area of image ( A i )
image = Ms 
problems) Area of object ( A o )
2
v  ma  mb
   Length of object (L 0 )   m2
u  ab

 f
2
 Ai
(L i )    .L o  ms  m2 
u  f  Ao

Note :  Don't put the sign of quantity which is to be determined.

 If a spherical mirror produces an image ‘m’ times the size of the object (m =
magnification) then u, v and f are given by the followings
m 1  m 
u  f , v   (m  1) f and f    u (use sign convention)
 m   m  1) 
(3) Uses of mirrors
(i) Concave mirror : Used as a shaving mirror, In search light, in cinema projector, in
telescope, by E.N.T. specialists etc.
(ii) Convex mirror : In road lamps, side mirror in vehicles etc.
Note :  Field of view of convex mirror is more than that of concave mirror.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Different graphs

1 1
Graph between and
v u
(a) Real image formed by (b) Virtual image formed by (c) Virtual image formed by
concave mirror concave mirror convex mirror

1 1 1

v v v

1
1 1
u
u u
Graph between u and v Graph between u and m Graph between u and m
for real image of concave for virtual image by for virtual image by
mirror concave mirror convex mirror.

Hyperbola
m m
2f

f 1 1

f 2f f u u

Concepts

 Focal length of a mirror is independent of material of mirror, medium in which it is placed, wavelength of
incident light
 Divergence or Convergence power of a mirror does not change with the change in medium.
 If an object is moving at a speed vo towards a spherical mirror along it’s axis then speed of image away from
2
 f 
mirror is vi    .vo (use sign convention)
u  f  O
C P
 When object is moved from focus to infinity at constant speed, the image will move  F
faster in the beginning and slower later on, towards the mirror.
I
 As every part of mirror forms a complete image, if a part of the mirror is obstructed,
full image will be formed but intensity will be reduced.

 Can a convex mirror form real images? I O

Real F C
yes if (distance of virtual object) u < f (focal length)
image
Virtual object

Example
s
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Example: 10 A convex mirror of focal length f forms an image which is 1/n times the object. The distance
of the object from the mirror is

n 1 n 1
(a) (n – 1) f (b)  f (c)  f (d) (n + 1) f
 n   n 

f
Solution : (a) By using m 
f u
1 1 f
Here m   , f  f So,    u  (n  1) f
n n  f u
Example: 11 An object 5 cm tall is placed 1 m from a concave spherical mirror which has a radius of
curvature of 20 cm. The size of the image is
(a) 0.11 cm (b) 0.50 cm (c) 0.55 cm (d) 0.60 cm
I f
Solution : (c) By using 
O f u
R
Here O  5 cm , f   10 cm , u  1 m   100 cm
2
I 10
So,   I = – 0.55 cm.
 5  10  (100 )
Example: 12 An object of length 2.5 cm is placed at a distance of 1.5 f from a concave mirror where f is the
magnitude of the focal length of the mirror. The length of the object is perpendicular to the
principle axis. The length of the image is
(a) 5 cm, erect (b) 10 cm, erect (c) 15 cm, erect (d) 5 cm,
inverted
I f
Solution : (d) By using  ; where I = ? , O = + 2.5 cm. f   f , u = – 1.5 f
O f u

I f
   I  5 cm. (Negative sign indicates that image is
 2.5  f  (1.5 f )
inverted.)
Example: 13 A convex mirror has a focal length f. A real object is placed at a distance f in front of it from
the pole produces an image at
(a) Infinity (b) f (c) f / 2 (d) 2f

1 1 1 1 1 1 f
Solution : (c) By using      v
f v u  f v  f  2

Example: 14 Two objects A and B when placed one after another infront of a concave mirror of focal
length 10 cm from images of same size. Size of object A is four times that of B. If object A is
placed at a distance of 50 cm from the mirror, what should be the distance of B from the
mirror
(a) 10 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 30 cm (d) 40 cm

I f I O f  uB 1 1 10  u B
Solution : (b) By using   A B      u B  20 cm .
O f u IB O A f uA 1 4  10   50 

Example: 15 A square of side 3 cm is placed at a distance of 25 cm from a concave mirror of focal length
10 cm. The centre of the square is at the axis of the mirror and the plane is normal to the
axis. The area enclosed by the image of the wire is
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(a) 4 cm2 (b) 6 cm2 (c) 16 cm2 (d) 36 cm2

Ai f
Solution : (a) By using m 2  ; where m
Ao f u

10 2
Hence from given values m  and A o  9 cm 2 
 10   25  3
2
2
Ai     9  4 cm
2
 3 
Example: 16 A convex mirror of focal length 10 cm is placed in water. The refractive index of water is 4/3.
What will be the focal length of the mirror in water
(a) 10 cm (b) 40/3 cm (c) 30/4 cm (d) None of
these
Solution : (a) No change in focal length, because f depends only upon radius of curvature R.
Example: 17 A candle flame 3 cm is placed at distance of 3 m from a wall. How far from wall must a
concave mirror be placed in order that it may form an image of flame 9 cm high on the wall
(a) 225 cm (b) 300 cm (c) 450 cm (d) 650 cm
Solution : (c) Let the mirror be placed at a distance x from wall
3cm
By using
I v 9   x  (x–
    x  4.5m   450 cm. 3m
O u  3  x  3  3)m
x
Example: 18 A concave mirror of focal length 100 cm is used to obtain the image of the sun which
subtends an angle of 30'. The diameter of the image of the sun will be
(a) 1.74 cm (b) 0.87 cm (c) 0.435 cm (d) 100 cm
Solution : (b) Diameter of image of sun d  f Image of
sun
 30 
o

 30   d   30 '   
 d  100       60 
 60  180 F
 d  0.87 cm .

Example: 19 A thin rod of length f / 3 lies along the axis of a concave mirror of focal length f. One end of
its magnified image touches an end of the rod. The length of the image is [MP PET 1995]

1 1
(a) f (b) f (c) 2 f (d) f
2 4
f 5f
Solution : (b) If end A of rod acts an object for mirror then it's image will be A' and if u  2 f  
3 3

1 1 1 1 1 1 5 2f
So by using       v f
f v u f v  5 f 2 f/3 u = 2f – (f/3)

3 A
F
A' C
5 f
 Length of image  f  2 f 
2 2 v

Example: 20 A concave mirror is placed on a horizontal table with its axis directed vertically upwards. Let
O be the pole of the mirror and C its centre of curvature. A point object is placed at C. It has
a real image, also located at C. If the mirror is now filled with water, the image will be
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(a) Real, and will remain at C (b) Real, and located at a point between
C and 
(c) Virtual and located at a point between C and O (d) Real, and located at a point between
C and O
C Object C Object
Solution : (d) image

Image

O O
Initiall Finally
y
Tricky example: 4

An object is placed infront of a convex mirror at a distance of 50 cm. A plane mirror is introduced
covering the lower half of the convex mirror. If the distance between the object and plane mirror is
30 cm, it is found that there is no parallel between the images formed by two mirrors. Radius of
curvature of mirror will be
50
(a) 12.5 cm (b) 25 cm (c) cm (d) 18 cm
3
Solution : (b) Since there is no parallel, it means that both images (By plane mirror
and convex mirror) coinciding each other.
According to property of plane mirror it will form image at a distance of 30 cm behind it. Hence for
convex mirror u = – 50 cm, v = + 10 cm
Object
1 1 1 1 1 1 4
By using       A
f v u f  10  50 50
30 cm 20 cm
25
 f cm  R  2 f  25 cm.
2 50 cm
10 cm

Tricky example: 5
A convergent beam of light is incident on a convex mirror so as to converge to a
distance 12 cm from the pole of the mirror. An inverted image of the same size
is formed coincident with the virtual object. What is the focal length of the mirror
(a) 24 cm (b) 12 cm (c) 6 cm (d) 3 cm
Solution : (c) Here object and image are at the same position so this position must
C
be centre of curvature
R
 R = 12 cm  f 
2

Practice Questions Basic Level

1. A light bulb is placed between two mirrors (plane) inclined at an angle of 60o. Number of images formed are
[NCERT 1980; CPMT 1996, 97; SCRA 1994; AIIMS 1997; RPMT 1999; AIEEE 2002; Orissa JEE 2003; MP PET 2004]
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 5 (d) 6
 PHYSICS
14 Reflection of Light

2. Two plane mirrors are inclined at an angle of 72 o . The number of images of a point object placed between them
will be
[KCET (Engg. & Med.)1999; BCECE 2003]
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5
3. To get three images of a single object, one should have two plane mirrors at an angle of [AIEEE 2003]
(a) 30 o
(b) 60 o
(c) 90 o
(d) 120 o

4. A man of length h requires a mirror of length at least equal to, to see his own complete image [MP PET 2003]
h h h
(a) (b) (c) (d) h
4 3 2
5. Two plane mirrors are at 45o to each other. If an object is placed between them then the number of images will be [MP PMT 2003
(a) 5 (b) 9 (c) 7 (d) 8
6. An object is at a distance of 0.5 m in front of a plane mirror. Distance between the object and image is [CPMT 2002]
(a) 0.5 m (b) 1 m (c) 0.25 m (d) 1.5 m
7. A man runs towards a mirror at a speed 15 m/s. The speed of the image relative to the man is [RPMT 1999;
Kerala PET 2002]
(a) 15 ms 1 (b) 30 ms 1 (c) 35 ms 1 (d) 20 ms 1
8. The light reflected by a plane mirror may form a real image [KCET (Engg. & Med.) 2002]
(a) If the rays incident on the mirror are diverging (b) If the rays incident on the mirror are
converging
(c) If the object is placed very close to the mirror (d) Under no circumstances
9. A man is 180 cm tall and his eyes are 10 cm below the top of his head. In order to see his entire height right from
toe to head, he uses a plane mirror kept at a distance of 1 m from him. The minimum length of the plane mirror
required is [MP PMT 1993; DPMT 2001]
(a) 180 cm (b) 90 cm (c) 85 cm (d) 170 cm
10. A small object is placed 10 cm infront of a plane mirror. If you stand behind the object 30 cm from the object and
look at its image, the distance focused for your eye will be
(a) 60 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 40 cm (d) 80 cm
11. Two plane mirrors are at right angles to each other. A man stands between them and combs his hair with his right
hand. In how many of the images will he be seen using his right hand
(a) None (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3
12. A man runs towards mirror at a speed of 15 m/s. What is the speed of his image [CBSE PMT 2000]
(a) 7.5 m/s (b) 15 m/s (c) 30 m/s (d) 45 m/s
13. A ray of light is incidenting normally on a plane mirror. The angle of reflection will be [MP PET 2000]
(a) 0o (b) 90o (c) Will not be reflected (d) None of
these
14. A plane mirror produces a magnification of [MP PMT/PET 1997]
(a) – 1 (b) + 1 (c) Zero (d) Between 0
and + 
15. When a plane mirror is rotated through an angle , then the reflected ray turns through the angle 2, then the size
of the image [MP PAT 1996]
(a) Is doubled (b) Is halved (c) Remains the same (d) Becomes
infinite
16. What should be the angle between two plane mirrors so that whatever be the angle of incidence, the incident ray
and the reflected ray from the two mirrors be parallel to each other
(a) 60o (b) 90o (c) 120o (d) 175o
17. Ray optics is valid, when characteristic dimensions are [CBSE PMT 1994]
(a) Of the same order as the wavelength of light (b) Much smaller than the wavelength of light
(c) Of the order of one millimeter (d) Much larger than the wavelength of light
18. It is desired to photograph the image of an object placed at a distance of 3 m from the plane mirror. The camera
which is at a distance of 4.5 m from the mirror should be focussed for a distance of
(a) 3 m (b) 4.5 m (c) 6 m (d) 7.5 m
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

19. Two plane mirrors are parallel to each other an spaced 20 cm apart. An object is kept in between them at 15 cm
from A. Out of the following at which point an image is not formed in mirror A (distance measured from mirror A)
(a) 15 cm (b) 25 cm (c) 45 cm (d) 55 cm

Advance Level

20. Two plane mirrors A and B are aligned parallel to each other, as shown in the figure. A light ray is incident at an
angle of 30o at a point just inside one end of A. The plane of incidence coincides with the plane of the figure. The
maximum number of times the ray undergoes reflections (including the first one) before it emerges out is

2 3m
(a) 28
(b) 30 0.2m B
30o
(c) 32
(d) 34
A
21. A point source of light B is placed at a distance L in front of the centre of a mirror of width d hung vertically on a
wall. A man walks in front of the mirror along a line parallel to the mirror at a distance 2L from it as shown. The
greatest distance over which he can see the image of the light source in the mirror is

(a) d/2
(b) d d

(c) 2d L B
2L A
(d) 3d
22. The figure shows two rays A and B being reflected by a mirror and going as A' and B'. The mirror is

(a) Plane (b) Concave A

A
(c) Convex (d) May be any spherical mirror B
B

23. An object is initially at a distance of 100 cm from a plane mirror. If the mirror approaches the object at a speed of
5 cm/s, then after 6 s the distance between the object and its image will be

(a) 60 cm (b) 140 cm (c) 170 cm (d) 150 cm

24. An object placed in front of a plane mirror is displaced by 0.4 m along a straight line at an angle of 30o to mirror
plane. The change in the distance between the object and its image is
(a) 0.20 m (b) 0.40 m (c) 0.25 m (d) 0.80 m
25. A ray of light travels from A to B with uniform speed. On its way it is reflected by the surface XX'. The path
followed by the ray to take least time is
A B
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) 4

X X
1 2 3 4
26. A point object O is placed between two plan mirrors as shown is fig. The distance of the first three images formed
by mirror M 2 from it are
M1 M2
(a) 2 mm, 8 mm, 18 mm
O
(b) 2 mm, 18 mm, 28 mm
(c) 2 mm, 18 mm, 22 mm 10mm 2mm
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(d) 2 mm, 18 mm, 58 mm

27. A plane mirror is placed at the bottom of the tank containing a liquid of refractive index  . P is a small object at a
height h above the mirror. An observer O-vertically above P outside the liquid see P and its image in the mirror.
The apparent distance between these two will be
2h O
(a) 2h (b)

P
2h  1 h
(c) (d) h  1  
 1   
28. One side of a glass slab is silvered as shown. A ray of light is incident on the other side at angle of incidence
i  45 o . Refractive index of glass is given as 1.5. The deviation of the ray of light from its initial path when it
comes out of the slab is
(a) 90o 45o
(b) 180o
 = 1.5
(c) 120o
(d) 45o

29. If an object moves towards a plane mirror with a speed v at an angle  to the perpendicular to the plane of the
mirror, find the relative velocity between the object and the image
y
(a) v O I
 
(b) 2v  
vO vI
(c) 2v cos x

(d) 2v sin

30. Figure shows a cubical room ABCD will the wall CD as a plane mirror. Each side of the room is 3m. We place a
camera at the midpoint of the wall AB. At what distance should the camera be focussed to photograph an object
placed at A
(a) 1.5 m (b) 3 m A B

(c) 6 m (d) More than 6 m 3m

D C

Reflection of light at spherical surface

Basic Level

31. A man having height 6 m, want to see full height in mirror. They observe image of 2m height erect, then used mirror
is [J & K CET 2004]
(a) Concave (b) Convex (c) Plane (d) None of
these
32. An object of length 6cm is placed on the principal axis of a concave mirror of focal length f at a distance of 4 f. The
length of the image will be [MP PET 2003]
(a) 2 cm (b) 12 cm (c) 4 cm (d) 1.2 cm
33. Convergence of concave mirror can be decreased by dipping in [AFMC 2003]
(a) Water (b) Oil (c) Both (d) None of these
34. In an experiment of find the focal length of a concave mirror a graph is drawn between the magnitudes of u and v.
The graph looks like

v v v v
(a) (b) (c) (d)

u u u u
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

35. An object 2.5 cm high is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a concave mirror of radius of curvature 30 cm The size
of the image is
[BVP 2003]
(a) 9.2 cm (b) 10.5 cm (c) 5.6 cm (d) 7.5 cm
36. A diminished virtual image can be formed only in [MP PMT 2002]
(a) Plane mirror (b) A concave mirror (c) A convex mirror (d) Concave-
parabolic mirror
37. A point object is placed at a distance of 30 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 30cm. The image will form at [JIPMER 2002]
(a) Infinity (b) Focus (c) Pole (d) 15 cm
behind the mirror
38. The focal length of a convex mirror is 20 cm its radius of curvature will be [MP PMT 2001]
(a) 10 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 30 cm (d) 40 cm
39. A concave mirror of focal length 15 cm forms an image having twice the linear dimensions of the object. The
position of the object when the image is virtual will be
(a) 22.5 cm (b) 7.5 cm (c) 30 cm (d) 45 cm
40. Under which of the following conditions will a convex mirror of focal length f produce an image that is erect,
diminished and virtual
[AMU (Engg.) 2001]
(a) Only when 2f > u > f (b) Only when u = f (c) Only when u < f (d) Always
41. A concave mirror gives an image three times as large as the object placed at a distance of 20 cm from it. For the
image to be real, the focal length should be [SCRA 1998; JIPMER 2
(a) 10 cm (b) 15 cm (c) 20 cm (d) 30 cm
42. A point object is placed at a distance of 10 cm and its real image is formed at a distance of 20cm from a concave
mirror. If the object is moved by 0.1cm towards the mirror, the image will shift by about
(a) 0.4 cm away from the mirror (b) 0.4 cm towards the mirror
(c) 0.8 cm away from the mirror (d) 0.8 cm towards the mirror
43. The minimum distance between the object and its real image for concave mirror is [RPMT 1999]
(a) f (b) 2f (c) 4f (d) Zero
44. An object is placed at 20 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 10 cm. The image formed by the mirror is [JIPMER 1999]
(a) Real and at 20 cm from the mirror (b) Virtual and at 20 cm from the mirror
(c) Virtual and at 20/3 cm from the mirror (d) Real and at 20/3 cm from the mirror
45. An object is placed 40 cm from a concave mirror of focal length 20 cm. The image formed is [MP PET 1986; MP PMT/PET 199
(a) Real, inverted and same in size (b) Real, inverted and smaller
(c) Virtual, erect and larger (d) Virtual, erect and smaller
46. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists [SCRA 1998]
List I List II
(Position of the object) (Magnification)
(I) An object is placed at focus before a convex mirror (A) Magnification is – 
(II) An object is placed at centre of curvature before a concave mirror (B) Magnification is 0.5
(III) An object is placed at focus before a concave mirror (C) Magnification is + 1
(IV) An object is placed at centre of curvature before a convex mirror (D) Magnification is – 1
(E) Magnification is 0.33
Codes :
(a) I-B, II-D, III-A, IV-E (b) I-A, II-D, III-C, IV-B (c) I-C, II-B, III-A, IV-E (d) I-B, II-E,
III-D, IV-C
47. In a concave mirror experiment, an object is placed at a distance x 1 from the focus and the image is formed at a
distance x 2 from the focus. The focal length of the mirror would be

x1  x 2 x1
(a) x1 x 2 (b) x1 x 2 (c) (d)
2 x2
48. Which of the following forms a virtual and erect image for all positions of the object [IIT-JEE 1996]
(a) Convex lens (b) Concave lens (c) Convex mirror (d) Concave
mirror
49. A convex mirror has a focal length f. A real object is placed at a distance f in front of it from the pole produces an
image at
[MP PAT 1996]
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(a) Infinity (b) f (c) f / 2 (d) 2f

50. Radius of curvature of concave mirror is 40 cm and the size of image is twice as that of object, then the object
distance is [AFMC 1995]
(a) 60 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 40 cm (d) 30 cm
51. All of the following statements are correct except [Manipal MEE 1995]
(a) The magnification produced by a convex mirror is always less than one
(b) A virtual, erect, same-sized image can be obtained using a plane mirror
(c) A virtual, erect, magnified image can be formed using a concave mirror
(d) A real, inverted, same-sized image can be formed using a convex mirror
52. Radius of curvature of convex mirror is 40 cm and the size of object is twice as that of image, then the image
distance is [AFMC 1995]
(a) 10 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 40 cm (d) 30 cm
53. If an object is placed 10 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 20 cm, the image will be [MP PMT 1995]
(a) Diminished, upright, virtual (b) Enlarged, upright, virtual (c)
Diminished, inverted, real (d) Enlarged, upright, real
54. An object 1 cm tall is placed 4 cm in front of a mirror. In order to produce an upright image of 3 cm height one needs
a [SCRA 1994]
(a) Convex mirror of radius of curvature 12 cm (b) Concave mirror of radius of curvature 12
cm
(c) Concave mirror of radius of curvature 4 cm (d) Plane mirror of height 12 cm
55. The image formed by a convex mirror of a real object is larger than the object [CPMT 1994]
(a) When u < 2f (b) When u > 2f (c) For all values of u (d) For no
value of u
56. An object 5 cm tall is placed 1 m from a concave spherical mirror which has a radius of curvature of 20 cm. The
size of the image is
[MP PET 1993]
(a) 0.11 cm (b) 0.50 cm (c) 0.55 cm (d) 0.60 cm
57. A virtual image three times the size of the object is obtained with a concave mirror of radius of curvature 36 cm.
The distance of the object from the mirror is
(a) 5 cm (b) 12 cm (c) 10 cm (d) 20 cm
58. Given a point source of light, which of the following can produce a parallel beam of light [CPMT 1974]
(a) Convex mirror (b) Concave mirror
(c) Concave lens (d) Two plane mirrors inclined at an angle of
90o
59. A convex mirror is used to form the image of an object. Then which of the following statements is wrong
(a) The images lies between the pole and the focus (b) The image is diminished in size
(c) The images is erect (d) The image is real
60. A boy stands straight infront of a mirror at a distance of 30 cm away from it. He sees his erect image whose height
1 th
is of his real height. The mirror he is using is
5
(a) Plane mirror (b) Convex mirror (c) Concave mirror (d) Plano-
convex mirror
61. For the largest distance of the image from a concave mirror of focal length 10cm, the object should be kept at
(a) 10 cm (b) Infinite (c) 40 cm (d) 60 cm
62. A dentist uses a small mirror that gives a magnification of 4 when it is held 0.60 cm from a tooth. The radius of
curvature of the mirror is
(a) 1.60 cm (convex) (b) 0.8 cm (concave) (c) 1.60 cm (concave) (d) 0.8 cm
(convex)
63. A dice is placed with its one edge parallel to the principal axis between the principal focus and the centre of the
curvature of a concave mirror. Then the image has the shape of
(a) Cube (b) Cuboid (c) Barrel shaped (d) Spherical

Advance Level
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

64. A short linear object of length l lies along the axis of a concave mirror of focal length f at a distance u form the pole
of the mirror. The size of the image is approximately equal to [IIT 1988; BHU 2003]
1/2 2 1/2 2
u f u  f   f   f 
(a) l   (b) l   (c) l   (d) l  
 f   f  u f  u  f 
65. A point object is moving on the principal axis of a concave mirror of focal length 24 cm towards the mirror. When
it is at a distance of 60 cm from the mirror, its velocity is 9 cm/sec. What is the velocity of the image at that instant
(a) 5 cm/sec towards the mirror (b) 4 cm/sec
towards the mirror
(c) 4 cm/sec away from the mirror (d) 9 cm/sec away from the mirror
66. A convex mirror of focal length 10 cm forms an image which is half of the size of the object. The distance of the
object from the mirror is
(a) 10 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 5 cm (d) 15 cm
67. A concave mirror is used to focus the image of a flower on a nearby well 120 cm from the flower. If a lateral
magnification of 16 is desired, the distance of the flower from the mirror should be
(a) 8 cm (b) 12 cm (c) 80 cm (d) 120 cm
68. A thin rod of 5 cm length is kept along the axis of a concave mirror of 10 cm focal length such that its image is real
and magnified and one end touches the rod. Its magnification will be
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4
69. A luminous object is placed 20 cm from surface of a convex mirror and a plane mirror is set so that virtual images
formed in two mirrors coincide. If plane mirror is at a distance of 12 cm from object, then focal length of convex
mirror, is
(a) 5 cm (b) 10 cm (c) 20 cm (d) 40 cm
70. A rear mirror of a vehicle is cylindrical having radius of curvature 10 cm. The length of arc of curved surface is also
10 cm. If the eye of driver is assumed to be at large distance, from the mirror, then the field of view in radian is
(a) 0.5 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 4
71. A vehicle has a driving mirror of focal length 30 cm. Another vehicle of dimension 2  4  1 .75 m 3 is 9 m away
from the mirror of first vehicle. Position of the second vehicle as seen in the mirror of first vehicle is

(a) 30 cm
(b) 60 cm
9m
(c) 90 cm
(d) 9 cm
72. A cube of side 2 m is placed in front of a concave mirror focal length 1m with its face P at a distance of 3 m and
face Q at a distance of 5 m from the mirror. The distance between the images of face P and Q and height of images
of P and Q are
(a) 1 m, 0.5 m, 0.25 m
Q 2m P
(b) 0.5 m, 1 m, 0.25 m 2m
(c) 0.5 m, 0.25 m, 1m 3m
(d) 0.25 m, 1m, 0.5 m
73. A concave mirror of radius of curvature 60 cm is placed at the bottom of tank containing water upto a height of 20
cm. The mirror faces upwards with its axis vertical. Solar light falls normally on the surface of water and the image
4
of the sun is formed. If a  w  then with the observer in air, the distance of the image from the surface of water
3
is
(a) 30 cm (b) 10 cm (c) 7.5 cm above (d) 7.5 cm
below
74. A concave mirror forms an image of the sun at a distance of 12 cm from it
(a) The radius of curvature of this mirror is 6 cm
(b) To use it as a shaving mirror, it must be held at a distance of 8-10 cm from the face
(c) If an object is kept at a distance of 12 cm from it, the image formed will be of the same size as the object
(d) All the above a alternatives are correct
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

75. A small piece of wire bent into an L shape with upright and horizontal portions of equal lengths, is placed with the
horizontal portion along the axis of the concave mirror whose radius of curvature is 10 cm. If the bend is 20 cm
from the pole of the mirror, then the ratio of the lengths of the images of the upright and horizontal portions of
the wire is
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 3 : 1 (c) 1 : 3 (d) 2 : 1
76. As the position of an object (u) reflected from a concave mirror is varied, the position of the image (v) also varies.
By letting the u changes from 0 to  the graph between v versus u will be
77.

v v v v
(a) b c d
u u u u

78. A concave mirror has a focal length 20 cm. The distance between the two positions of the object for which the
image size is double of the object size is
(a) 20 cm (b) 40 cm (c) 30 cm (d) 60 cm
79. A concave mirror of focal length 10 cm and a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm are placed facing each other 40
cm apart. A point object is placed between the mirrors, on their common axis and 15 cm from the concave mirror.
Find the position and nature of the image produced by the successive reflections, first at concave mirror and then
at convex mirror
(a) 2 cm (b) 4 cm (c) 6 cm (d) 8 cm

Answer Sheet
Assignments

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
c c c c c b b b b c b b a b c b d d c b
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
d a b b c c b a c d b a d c d c d d b d
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
b a d c a a b b, c c d d a b b d c b b d b
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
a c b d c a a a a b a d c b b a a c
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

F F

The bending of the ray of light passing from one medium to the other medium is called refraction.
Incident ray
i Rarer medium
Denser medium

i
r 

r
Denser medium Refracted ray 
Rarer medium
Deviation  = (i – r)
Deviation  = (r – i )

Snell’s law
The ratio of sine of the angle of incidence to the angle of refraction (r) is a constant called
refractive index
sin i  sin i
i.e.   (a constant). For two media, Snell's law can be written as 1  2  2 
sin r  1 sin r
 1  sin i   2  sin r i.e.  sin   constant

Also in vector form : ˆi  nˆ  μ (rˆ  nˆ )

Refractive Index.
Refractive index of a medium is that characteristic which decides speed of light in it. It is a scalar, unit
less and dimensionless quantity
.(1) Types : It is of following two types

Absolute refractive index Relative refractive index

(i) When light travels from air to any transparent (i) When light travels from medium (1) to medium (2)
medium then R.I. of medium w.r.t. air is called it’s then R.I. of medium (2) w.r.t. medium (1) is called it’s
c  v
absolute R.I. i.e. air medium  relative R.I. i.e. 1 2  2  1 (where v1 and v2 are the
v 1 v 2
speed of light in medium 1 and 2 respectively).
(ii) Some absolute R.I. (ii) Some relative R.I.
(a) When light enters from water to glass :
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

3 4 g 3 / 2 9
a  glass   1 . 5 , a water   1 . 33 w g   
2 3 w 4 / 3 8
a diamond  2.4, a Cs 2  1 .62 (b) When light enters from glass to diamond :
 D 2 .4 8
a  crown  1.52, vacuum  1 , air  1.0003  1 g D   
 g 1 .5 5

B C
Note :  Cauchy’s equation :   A    ...... ( Red   violet so  Red   violet) 1
 2
4 

 2 1 v 1 1
 If a light ray travels from medium (1) to medium (2), then 1  2    
1  2 v 2 v
v 
(2) Dependence of Refractive index
(i) Nature of the media of incidence and refraction.
(ii) Colour of light or wavelength of light.
(iii) Temperature of the media : Refractive index decreases with the increase in temperature.
(3) Principle of reversibility of light and refraction through several media :
Principle of reversibility Refraction through several media
Incident ray 1
1

i
2

r
3
2

1
1
1 2 
1 2  2  3  3 1  1
2 1

Refraction Through a Glass Slab and Optical Path

(1) Lateral shift
The refracting surfaces of a glass slab are parallel to each other. When a light ray passes
through a glass slab it is refracted twice at the two parallel faces
i
and finally emerges out parallel to it's incident direction i.e. the
ray undergoes no deviation  = 0. The angle of emergence (e) is rr 
t N
equal to the angle of incidence (i)

The Lateral shift of the ray is the perpendicular distance M
between the incident and the emergent ray, and it is given by
MN = t sec r sin (i – r)

Normal shift
 1
Normal shift OO '  x   1   t
  O O' Glass
x slab

t
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Or the object appears to be shifted towards the slab by the distance x

(2) Optical path :
It is defined as distance travelled by light in vacuum in the same time in which it travels a
given path length in a medium.
x
 Time taken by light ray to pass through the medium  ;
Light c
where x = geometrical path and x = optical path
x

1 2
Light
For two medium in contact optical path = 1 x 1   2 x 2

x1 x2

Note :  Since for all media   1, so optical path length (x ) is always greater than the
geometrical path length (x).
Real and Apparent Depth.
If object and observer are situated in different medium then due to refraction, object appears
to be displaced from it’s real position. There are two possible conditions.

(1) When object is in denser medium and observer is (1) Object is in rarer medium and observer is in denser
in rarer medium medium. O d
h
O h

h 
h O
d
O

Real depth h h'

(2)    (2)  
Apparent depth h ' h
Real depth >Apparent depth that's why a coin at the Real depth < Apparent depth that's why high flying
bottom of bucket (full of water) appears to be aeroplane appears to be higher than it's actual height.
raised)

 1 (3) d  (  1)h
(3) Shift d  h  h '   1   h
 

4 h h
(4) For water   d  (4) Shift for water d w 
3 4 3
3 h h
For glass   d  Shift for glass d g 
2 3 2
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Note :  If a beaker contains various immisible liquids as shown then

1 d1

2 d2
d1 d2 d3
Apparent depth of bottom     .... 3 d3
1 2 3
d AC d  d 2  ..... 2 1  2
 combination =  1 (In case of two liquids if d 1  d 2 than   )
d App . d1 d 2 1   2
  ....
1 2
Total Internal Reflection.
When a ray of light goes from denser to rarer medium it bends away from the normal and as
the angle of incidence in denser medium increases, the angle of refraction in rarer medium also
increases and at a certain angle, angle of refraction becomes 90o, this angle of incidence is called
critical angle (C).
When Angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle than light ray comes back in to the same medium
after reflection from interface. This phenomenon is called Total internal reflection (TIR).

Rarer r
90o

Denser i  
i=C

>C TIR

1
Important formula μ  cosec C ; where   Rerer  Denser
sin C
Note :  When a light ray travels from denser to rarer medium, then deviation of the ray is
    2    max. when   min.  C 
i.e.  max  (  2C) ; C  critical angle  

(1) Dependence of critical angle

(i) Colour of light (or wavelength of light) : Critical angle depends upon wavelength as
1
   sin C

(a)  R  V  C R  C V
1  R D v D
(b) Sin C     (for two media) (c) For TIR from boundary of two
R D  D R v R
R
media i  sin 1
D
(ii) Nature of the pair of media : Greater the refractive index lesser will be the critical angle.
(a) For (glass- air) pair  C glass  42 o (b) For (water-air) pair  C water  49 o

(c) For (diamond-air) pair  C di amond  24 o

 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(iii) Temperature : With temperature rise refractive index of the material decreases therefore
critical angle increases.
(2) Examples of total internal reflection (TIR)
(i) Denser Rarer
i>C Sky I
O i>C
Rarer O
I Desner
Earth Earth

Mirage : An optical illusion in deserts Looming : An optical illusion in cold

countries
(ii) Brilliance of diamond : Due to repeated internal reflections diamond sparkles.
(iii) Optical fibre : Optical fibres consist of many long high quality composite glass/quartz
fibres. Each fibre consists of a core and cladding. The refractive index of the material of the core
(1) is higher than that of the cladding (2).
When the light is incident on one end of the fibre at a small angle, the light passes inside,
undergoes repeated total internal reflections along the fibre and finally comes out. The angle of
incidence is always larger than the critical angle of the core material with respect to its cladding.
Even if the fibre is bent, the light can easily travel through along the fibre
A bundle of optical fibres can be used as a
2 Cladding
'light pipe' in medical and optical examination. It
can also be used for optical signal transmission.
Optical fibres have also been used for transmitting 1
and receiving electrical signals which are
converted to light by suitable transducers. Core

(iv) Field of vision of fish (or swimmer) : A fish (diver) inside the water can see the
whole world through a cone with.
(a) Apex angle  2C  98 o r

h
(b) Radius of base r  h tan C  C  >C
2 1 h
C C
h 2
(c) Area of base A 
( 2  1)
9h 2
Note :  For water   4 so r 
3h
and A  .
37 7
(v) Porro prism : A right angled isosceles prism, which is used in periscopes or binoculars.
It is used to deviate light rays through 90 o and 180 o and also to erect the image.
B A
45o
B
90o A
90o
45o 45o 45o
45o 45o
90o 45o 45o 45o

Example
s
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Example: 1 A beam of monochromatic blue light of wavelength 4200 Å in air travels in water (  4 / 3) .
Its wavelength in water will be
(a) 2800 Å (b) 5600 Å (c) 3150 Å (d) 4000 Å
1 1  2 1 2
Solution: (c)        2  3150 Å
  2 1 4 4200
3
Example: 2 On a glass plate a light wave is incident at an angle of 60 o. If the reflected and the refracted
waves are mutually perpendicular, the refractive index of material is [MP
PMT 1994; Haryana CEE 1996]

3 3 1
(a) (b) 3 (c) (d)
2 2 3

Solution: (b) From figure r  30 o

60 60
sin i sin 60 o ° °
    3 90
sin r sin 30 o r °

Example: 3 Velocity of light in glass whose refractive index with respect to air is 1.5 is 2 × 10 8 m / s and in
certain liquid the velocity of light found to be 2.50  10 8 m / s . The refractive index of the
liquid with respect to air is
[CPMT 1978; MP
PET/PMT 1988]
(a) 0.64 (b) 0.80 (c) 1.20 (d) 1.44

1  li v g  2  10 8
Solution: (c)     l    l  1.2
v g vl 1 .5 2 .5  10 8

Example: 4 A ray of light passes through four transparent media with refractive indices
1 . 2 ,  3 , and  4 as shown in the figure. The surfaces of all media are parallel. If the
emergent ray CD is parallel to the incident ray AB, we must have
(a) 1   2
D
(b)  2   3 1   
2 3 4
B C
(c)  3   4
A
(d)  4  1
Solution: (d) For successive refraction through difference media  sin   constant.

Here as  is same in the two extreme media. Hence 1   4

Example: 5 A ray of light is incident at the glass–water interface at an angle i, it emerges finally parallel
to the surface of water, then the value of  g would be

(a) (4/3) sin i

(b) 1/ sin i r w=4/3
Wate r
(c) 4/ 3 r
Glass
(d) 1 i

sin i sin r
Solution: (b) For glass water interface g   ......(i) and For water-air interface  a 
sin r sin 90
.....(ii)
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

1
 g    a  sin i  g 
sin i
Example: 6 The ratio of thickness of plates of two transparent mediums A and B is 6 : 4. If light takes
equal time in passing through them, then refractive index of B with respect to A will be
(a) 1.4 (b) 1.5 (c) 1.75 (d) 1.33
x
Solution: (b) By using t 
c
B x A 6 3
    AB   1 .5
A xB 4 2

Example: 7 A ray of light passes from vacuum into a medium of refractive index , the angle of incidence
is found to be twice the angle of refraction. Then the angle of incidence is
(a) cos 1  / 2  (b) 2 cos 1  / 2  (c) 2 sin 1   (d)
2 sin 1  / 2 

sin i sin 2r 2 sin r cos r

Solution: (b) By using       ( sin 2  2 sin cos )
sin r sin r sin r

 
 r  cos 1   . So, i  2r  2 cos 1   .
2 2
Example: 8 A ray of light falls on the surface of a spherical glass paper weight making an angle  with
the normal and is refracted in the medium at an angle  . The angle of deviation of the
emergent ray from the direction of the incident ray is
(a)     (b) 2     (c)     / 2 (d)    

Solution: (b) From figure it is clear that OBC is an isosceles triangle, 

B  –  – C
 
Hence OCB   and emergent angle is   

Also sum of two in terior angles = exterior angle A O D

   (   )       2   

Example: 9 A rectangular slab of refractive index  is placed over another slab of refractive index 3, both
slabs being identical in dimensions. If a coin is placed below the lower slab, for what value of
 will the coin appear to be placed at the interface between the slabs when viewed from the
top
(a) 1.8 (b) 2 (c) 1.5 (d) 2.5
x x
Solution: (c) Apparent depth of coin as seen from top   x
1 2 2 =  x
1 1 1 1
  1    1    1.5 1 = 3 x
1 2 3 

Example: 10 A coin is kept at bottom of an empty beaker. A travelling microscope is focussed on the coin
from top, now water is poured in beaker up to a height of 10 cm. By what distance and in
which direction should the microscope be moved to bring the coin again in focus
(a) 10 cm up ward (b) 10 cm down ward (c) 2.5 cm up wards (d) 2.5 cm
down wards
h 10
Solution: (c) When water is poured in the beaker. Coin appears to shift by a distance d    2 .5 cm
4 4
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Hence to bring the coil again in focus, the microscope should be moved by 2.5 cm in upward
direction.
 4
Example: 11 Consider the situation shown in figure. Water   w   is filled in a breaker upto a height
 3
of 10 cm. A plane mirror fixed at a height of 5 cm from the surface of water. Distance of
image from the mirror after reflection from it of an object O at the bottom of the beaker is
(a) 15 cm (b) 12.5 cm (c) 7.5 cm (d) 10 cm

cm 2 .5 cm 
10
Solution: (b) From figure it is clear that object appears to be raised by
4 5 cm
Hence distance between mirror and O'  5  7.5  12 .5 cm
10 cm
10 O'
So final image will be formed at 12.5 cm behind the plane mirror. c
4
O
m
Example: 12 The wavelength of light in two liquids 'x' and 'y' is 3500 Å and 7000 Å, then the critical angle of x
relative to y will be
(a) 60o (b) 45o (c) 30o (d) 15o
 2 1 3500 1
Solution: (c) sin C      C  30 o
1  2 7000 2
Example: 13 A light ray from air is incident (as shown in figure) at one end of a glass fiber (refractive
index  = 1.5) making an incidence angle of 60o on the lateral surface, so that it undergoes a
total internal reflection. How much time would it take to traverse the straight fiber of length
1 km [Orissa JEE 2002]

(a) 3.33  sec Air

(b) 6.67  sec Air 60
o Glas
(c) 5.77  sec s

(d) 3.85  sec

Solution: (d) When total internal reflection just takes place from lateral surface then i = C i.e. C = 60o
1 1 2
From     
sin C sin 60 3
x
Hence time taken by light traverse some distance in medium t
C
2

 1  10 3

3
 t  3 .85  sec .
3  10 8
Example: 14 A glass prism of refractive index 1.5 is immersed in water (  4 / 3) . A light beam incident
normally on the face AB is totally reflected to reach the face BC if

(a) sin  8 / 9 B A

(b) 2 / 3  sin  8 / 9
(c) sin  2 / 3
C
(d) cos   8 / 9
Solution: (a) From figure it is clear that
Total internal reflection takes place at AC, only if  > C
B A
1 
 sin   sin C  sin   
 g

C
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

1 8
 sin    sin  
9/8 9
Example: 15 When light is incident on a medium at angle i and refracted into a second medium at an
angle r, the graph of sin i vs sin r is as shown in the graph. From this, one can conclude that
(a) Velocity of light in the second medium is 1.73 times the
velocity of light in the I medium
(b) Velocity of light in the I medium is 1.73 times the velocity in sin
the II medium r
1
(c) The critical angle for the two media is given by sin ic  30o
3 sin
i
1
(d) sin ic 
2
sin r 1  2 v1
Solution: (b, c) From graph tan 30 o    1 2  3    1 .73  v1  1.75 v 2
sin i 1  2 1 v 2
1 1 1 1
Also from    sin C   sin C   .
sin C Rarer  Denser 1 2 3
Example: 16 A beam of light consisting of red, green and blue colours is incident on a right angled prism.
The refractive indices of the material of the prism for the above red, green and blue
wavelength are 1.39, 1.44 and 1.47 respectively. The prism will
(a) Separate part of red colour from the green and the blue
colours
(b) Separate part of the blue colour from the red and green
colours 45
°
(c) Separate all the colours from one another
(d) Not separate even partially any colour from the other two colours
Solution: (a) At face AB, i = 0 so r = 0, i.e., no refraction will take place. So light will be incident on face
AC at an angle of incidence of 45o. The face AC will not transmit the light for which i   C ,
i.e., sin i  sin  C
A
or sin 45 o  1 /   i.e.,   2 ( 1 .41)
Now as  R   while  G and  B  , so red will be transmitted
45°
through the face AC while green and blue will be reflected. So the
45°
prism will separate red colour from green and blue. B C
Example: 17 An air bubble in a glass slab   1.5  is 6 cm deep when viewed from
one face and 4 cm deep when viewed from the opposite face. The thickness of the glass plate
is
(a) 10 cm (b) 6.67 cm (c) 15 cm (d) None of
these
Solution: (c) Let thickness of slab be t and distance of air bubble from one side is x 6 cm 4 cm

x
When viewed from side (1) : 1 . 5   x  9 cm Air
6 bubble
Side 1 x Side 2
When viewed from side (2) : 1 . 5 
(t  x )
 1 .5 
t  9   t  15 cm t
4 4
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Tricky example: 1

One face of a rectangular glass plate 6 cm thick is silvered. An object held 8 cm in front of the first
face, forms an image 12 cm behind the silvered face. The refractive index of the glass is
(a) 0.4 (b) 0.8 (c) 1.2 (d) 1.6
Solution : (c) From figure thickness of glass plate t = 6 cm. x

Let x be the apparent position of the silvered surface.

According to property of plane mirror
Object Image
x + 8 = 12 + 6 – x  x = 5 cm

t 6 8 cm 12 cm
Also      1 .2
Tricky example:
x 2 5
12 +(6–x)
t

A ray of light is incident on a glass sphere of refractive index 3/2. What should be the angle of incidence so that the
ray which enters the sphere doesn't come out of the sphere
2 2 1
(a) tan 1   (b) sin 1   (c) 90o (d) cos 1  
3 3 3

Solution : (c) Ray doesn't come out from the sphere means TIR takes place.
Hence from figure ABO  OAB  C
A B
1 1 2 i
   sin C   C C
sin C  3
O
sin i 3 3 3 2
Applying Snell's Law at A   sin i  sin C    1  i  90 o
sin C 2 2 2 3
Tricky example: 3

The image of point P when viewed from top of the slabs will be
(a) 2.0 cm above P (b) 1.5 cm above P (c) 2.0 cm below P (d) 1 cm above P
Solution: (d) The two slabs will shift the image a distance

1.5 cm
 1  1 
d  2  1   t  2  1   1 . 5   1 cm 1.5 cm
    1 .5  1.5 cm
2.0 cm
Therefore, final image will be 1 cm above point P. P

Refraction From Curved Surface.

1 2 1 2
O P I O P I

1  Refractive index of the medium from which light rays are coming (from object).

 2  Refractive index of the medium in which light rays are entering.

 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

u = Distance of object, v = Distance of image, R = Radius of curvature

 2  1 2 1
Refraction formula :   (use sign convention while solving the problem)
R v u
Note :  Real image forms on the side of a refracting surface that is opposite to the object,
and virtual image forms on the same side as the object.
I v
 Lateral (Transverse) magnification m   1 .
O  2u
Specific Example
In a thin spherical fish bowl of radius 10 cm filled with water of refractive index 4/3 there is a small
fish at a distance of 4 cm from the centre C as shown in figure. Where will the image of fish appears, if
seen from E
(a) 5.2 cm (b) 7.2 cm (c) 4.2 cm (d) 3.2 cm
2 1  2  1
Solution : (a) By using  
v u R
C E
4
where 1  ,  2  1, u  6 cm, v = ?
3 4 cm

On putting values v  5.2 cm

Lens.
Lens is a transparent medium bounded by two refracting surfaces, such that at least one
surface is spherical.

(1) Type of lenses

Convex lens (Converges the light rays) Concave lens (Diverges the light rays)

Double convex Plano convex Concavo convex Double concave Plane concave Convexo concave
Thick at middle Thin at middle
It forms real and virtual images both It forms only virtual images

(2) Some definitions

Optical axis

C2 C1 C1 C2 C1, C2 – Centre of curvature,

O O R1, R2 – Radii of curvature
Principle
axis

– R2 +R1 – R1 +R2

(i) Optical centre (O) : A point for a given lens through which light ray passes undeviated
(Light ray passes undeviated through optical centre).
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(ii) Principle focus

First principle focus Second principle focus

F1 F1 F2 F2

Note :  Second principle focus is the principle focus of the lens.

 When medium on two sides of lens is same then | F1 | | F2 | .

 If medium on two sides of lens are not same then the ratio of two focal lengths
f1 
 1
f2  2

1 2

(iii) Focal length (f) : Distance of second principle focus from optical centre is called focal
length
fconvex  positive, fconcave  negative, fplane  

(iv) Aperture : Effective diameter of light transmitting area is called aperture.

Intensity of image  (Aperture) 2

(v) Power of lens (P) : Means the ability of a lens to converge the light rays. Unit of power
is Diopter (D).
1 100
P  ; Pconvex  positive, Pconcave  negative, Pplane  zero .
f (m ) f (cm )

Note :  Thick lens Thin lens

PfR Pf R

(2) Image formation by lens

Lens Location of Location of the Nature of image

the object image
Magnificatio Real Erect
n virtual inverted
Convex At infinity At focus i.e. v  f m 1 Real Inverted
i.e. u   diminished

Away from 2f Between f and 2f m 1 Real Inverted

i.e. f  v  2 f diminished
i.e. (u  2 f )
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

At 2f or (u  2 f ) At 2f i.e. (v  2 f ) m 1 Real Inverted

same size
Between f and 2f Away from 2f i.e. m 1 Real Inverted
i.e. f  u  2 f (v  2 f ) magnified
At focus At infinity i.e. v   m  Real Inverted
i.e. u  f magnified
Between optical At a distance m 1 Virtual Erect
centre and greater than that of magnified
focus, u  f object v  u

Concave At infinity At focus i.e. v = f m 1 Virtual Erect

i.e. u   diminished

Anywhere Between optical m 1 Virtual Erect

between infinity centre and focus diminished
and optical
centre

Note : Minimum distance between an object and it’s real image formed by a convex lens is
4f.  Maximum image distance for concave lens is it’s focal length.

(4) Lens maker’s formula

The relation between f, , R1 and R2 is known as lens maker’s formula and it is
1  1 1 
 (  1)  
f  R1 R 2 

Equiconvex lens Plano convex lens Equi concave lens Plano concave lens
R1  R and R 2  R R1  , R 2  R R1   R , R 2   R R1   , R 2  R

R R R R
f  f  f  f 
2(  1) (  1) 2(  1) 2(  1)

for   1 .5 , f  R for   1 .5 , f  2 R for   1 .5 f  R for   1.5, f  2 R

(5) Lens in a liquid

Focal length of a lens in a liquid ( fl ) can be determined by the following formula

fl ( a μ g  1)
 (Lens is supposed to be made of glass).
fa ( l μ g  1)

Note :  Focal length of a glass lens (  1 .5) is f in air then inside the water it’s focal length
is 4f.
 In liquids focal length of lens increases () and it’s power decreases ().
(6) Opposite behaviour of a lens
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

In general refractive index of lens ( L )  refractive index of medium surrounding it ( M ) .

L > M L < M L = M

(7) Lens formula and magnification of lens

1 1 1
(i) Lens formula :   ; (use sign convention)
f v u
(ii) Magnification : The ratio of the size of the image to the size of object is called
magnification.
I v f f v
(a) Transverse magnification : m     (use sign convention while solving
O u f u f
the problem)
I v 2  v1
(b) Longitudinal magnification : m  . For very small object
O u 2  u1
2 2 2
dv  v   f   f v
m         
du  u   f  u   f 
2
Ai  f 
(c) Areal magnification : m s   m 2    , (Ai = Area of image, Ao = Area of object)
Ao  f u
(8) Relation between object and image speed
If an object move with constant speed (Vo ) towards a convex lens from infinity to focus, the
2
 f 
image will move slower in the beginning and then faster. Also Vi    . Vo
 f u
(9) Focal length of convex lens by displacement method
(i) For two different positions of lens two images (I1 and I 2 ) of an object is formed at the same
location.
(ii) Focal length of the lens x
D x
2 2
x Object
f 
4D m1  m 2 O
I2
I I D > 4f I1
where m 1  1 and m 2  2
O O Screen

(iii) Size of object O  I1 . I 2

 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(10) Cutting of lens

(i) A symmetric lens is cut along optical axis in two equal parts. Intensity of image formed by
each part will be same as that of complete lens.
(ii) A symmetric lens is cut along principle axis in two equal parts. Intensity of image formed
1
by each part will be less compared as that of complete lens.(aperture of each part is times that
2
of complete lens)

f, P



(11) Combination of lens
2f 2f f, P
(i) For a system of lenses,
f, P the net power, net focal length and magnification given as follows :
P/2 P/2
1 1 1 1
P  P1  P2  P3 .......... ,     .......... . ,
F f1 f2 f3
m  m 1  m 2  m 3  .......... ..
(ii) In case when two thin lens are in contact : Combination will behave as a lens, which have
more power or lesser focal length.
1 1 1 f1 f2
   F and P  P1  P2
F f1 f2 f1  f2
(iii) If two lens of equal focal length but of opposite nature are in contact then combination
will behave as a plane glass plate and Fcombinatio n  
(iv) When two lenses are placed co-axially at a distance d from each other then equivalent
focal length (F).
f1 f2

1 1 1 d
   and P  P1  P2  dP1 P2
F f1 f2 f1 f2
d

(v) Combination of parts of a lens :

and
 and
F = f/2
F=
f
f F =f F=f

(12) Silvering of lens

On silvering the surface of the lens it behaves as a mirror. The focal length of the silvered lens
1 2 1
is   where fl  focal length of lens from which refraction takes place (twice)
F fl fm
fm  focal length of mirror from which reflection takes place.
(i) Plano convex is silvered

 +  +

F fl fm F fl fm
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

R R R R R
fm  , fl  so F  fm  , fl  so F 
2 (  1) 2 (  1) 2 (  1)
(ii) Double convex lens is silvered
R R
Since fl  , fm 
2 (  1) 2  +

R
So F 
2 (2   1) F fl fm

Note :  Similar results can be obtained for concave lenses.

(13) Defects in lens
(i) Chromatic aberration : Image of a white object is coloured and blurred because 
(hence f) of lens is different for different colours. This defect is called chromatic aberration.

White
Real Violet  V   R so fR  fV
light FV FR Mathematically chromatic aberration
= f R  f V  ωfy
fV  = Dispersion power of lens.
fR
fy = Focal length for mean colour  f R fV
Removal : To remove this defect i.e. for Achromatism we use two or more lenses in contact in
place of single lens.
1  2
Mathematically condition of Achromatism is :   0 or 1 f2   2 f1
f1 f2
Note :  Component lenses of an achromatic doublet cemented by canada blasam because it
is transparent and has a refractive index almost equal to the refractive of the glass.
(ii) Spherical aberration : Inability of a lens to form the point image of a point object on
the axis is called Spherical aberration.
In this defect all the rays passing through a lens are not focussed at a single point and the
image of a point object on the axis is blurred.

Marginal rays

Paraxial ray F F F F

Removal : A simple method to reduce spherical aberration is to use a stop before and infront
of the lens. (but this method reduces the intensity of the image as most of the light is cut off). Also
by using plano-convex lens, using two lenses separated by distance d = F – F ', using crossed lens.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Note :  Marginal rays : The rays farthest from the principal axis.
Paraxial rays : The rays close to the principal axis.
 Spherical aberration can be reduced by either stopping paraxial rays or marginal
rays, which can be done by using a circular annular mask over the lens.
 Parabolic mirrors are free from spherical aberration.
(iii) Coma : When the point object is placed away from the principle axis and the image is
received on a screen perpendicular to the axis, the shape of the image is like a comet. This defect is
called Coma.
It refers to spreading of a point object in a plane  to principle axis.

Image of P
P

Axis
P

Removal : It can be reduced by properly designing radii of curvature of the lens surfaces. It
can also be reduced by appropriate stops placed at appropriate distances from the lens.
(iv) Curvature : For a point object placed off the axis, the image is spread both along and
perpendicular to the principal axis. The best image is, in general, obtained not on a plane but on a
curved surface. This defect is known as Curvature.
Removal : Astigmatism or the curvature may be reduced by using proper stops placed at
proper locations along the axis.
(v) Distortion : When extended objects are imaged, different portions of the object are in
general at different distances from the axis. The magnification is not the same for all portions of
the extended object. As a result a line object is not imaged into a line but into a curve.

Object Distorted images

(vi) Astigmatism : The spreading of image (of a point object placed away from the principal
axis) along the principal axis is called Astigmatism.
Concepts

 If a sphere of radius R made of material of refractive index  2 is placed in a medium of refractive index  1 , Then if the
 1 
object is placed at a distance   R from the pole, the real image formed is equidistant from the sphere.

 2  1 

1 2

O P1 P2 I
2
 The lens doublets used in telescope are achromatic for blue and red colours, while these used in camera are achromatic for
x 2x x

1
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

violet and green colours. The reason for this is that our eye is most sensitive between blue and red colours, while the
photographic plates are most sensitive between violet and green colours.
 Position of optical centre
Equiconvex and equiconcave Exactly at centre of lens
Convexo-concave and concavo-convex Outside the glass position
Plano convex and plano concave On the pole of curved surface
 Composite lens : If a lens is made of several materials then
Number of images formed = Number of materials used
Here no. of images = 5

Example
s
Example: 18 A thin lens focal length f1 and its aperture has diameter d. It forms an image of intensity I.
Now the central part of the aperture upto diameter d/2 is blocked by an opaque paper. The
focal length and image intensity will change to
f I I 3f I 3I
(a) and (b) f and (c) and (d) f and
2 2 4 4 2 4
d 1
Solution: (d) Centre part of the aperture up to diameter is blocked i.e. th area is blocked
2 4
 2 
 A  d  . Hence remaining area A   3 A . Also, we know that intensity  Area 
 4  4

I A  3 3
   I  I .
I A 4 4
Focal length doesn't depend upon aperture.
Example: 19 The power of a thin convex lens (a  g  1.5) is + 5.0 D. When it is placed in a liquid of
refractive index a l , then it behaves as a concave lens of local length 100 cm. The refractive
index of the liquid a  l will be

(a) 5 / 3 (b) 4 / 3 (c) 3 (d) 5 / 4

fl a g  1 g 1 .5 1 1
Solution: (a) By using  ; where l g   and fa   m  20 cm
fa l g  1 l l P 5
100 1 .5  1
   l  5 / 3
20 1 .5
1
l
Example: 20 A double convex lens made of a material of refractive index 1.5 and having a focal length of
10 cm is immersed in liquid of refractive index 3.0. The lens will behave as [NCERT 1973]
(a) Diverging lens of focal length 10 cm (b) Diverging lens of focal length 10 / 3
cm
(c) Converging lens of focal length 10 / 3 cm (d) Converging lens of focal length 30
cm
fl a g 1 fl 1 .5  1
Solution: (a) By using     fl  10 cm (i.e. diverging lens)
fa l g  1  10 1 .5
1
3
Example: 21 Figure given below shows a beam of light converging at point P. When a concave lens of
focal length 16 cm is introduced in the path of the beam at a place O shown by dotted line,
the beam converges at a distance x from the lens. The value x will be equal to
(a) 12 cm
(b) 24 cm
P
O 12 cm
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(c) 36 cm
(d) 48 cm
Solution: (d) From the figure shown it is clear that
For lens : u = 12 cm and v = x = ?
P' P
1 1 1 1 1 1
By using       x = 48 cm.
f v u  16 x  12 x
12c
Example: 22 m 25 cm.
A convex lens of focal length 40 cm is an contact with a concave lens of focal length
The power of combination is
(a) – 1.5 D (b) – 6.5 D (c) + 6.5 D (d) + 6.67 D
1 1 1 1 1 1
Solution: (a) By using     
F f1 f2 F  40  25

200 100 100

 F cm , hence P   1.5 D
3 f (cm)  200 / 3
Example: 23 A combination of two thin lenses with focal lengths f1 and f 2 respectively forms an image
of distant object at distance 60 cm when lenses are in contact. The position of this image
shifts by 30 cm towards the combination when two lenses are separated by 10 cm. The
corresponding values of f1 and f 2 are [AIIMS 1995]

(a) 30 cm, – 60 cm (b) 20 cm, – 30 cm (c) 15 cm, – 20 cm (d) 12 cm, –

15 cm
Solution: (b) Initially F  60 cm (Focal length of combination)

1 1 1 1 1 1 f1 f2
Hence by using       ......(i)
F f1 f2 f1 f2 60 f1  f2

1 1 1 d
Finally by using    where F   30 cm and d = 10 cm 
F  f1 f2 f1 f2
1 1 1 10
   ......(ii)
30 f1 f2 f1 f2

From equations (i) and (ii) f1 f2   600 .

From equation (i) f1  f2  10 …..(iii)

Also,difference of focal lengths can written as f1  f2  ( f1  f2 )2  4 f1 f2  f1  f2  50

.(iv)
From (iii)  (iv) f1  20 and f2  30

Example: 24 A thin double convex lens has radii of curvature each of magnitude 40 cm and is made of
glass with refractive index 1.65. Its focal length is nearly
(a) 20 cm (b) 31 cm (c) 35 cm (d) 50 cm
R 40
Solution: (b) By using f   f   30 .7 cm  31 cm.
2  1 21.65  1

Example: 25 A spherical surface of radius of curvature R separates air (refractive index 1.0) from glass
(refractive index 1.5). The centre of curvature is in the glass. A point object P placed in air is
found to have a real image Q in the glass. The line PQ cuts the surface at a point O and
PO  OQ . The distance PO is equal to
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

[MP PMT 1994; Haryana CEE 1996]

(a) 5 R (b) 3 R (c) 2 R (d) 1.5 R

2 1  2  1
Solution: (a) By using  
v u R
Where 1  1,  2  1 .5, u = – OP, v = OQ
P O Q
1 .5 1 1 .5  1 1 .5 1 0 .5
Hence     
OQ  OP  R  OP OP R

 OP = 5 R
Example: 26 The distance between an object and the screen is 100 cm. A lens produces an image on the
screen when placed at either of the positions 40 cm apart. The power of the lens is
(a) 3 D (b) 5 D (c) 7 D (d) 9 D
D x2 2
100  40
2 2
Solution: (b) By using f   f   21 cm
4D 4  100
100 100
Hence power P     5D
Fcm  21
Example: 27 Shown in figure here is a convergent lens placed inside a cell filled with a liquid. The lens has
focal length +20 cm when in air and its material has refractive index 1.50. If the liquid has
refractive index 1.60, the focal length of the system is
Liquid
(a) + 80 cm (b) – 80 cm
(c) – 24 cm (d) – 100 cm Lens

1 1  3
 1 .6  1  
1
Solution: (d) Here  .......(i)
f1   20  100
 1 1 
 1 .5  1 
1 1
  .......(ii) + +
f2  20  20  20 

 1 1  3
 1 .6  1 
1
  .......(iii)
f3   20   100 f1 f2 f3
F
1 1 1 1 1 3 1 3
By using         F   100 cm
F f1 f2 f3 F 100 20 100
Example: 28 A concave lens of focal length 20 cm placed in contact with a plane mirror acts as a RA 1998]

(a) Convex mirror of focal length 10 cm (b) Concave mirror of focal length 40 cm
(c) Concave mirror of focal length 60 cm (d) Concave mirror of focal length 10 cm
1 2 1
Solution: (a) By using  
F fl fm
 +
f 20
Since fm   F  l   10 cm
2 2
F Fe Fm
(After silvering concave lens behave as convex mirror)
Example: 29 A candle placed 25 cm from a lens, forms an image on a screen placed 75 cm on the other
end of the lens. The focal length and type of the lens should be
(a) + 18.75 cm and convex lens (b) – 18.75 cm and concave lens
(c) + 20.25 cm and convex lens (d) – 20.25 cm and concave lens
Solution: (a) In concave lens, image is always formed on the same side of the object. Hence the given lens
is a convex lens for which u = – 25 cm, v = 75 cm.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

1 1 1 1 1 1
By using       f = + 18.75 cm.
f v u f  75   25 
Example: 30 A convex lens forms a real image of an object for its two different positions on a screen. If
height of the image in both the cases be 8 cm and 2 cm, then height of the object is [KCET (Engg./Med.) 20
(a) 16 cm (b) 8 cm (c) 4 cm (d) 2 cm
Solution: (c) By using O  I1 I 2  O  8  2  4 cm
Example: 31 A convex lens produces a real image m times the size of the object. What will be the distance
of the object from the lens [JIPMER 2002]

m 1 m 1 m 1
(a)  f (b) (m  1) f (c)  f (d)
 m   m  f

By using m 
f
here  m 
 f   
1

f u
1
u m 1
u  
Solution: (a) . f
f u  f   u m f f  m 
Example: 32 An air bubble in a glass sphere having 4 cm diameter appears 1 cm from surface nearest to
eye when looked along diameter. If a  g  1.5 , the distance of bubble from refracting surface
is [CPMT 2002]
(a) 1.2 cm (b) 3.2 cm (c) 2.8 cm (d) 1.6 cm
Solution: (a) By using
2 1  2  1 2=1
 
v u R 1=1.5

where u = ? , v = – 1 cm, 1  1.5 ,  2  1 , R = – 2 cm.

C
u
1 1 .5 1  1 .5 6
   u  1 . 2 cm .
 2 
v =1cm
1 u 5 R = 2cm

Example: 33 The sun's diameter is 1.4  10 9 m and its distance from the earth is 10 11 m . The diameter of its
image, formed by a convex lens of focal length 2m will be
(a) 0.7 cm (b) 1.4 cm (c) 2.8 cm (d) Zero (i.e.
point image)
f
Solution: (c) From figure Sun
(D) 
D 10 11 2  1 .4  10 9 
  d  2 .8 cm. (d)
d 2 10 11 Image
1011 m

Example: 34 Two point light sources are 24 cm apart. Where should a convex lens of focal length 9 cm be
put in between them from one source so that the images of both the sources are formed at
the same place
(a) 6 cm (b) 9 cm (c) 12 cm (d) 15 cm
Solution: (a) The given condition will be satisfied only if one source (S1) placed on one side such that u < f
(i.e. it lies under the focus). The other source (S2) is placed on the other side of the lens such
that u > f (i.e. it lies beyond the focus).
1 1 1 1 1 1
If S 1 is the object for lens then      ........(i)
f y x y x f
1 1 1 1 1 1
If S 2 is the object for lens then      ........(ii)
f  y  (24  x ) y f (24  x )
I1 S1 S2
I2

x (24 –
24 cm 4)
y
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

From equation (i) and (ii)

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2
        x 2  24 x  108  0
x f f (24  x ) x (24  x ) f 9
On solving the equation x  18 cm , 6 cm

Example: 35 There is an equiconvex glass lens with radius of each face as R and a g  3 / 2 and

a w  4 / 3 . If there is water in object space and air in image space, then the focal length is

(a) 2R (b) R (c) 3 R/2 (d) R 2

Solution: (c) Consider the refraction of the first surface i.e. refraction from rarer medium to denser
medium
3 4 4 3
  
 2  1 1 2  2 3 3
     2  v1  9 R
R u v1 R  v1
I I1
Now consider the refraction at the second surface of the lens i.e.
refraction from denser medium to rarer medium Water Air

3 3
1
2   2  1  v   3  R
2
R 9R v2 2
3
The image will be formed at a distance do R . This is equal to the focal length of the lens.
2
Tricky example: 4

A luminous object is placed at a distance of 30 cm from the convex lens of focal length 20 cm. On
the other side of the lens. At what distance from the lens a convex mirror of radius of curvature 10
cm be placed in order to have an upright image of the object coincident with it
[CBSE PMT 1998; JIPMER 2001, 2002]

(a) 12 cm (b) 30 cm (c) 50 cm (d) 60 cm

1 1 1 1 1 1
Solution : (c) For lens u  30 cm, f  20 cm , hence by using       v  60 cm
f v u  20 v  30
The final image will coincide the object, if light ray falls normally I
on convex mirror as shown. From figure it is seen clear that O

reparation between lens and mirror is 60 – 10 = 50 cm.

30 cm 10 cm
60 cm
Tricky example: 5

A convex lens of local length 30 cm and a concave lens of 10 cm focal length are placed so as to have
the same axis. If a parallel beam of light falling on convex lens leaves concave lens as a parallel
beam, then the distance between two lenses will be
(a) 40 cm (b) 30 cm (c) 20 cm (d) 10 cm
Solution : (c) According to figure the combination behaves as plane glass plate (i.e., F= )
1 1 1 d
Hence by using   
F f1 f2 f1 f2
1 1 1 d
     d = 20 cm
  30  10 30  10 
d
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Prism
Prism is a transparent medium bounded by refracting surfaces, such that the incident surface (on which
light ray is incidenting) and emergent surface (from which light rays emerges) are plane and non
parallel.

Commonly used prism :

Equilateral prism Right angle prism Right angled isosceles

prism

(1) Refraction through a prism i – Angle of incidence, e – Angle of emergence,

A – Angle of prism or refracting angle of prism,
A A  r1  r2 and i  e  A  
r1 and r2 – Angle of refraction, – Angle of
A sin i deviation sin r

e For surface AC   ; For surface AB   2

i r1 r2
sin r1 sin e


C B

(2) Deviation through a prism

For thin prism   (  1) A . Also deviation is different for different colour light e.g.  R   V
so  R   V . And  Flint   Crown so  F   C

Maximum deviation Minimum deviation

ma It is observed if
x e
i = 90o
r2 i  e and r1  r2  r
r1 = C i e
r r
then :

In this condition of maximum deviation (i) Refracted ray inside the prism is parallel to the base
 i  90 ,o
r1  C, r2  A  C and from of the prism
Snell’s law on emergent surface 

m

i
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

 sin( A  C)  A A  m
e  sin 1   (ii) r  and i 
 sin C  2 2
A  m
sin
sin i 2
(iii)   or  
sin A / 2 sin A / 2

Note :  If  m  A then   2 cos A / 2

(3) Normal incidence on a prism

If light ray incident normally on any surface of prism as shown

i = 0o e = 0o
r1 = 0o and r2 = 0o
r2 e i r1 or

sin i
In any of the above case use   and   i  A
sin A
(4) Grazing emergence and TIR through a prism
When a light ray falls on one surface of prism, it is not necessary that it will exit out from the
prism. It may or may not be exit out as shown below
Normal incidence Grazing incidence
Ray –1 : General emergence Ray –1 : General emergence
A < C and A < 2C and
 < cosec A A  < cosec (A/2)
A

Ray – 2: Grazing emergence Ray – 2: Grazing emergence

A = C and Ray - 1 A = 2C and
Ray - 1  = cosec A Ray - 3  = cosec (A/2)
Ray - 3
Ray – 3: TIR Ray - 2 Ray – 3: TIR
Ray - 2 A > C and A > 2C and
 > cosec A  > cosec (A/2)
A = angle of prism and C = Critical angle for the material of
the prism

Note :  For the condition of grazing emergence. Minimum angle of incidence

i min  sin 1  μ 2  1 sinA  cosA  .

 
(5) Dispersion through a prism
The splitting of white light into it’s constituent colours is called dispersion of light.

Screen

Incident R
white light Y
V
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(i) Angular dispersion ( ) : Angular separation between extreme colours i.e.

θ  δ V  δ R  (μV  μ R ) A . It depends upon  and A.
   R    R 
(ii) Dispersive power () :    V wher e  y  V 
y y  1  2 
 It depends only upon the material of the prism i.e.  and it doesn't depends upon angle of
prism A
Note :  Remember  Flint   Crown .

(6) Combination of prisms

Two prisms (made of crown and flint material) are combined to get either dispersion only or
deviation only.

Dispersion without deviation (chromatic combination) Deviation without dispersion (Achromatic

Flint combination) Flint
V
A R A

R R
V A A
V
Crown Crown

A' ( y  1) A' (   R )
(i)  (i)  V
A ( ' y 1) A (  ' V  ' R )

 '   
(ii)  net   1    (   '  ' ) (ii)  net   1  
   ' 

Scattering of Light
Molecules of a medium after absorbing incoming light radiations, emits them in all direction.
This phenomenon is called Scattering.
1
(1) According to scientist Rayleigh : Intensity of scattered light  4

(2) Some phenomenon based on scattering : (i) Sky looks blue due to scattering.
(ii) At the time of sunrise or sunset it looks reddish. (iii) Danger signals are made from red.
(3) Elastic scattering : When the wavelength of radiation remains unchanged, the
scattering is called elastic.
(4) Inelastic scattering (Raman’s effect) : Under specific condition, light can also suffer
inelastic scattering from molecules in which it’s wavelength changes.
Rainbow
Rainbow is formed due to the dispersion of light suffering

refraction and TIR in the droplets present in the atmosphere.

Re
d Violet

42o40o
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(1) Primary rainbow : (i) Two refraction and one TIR. (ii) Innermost arc is violet and
outermost is red. (iii) Subtends an angle of 42 o at the eye of the observer. (iv) More bright
(2) Secondary rainbow : (i) Two refraction and two TIR. (ii) Innermost arc is red and
outermost is violet.
(iii) It subtends an angle of 52 .5 o at the eye. (iv) Comparatively less bright.

Colours
Colour is defined as the sensation received by the eye (cone cells of the eye) due to light coming from
object.
(1) Types of colours
Spectral colours Colours of pigment and dyes
Green (P) Yellow (P)

Cyan (S) Yellow (S) Green (S) Orange (S)

white Black

Blue (P) Red (P) Blue (P) Red (P)

Magenta (S) Radish violet (S)
(Mauve)
(i) Complementary colours : (i) Complementary colours :
Green and magenta yellow and mauve
Blue and yellow Red and green
Red and cyan Blue and orange
(ii) Combination : (ii) Combination :
Green + red + blue = White Yellow + red + blue = Black
Blue + yellow = White Blue + orange = Black
Red + cyan = White Red + green = Black
Green + magenta = White Yellow + mauve = Black

(2) Colours of object : The perception of a colour by eye depends on the nature of object
and the light incident on it.
Colours of opaque object Colours of transparent object
(i) Due to selective reflection. (i) Due to selective transmission.
(ii) A rose appears red in white light because it reflects (ii) A red glass appears red because it absorbs all
red colour and absorbs all remaining colours. colours, except red which it transmits.
(iii) When yellow light falls on a bunch of flowers, then (iii) When we look on objects through a green glass or
yellow and white flowers looks yellow. Other flowers green filter then green and white objects will appear
looks black. green while other black.
Note : A hot object will emit light of that colour only which it has observed when it was
heated.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Spectrum.
The ordered arrangements of radiations according to wavelengths or frequencies is called
Spectrum. Spectrum can be divided in two parts (I) Emission spectrum and (II) Absorption
spectrum.
(1) Emission spectrum : When light emitted by a self luminous object is dispersed by
a prism to get the spectrum, the spectrum is called emission spectra.

Continuous emission Line emission spectrum Band emission

spectrum spectrum
(i) It consists of continuously (i) It consist of distinct bright lines. (iii) It consist of district bright
varying wavelengths in a definite bands.
wavelength range.
(ii) It is produced by solids, liquids (ii) It is produced by an excited (ii) It is produced by an
and highly compressed gases heated source in atomic state. excited source in molecular
to high temperature. state.
(iii) e.g. Light from the sun, filament (iii) e.g. Spectrum of excited (iii) e.g. Spectra of molecular
of incandescent bulb, candle flame helium, mercury vapours, sodium H 2 , CO, NH 3 etc.
etc. vapours or atomic hydrogen.

(2) Absorption spectrum : When white light passes through a semi-transparent solid, or
liquid or gas, it’s spectrum contains certain dark lines or bands, such spectrum is called absorption
spectrum (of the substance through which light is passed).
(i) Substances in atomic state produces line absorption spectra. Polyatomic substances such
as H 2 , CO 2 and KMnO 4 produces band absorption spectrum.
(ii) Absorption spectra of sodium vapour have two (yellow lines) wavelengths D1 (5890 Å) and
D2 (5896 Å)
Note :  If a substance emits spectral lines at high temperature then it absorbs the same lines
at low temperature. This is Kirchoff’s law.
(3) Fraunhoffer’s lines : The central part (photosphere) of the sun is very hot and emits all
possible wavelengths of the visible light. However, the outer part (chromosphere) consists of
vapours of different elements. When the light emitted from the photosphere passes through the
chromosphere, certain wavelengths are absorbed. Hence, in the spectrum of sunlight a large
number of dark lines are seen called Fraunhoffer lines.
(i) The prominent lines in the yellow part of the visible spectrum were labelled as D-lines,
those in blue part as F-lines and in red part as C-line.
(ii) From the study of Fraunhoffer’s lines the presence of various elements in the sun’s
atmosphere can be identified e.g. abundance of hydrogen and helium.
(4) Spectrometer : A spectrometer is used for obtaining pure spectrum of a source in
laboratory and calculation of  of material of prism and  of a transparent liquid.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

It consists of three parts : Collimator which provides a parallel beam of light; Prism Table for
holding the prism and Telescope for observing the spectrum and making measurements on it.
The telescope is first set for parallel rays and then collimator is set for parallel rays. When
prism is set in minimum deviation position, the spectrum seen is pure spectrum. Angle of prism
(A) and angle of minimum deviation ( m ) are measured and  of material of prism is calculated
using prism formula. For  of a transparent liquid, we take a hollow prism with thin glass sides.
Fill it with the liquid and measure ( m ) and A of liquid prism.  of liquid is calculated using prism
formula.
(5) Direct vision spectroscope : It is an instrument used to observe pure spectrum. It
produces dispersion without deviation with the help of n crown prisms and (n  1) flint prisms
alternately arranged in a tabular structure.
For no deviation n (  1)A  (n  1) ( '1)A' .

Concepts

 When a ray of white light passes through a glass prism red light is deviated less than blue light.
 For a hollow prism A  0 but  0

 If an opaque coloured object or crystal is crushed to fine powder it will appear white (in sun light) as it will lose it's
property of selective reflection.
 Our eye is most sensitive to that part at the spectrum which lies between the F line (sky green) one the C-line (red)
of hydrogen equal to the refractive index for the D line (yellow) of sodium. Hence for the dispersive power, the
  C
following formula is internationally accepted   F
D  1
 Sometimes a part of prism is given and we keep on thinking whether how should we proceed ? To solve such
problems first complete the prism then solve as the problems of prism are solved A

 Some other types of prism 50o


60o 70o 60o 70o
B C

Example: 36 When light rays are incident on a prism at an angle of 45 o, the minimum deviation is
obtained. If refractive index of the material of prism is 2 , then the angle of prism will be
(a) 30o (b) 40o (c) 50o (d) 60o
1
sin i sin 45 A 2 1 A
Solution: (d)   2   sin     30 o  A  60 o
A A 2 2 2 2
sin sin
2 2
Example: 37 Angle of minimum deviation for a prism of refractive index 1.5 is equal to the angle of prism.
The angle of prism is (cos 41 o  0.75)
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(a) 62o (b) 41o (c) 82o (d) 31o

A  m AA
sin sin
2 2 sin A A
Solution: (c) Given m  A , then by using     2 cos
A A A 2
sin sin sin
2 2 2
 A A
sin A  2 sin cos 
 2 2
A A A
 1 . 5  2 cos  0 . 75  cos  41 o   A  82 o .
2 2 2
Example: 38 Angle of glass prism is 60o and refractive index of the material of the prism is 1.414,then
what will be the angle of incidence, so that ray should pass symmetrically through prism
(a) 38o 61' (b) 35o 35' (c) 45o (d) 53o 8'
Solution: (c) incident ray and emergent ray are symmetrical in the cure, when prism is in minimum
deviation position.
Hence in this condition
sin i  A 1
  sin i   sin    sin i  1 .414  sin 30 o   i  45 o
sin
A  2 2
2
Example: 39 A prism (  1.5) has the refracting angle of 30o. The deviation of a monochromatic ray
incident normally on its one surface will be (sin 48 o 36 '  0 .75 )
(a) 18o 36' (b) 20o 30' (c) 18o (d) 22o 1'
sin i sin i
Solution: (a) By using    1 .5   sin i  0 . 75  i  48 o 36 '
sin A sin 30
Also from   i  A    48 o 36 '30 o  18 o 36 '

Example: 40 Angle of a prism is 30o and its refractive index is 2 and one of the surface is silvered. At
what angle of incidence, a ray should be incident on one surface so that after reflection from
the silvered surface, it retraces its path
(a) 30o (b) 60o (c) 45o (d) sin 1 1.5
Solution: (c) This is the case when light ray is falling normally an second surface.
sin i sin i 1
Hence by using    2  o
 sin i  2   i  45 o
sin A sin 30 2
A
Example: 41 The refracting angle of prism is A and refractive index of material of prism is cot . The
2
angle of minimum deviation is
(a) 180 o  3 A (b) 180 o  2 A (c) 90 o  A (d) 180 o  2 A
A  m A  m A A  m
sin sin cos sin
2 A 2 2  2
Solution: (d) By using    cot  
A 2 A A A
sin sin sin sin
2 2 2 2
 A  A  m  A A  m
 sin  90    sin    90 
    m  180  2 A
 2  2  2 2
Example: 42 A ray of light passes through an equilateral glass prism in such a manner that the angle of
incidence is equal to the angle of emergence and each of these angles is equal to 3/4 of the
angle of the prism. The angle of deviation is
(a) 45o (b) 39o (c) 20o (d) 30o
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

3 3
Solution: (d) Given that A  60 o and i  e  A   60  45 o
4 4
By using i  e  A    45  45  60      30 o

Example: 43 PQR is a right angled prism with other angles as 60 o and 30o. Refractive index of prism is
1.5. PQ has a thin layer of liquid. Light falls normally on the face PR. For total internal
reflection, maximum refractive index of liquid is
(a) 1.4
P Q
(b) 1.3 60 30°
° 
(c) 1.2
(d) 1.6
R
Solution: (c) For TIR at PQ   C
From geometry of figure   60 i.e. 60  C  sin 60  sin C
3  Liquid 3 3
    Liquid    Pr ism   Liquid   1.5   Liquid  1.3 .
2  Pr ism 2 2
Example: 44 Two identical prisms 1 and 2, each will angles of 30 o, 60o and 90o are placed in contact as
shown in figure. A ray of light passed through the combination in the position of minimum
deviation and suffers a deviation of 30o. If the prism 2 is removed, then the angle of
deviation of the same ray is [PMT (Andhra) 1995]

(a) Equal to 15o

30o 30o
(b) Smaller than 30o
(c) More than 15o
60o 90 90 60o
o o

(d) Equal to 30o

Solution: (a)   (  1)A as A is halved, so  is also halves
Example: 45 A prism having an apex angle 4o and refraction index 1.5 is located in front of a vertical plane
mirror as shown in figure. Through what total angle is the ray deviated after reflection from
the mirror

(a) 176o (b) 4o 4°

(c) 178o (d) 2o 2°
2°
2°
Solution: (c)  Pr ism  (  1) A  (1 .5  1)4 o  2 o
  Total   Pr ism   Mirror  (  1) A  (180  2i)  2 o  (180  2  2)  178 o
Example: 46 A ray of light is incident to the hypotenuse of a right-angled prism
after travelling parallel to the base inside the prism. If  is the refractive index of the
material of the prism, the maximum value of the base angle for which light is totally
reflected from the hypotenuse is [EAMCET
2003]
1 1   1 1
(a) sin 1   (b) tan 1   (c) sin 1   (d) cos 1  
     
Solution: (d) If   maximum value of vase angle for which light is totally reflected from hypotenuse.
(90  )  C  minimum value of angle of incidence an hypotenuse for TIR
(90-)
1 1 (90-)
sin(90   )  sin C     cos 1  
  90° 
Example: 47 If the refractive indices of crown glass for red, yellow and violet colours are 1.5140, 1.5170
and 1.5318 respectively and for flint glass these are 1.6434, 1.6499 and 1.6852 respectively,
then the dispersive powers for crown and flint glass are respectively
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(a) 0.034 and 0.064 (b) 0.064 and 0.034 (c) 1.00 and 0.064 (d) 0.034 and 1.0
 v   r 1 .5318  1 .5140
Solution: (a)  Crown    0 .034 and
y  1 (1 .5170  1)
 v'   r' 1 . 6852  1 . 6434
 Flint    0 . 064
 y' 1 1 . 6499  1

Example: 48 Flint glass prism is joined by a crown glass prism to produce dispersion without deviation.
The refractive indices of these for mean rays are 1.602 and 1.500 respectively. Angle of
prism of flint prism is 10o, then the angle of prism for crown prism will be
(a) 12 o 2.4 ' (b) 12 o 4 ' (c) 1 .24 o (d) 12o
Solution: (a) For dispersion without deviation
AC (  1) A (1 .602  1)
 F    A  12.04 o  12 o 2.4 '
AF ( C  1) 10 (1 .500  1)

Tricky example: 6

An achromatic prism is made by crown glass prism ( A C  19 o ) and flint glass prism
( A F  6 o ) . If C v  1 .5 and F v  1.66 , then resultant deviation for red coloured ray will be
(a) 1.04o (b) 5o (c) 0.96o (d) 13.5o
Solution : (d) For achromatic combination w C  w F  [( v   r )A]C  [( v   r )A] F
 [ r A]C  [ r A] F  [ v A]C  [ v A] F  1.5  19  6  1.66  38.5
Resultant deviation   [( r  1)A]C  [( r  1)A] F
 [ r A]C  [ r A] F  ( AC  A F )  38 .5  (19  6)  13 .5 o
Tricky example: 7
The light is incident at an angle of 60o on a prism of which the refracting angle of prism is
30o. The refractive index of material of prism will be
(a) 2 (b) 2 3 (c) 2 (d) 3
Solution : (d) By using i  e  A    60  e  30  30  e  0 .
Hence ray will emerge out normally so by using the formula
sin i sin 60
   3
sin A sin 30
60°
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Human Eye.

(1) Eye lens : Over all behaves as a convex lens of   1.437

(2) Retina : Real and inverted image of an object, obtained at retina, brain sense it erect.
(3) Yellow spot : It is the most sensitive part, the image formed at yellow spot is brightest.
(4) Blind spot : Optic nerves goes to brain through blind spot. It is not sensitive for light.
(5) Ciliary muscles – Eye lens is fixed between these muscles. It’s both radius of curvature
can be changed by applying pressure on it through ciliary muscles.
(6) Power of accomodation : The ability of eye to see near objects as well as far objects is
called power of accomodation.
Note :  When we look distant objects, the eye is relaxed and it's focal length is largest.
(7) Range of vision : For healthy eye it is 25 cm (near point) to  (far point).
A normal eye can see the objects clearly, only if they are at a distance greater than 25 cm. This
distance is called Least distance of distinct vision and is represented by D.
(8) Persistence of vision : Is 1/10 sec. i.e. if time interval between two consecutive light
pulses is lesser than 0.1 sec., eye cannot distinguish them separately.
(9) Binocular vision : The seeing with two eyes is called binocular vision.
(10) Resolving limit : The minimum angular displacement between two objects, so that
o
 1 
they are just resolved is called resolving limit. For eye it is 1    .
'
 60 
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

Specific Example
A person wishes to distinguish between two pillars located at a distances of 11 Km. What should be the minimum
distance between the pillars.
d
o
 1 
Solution : As the limit of resolution of eye is  
 60 
o
 1  d  1   
So          d  3 .2 m 11 km
 60  11  10 3
 60  180

(11) Defects in eye

Myopia (short sightness) Hypermetropia (long sightness)

(i) Distant objects are not seen clearly but nearer (i) Distant objects are seen clearly but nearer object
objects are clearly visible. are not clearly visible.
(ii) Image formed before the retina. (ii) Image formed behind the retina.

(iii) Far point comes closer. (iii) Near point moves away

(iv) Reasons : (iv) Reasons :

(a) Focal length or radii of curvature of lens reduced (a) Focal length or radii of curvature of lens increases
or power of lens increases. or power of lens decreases.
(b) Distance between eye lens and retina increases. (b) Distance between eye lens and retina decreases.
(v) Removal : By using a concave lens of suitable focal (v) Removal : By using a convex lens.
length.
(vi) Focal length : (vi) Focal length :
(a) A person can see upto distance  x (a) A person cannot see before distance  d
wants to see  , so wants to see the object place at distance  D
focal length of used lens f   x = – (defected far point) f 
dD
so
dD
(b) A person can see upto distance  x
wants to see distance  y (y > x)
xy
so f 
x y

Presbyopia : In this defect both near and far objects are not clearly visible. It is an old age
disease and it is due to the loosing power of accommodation. It can be removed by using bifocal
lens.

Concave
Convex

Astigmatism : In this defect eye cannot see horizontal and vertical lines clearly,
simultaneously. It is due to imperfect spherical nature of eye lens. This defect can be removed by
using cylindrical lens (Torric lenses).

Microscope.
 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

It is an optical instrument used to see very small objects. It’s magnifying power is given by
Visual angle with instrument ( )
m
Visual angle when object is placed at least distance of distinct vision ( )

(1) Simple miscroscope

(i) It is a single convex lens of lesser focal length.
(ii) Also called magnifying glass or reading lens.
(iii) Magnification’s, when final image is formed at D
and  (i.e. m D and m  )

 D D
m D   1   and m    
 f  max  f  min

Note :  m max .  m min .  1

Da Da
 If lens is kept at a distance a from the eye then m D  1  and m  
f f
(2) Compound microscope
(i) Consist of two converging lenses called
objective and eye lens.
(ii) fey e lens  fobj ective and
(diameter) ey e lens  (diameter )objective

(iii) Final image is magnified, virtual and

inverted.
(iv) u 0  Distance of object from objective (o),
v 0  Distance of image ( A B ) formed by objective from objective, u e  Distance of AB from eye
lens, ve = Distance of final image from eye lens, f0 = Focal length of objective, fe = Focal length of eye
lens.
v0  D f0  D (v  f0 )  D
Magnification : m D    1      1     0  1  
u0  fe  (u 0  f0 )  fe  f0  fe 

v0 D  f0  D  (v  f0 ) D
m   .      0 .
u 0 Fe (u 0  f0 )  fe  f0 Fe

Length of the tube (i.e. distance between two lenses)

u 0 f0 f D
When final image is formed at D ; LD  v0  ue   e
u 0  f0 fe  D

u 0 f0
When final images is formed at  ; L  v 0  fe   fe
u 0  f0

(Do not use sign convention while solving the problems)

 PHYSICS
Reflection of Light

(L   f0  fe )D
Note :  m 
f0 fe

 For maximum magnification both f0 and fe must be less.

 m  m objective  m ey e lens

 If objective and eye lens are interchanged, practically there is no change in

magnification.
(3) Resolving limit and resolving power : In reference to a microscope, the minimum
distance between two lines at which they are just distinct is called Resolving limit (RL) and it’s
reciprocal is called Resolving power (RP)
 2  sin 1
R.L.  and R.P.   R.P. 
2  sin   
 = Wavelength of light used to illuminate the object,
 = Refractive index of the medium between object and objective,
 = Half angle of the cone of light from the point object,  sin  = Numerical aperture.
Note :  Electron microscope : electron beam (  1 Å) is used in it so it’s R.P. is approx 5000
times more than that of ordinary microscope (  5000 Å)
Telescope.
By telescope distant objects are seen.
(1) Astronomical telescope
(i) Used to see heavenly bodies.
(ii) fobjective  feyelens and d objective  d ey e lens .
(iii) Intermediate image is real, inverted and small.
(iv) Final image is virtual, inverted and small.
f0  f  f
(v) Magnification : m D    1  e  and m    o
fe  D fe
fe D
(vi) Length : L D  f0  u e  f0  and L  f0  fe
fe  D
(2) Terrestrial telescope
(i) Used to see far off object on the earth. ue = D to 
P
A
(ii) It consists of three converging lens : objective, A''
eye lens and erecting lens. B Q B'
O B''
(iii) It’s final image is virtual erect and smaller. A' Erecting
lens
fo 2f 2f uo
f0  f 
(iv) Magnification : mD  1  e  and
fe  D
f0
m 
fe
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Reflection of Light

fe D
(v) Length : L D  f0  4 f  u e  f0  4 f  and L   f0  4 f  fe
fe  D

(3) Galilean telescope

(i) It is also a terrestrial telescope but of much smaller field of view.
(ii) Objective is a converging lens while eye lens is diverging lens.
f0  f  f
(iii) Magnification : m D   1  e  and m   0
fe  D fe

(iv) Length : L D  f0  u e and L   f0  fe

(4) Resolving limit and resolving power
Smallest angular separations (d) between two distant objects, whose images are separated in
1.22 
the telescope is called resolving limit. So resolving limit d 
a
1 a 1
and resolving power (RP)    R.P.  where a = aperture of objective.
d 1.22  
Note :Minimum separation (d) between objects, so they can just resolved by a telescope is –
r
d where r = distance of objects from telescope.
R.P.
(5) Binocular
If two telescopes are mounted parallel to each other so that an object can be seen by both the eyes
simultaneously, the arrangement is called 'binocular'. In a binocular, the
fo
length of each tube is reduced by using a set of totally reflecting prisms which
provided intense, erect image free from lateral inversion. Through a
binocular we get two images of the same object from different angles at same
time. Their superposition gives the perception of depth also along with length
and breadth, i.e., binocular vision gives proper three-dimensional (3D) fe
image.
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Reflection of Light

Concepts

 As magnifying power is negative, the image seen in astronomical telescope is truly inverted, i.e., left is turned right
with upside down simultaneously. However, as most of the astronomical objects are symmetrical this inversion does
not affect the observations.
 Objective and eye lens of a telescope are interchanged, it will not behave as a microscope but object appears very small.
 In a telescope, if field and eye lenses are interchanged magnification will change from (f o / fe) to (fe / fo), i.e., it will
change from m to (1/m), i.e., will become (1/m2) times of its initial value.
 As magnification for normal setting as (fo / fe), so to have large magnification, fo must be as large as practically
possible and fe small. This is why in a telescope, objective is of large focal length while eye piece of small.
 In a telescope, aperture of the field lens is made as large as practically possible to increase its resolving power as
resolving power of a telescope  (D/)*. Large aperture of objective also helps in improving the brightness of
image by gathering more light from distant object. However, it increases aberrations particularly spherical.
 For a telescope with increase in length of the tube, magnification decreases.
 In case of a telescope if object and final image are at infinity then :
f D
m o 
fe d
 If we are given four convex lenses having focal lengths f1  f2  f3  f4 . For making a good telescope and
microscope. We choose the following lenses respectively. Telescope f1 (o), f4 (e) Microscope f4 (o), f3 (e )
 If a parrot is sitting on the objective of a large telescope and we look towards (or take a photograph)of distant
astronomical object (say moon) through it, the parrot will not be seen but the intensity of the image will be slightly
reduced as the parrot will act as obstruction to light and will reduce the aperture of the objective.

Example
s
Example: 1 A man can see the objects upto a distance of one metre from his eyes. For correcting his eye
sight so that he can see an object at infinity, he requires a lens whose power is
or
A man can see upto 100 cm of the distant object. The power of the lens required to see far
objects will be
[MP PMT 1993, 2003]
(a) +0.5 D (b) +1.0 D (c) +2.0 D (d) –1.0 D
100 100
Solution: (d) f = –(defected far point) = – 100 cm. So power of the lens P    1 D
f  100
Example: 2 A man can see clearly up to 3 metres. Prescribe a lens for his spectacles so that he can see clearly
up to 12 metres
[DPMT 2002]
(a) – 3/4 D (b) 3 D (c) – 1/4 D (d) – 4 D
xy 3  12 1 1
Solution: (c) By using f   f  4 m . Hence power P    D
x y 3  12 f 4
Example: 3 The diameter of the eye-ball of a normal eye is about 2.5 cm. The power of the eye lens varies
from
(a) 2 D to 10 D (b) 40 D to 32 D (c) 9 D to 8 D (d) 44 D to 40
D
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1 1 1
Solution: (d) An eye sees distant objects with full relaxation so 2
  or
2.5  10  f
1 1
P   40 D
f 25  10  2
1 1 1
An eye sees an object at 25 cm with strain so   or
2.5  10  2  25  10  2 f
1
P  40  4  44 D
f
Example: 4 The resolution limit of eye is 1 minute. At a distance of r from the eye, two persons stand
with a lateral separation of 3 metre. For the two persons to be just resolved by the naked eye,
r should be
(a) 10 km (b) 15 km (c) 20 km (d) 30 km
o d = 3m
d  1   1  
Solution: (a) From figure   ; where   1'        rad
r  
60  60  180

1  3
 1    r = 10 km 
60 180 r r

Example: 5 Two points separated by a distance of 0.1 mm can just be resolved in a microscope when a
light of wavelength 6000 Å is used. If the light of wavelength 4800 Å is used this limit of
resolution becomes
[UPSEAT 2002]
(a) 0.08 mm (b) 0.10 mm (c) 0.12 mm (d) 0.06 mm
(R.L.)1  0 .1 6000
Solution: (a) By using resolving limit (R.L.)     1    (R.L.) 2  0.08 mm .
(R.L.) 2 2 (R.L.) 2 4800
Example: 6 In a compound microscope, the focal lengths of two lenses are 1.5 cm and 6.25 cm an object
is placed at 2 cm form objective and the final image is formed at 25 cm from eye lens. The
distance between the two lenses is
[EAMCET (Med.) 2000]
(a) 6.00 cm (b) 7.75 cm (c) 9.25 cm (d) 11.00 cm
Solution: (d) It is given that fo = 1.5 cm, fe = 6.25 cm, uo = 2 cm
When final image is formed at least distance of distinct vision, length of the tube
uo fo fe D
LD  
uo  fo fe  D
2  1 .5 6.25  25
 LD    11 cm .
(2  1.5) (6.25  25)
Example: 7 The focal lengths of the objective and the eye-piece of a compound microscope are 2.0 cm
and 3.0 cm respectively. The distance between the objective and the eye-piece is 15.0 cm.
The final image formed by the eye-piece is at infinity. The two lenses are thin. The distances
in cm of the object and the image produced by the objective measured from the objective
lens are respectively [IIT-JEE 1995]
(a) 2.4 and 12.0 (b) 2.4 and 15.0 (c) 2.3 and 12.0 (d) 2.3 and
3.0
Solution: (a) Given that fo  2 cm , fe  3 cm , L  15 cm
vo vo  fo 12 12  2
By using L  vo  fe  15  vo  3  vo  12 cm . Also    
uo fo uo 2
uo  2.4 cm .
Example: 8 The focal lengths of the objective and eye-lens of a microscope are 1 cm and 5 cm
respectively. If the magnifying power for the relaxed eye is 45, then the length of the tube is
(a) 30 cm (b) 25 cm (c) 15 cm (d) 12 cm
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Reflection of Light

Solution: (c) Given that fo  1 cm , fe  5 cm , m  45

(L   fo  fe ) (L  1  5 )  25
By using m    45    L  15 cm
fo fe 15
Example: 9 If the focal lengths of objective and eye lens of a microscope are 1.2 cm and 3 cm respectively
and the object is put 1.25 cm away from the objective lens and the final image is formed at
infinity, then magnifying power of the microscope is
(a) 150 (b) 200 (c) 250 (d) 400
Solution: (b) Given that fo  1 .2 cm , fe  3 cm , uo  1.25 cm
fo D 1 .2 25
By using m      m     200 .
(u o  fo ) fe (1.25  1.2) 3
Example: 10 The magnifying power of an astronomical telescope is 8 and the distance between the two
lenses is 54cm. The focal length of eye lens and objective lens will be respectively [MP PMT 1991; CPMT 1991
(a) 6 cm and 48 cm (b) 48 cm and 6 cm (c) 8 cm and 64 cm (d) 64 cm and
8 cm
Solution: (a) Given that m  8 and L  54
fo
By using | m  |  and L  fo  fe we get fo  6 cm and fe  48 cm .
fe
Example: 11 If an object subtend angle of 2° at eye when seen through telescope having objective and
eyepiece of focal length fo  60 cm and fe  5 cm respectively than angle subtend by image at
eye piece will be [UPSEAT 2001]
(a) 16° (b) 50° (c) 24° (d) 10°
 fo  60
Solution: (c) By using       24 
 fe 20 5
Example: 12 The focal lengths of the lenses of an astronomical telescope are 50 cm and 5 cm. The length
of the telescope when the image is formed at the least distance of distinct vision is
275 325
(a) 45 cm (b) 55 cm (c) cm (d) cm
6 6
fe D 5  25 325
Solution: (d) By using LD  fo  ue  fo   50   cm
fe  D (5  25) 6
Example: 13 The diameter of moon is 3 .5  10 3 km and its distance from the earth is 3 .8  10 5 km . If it is
seen through a telescope whose focal length for objective and eye lens are 4 m and 10 cm
respectively, then the angle subtended by the moon on the eye will be approximately
(a) 15° (b) 20° (c) 30° (d) 35°
Solution: (b) The angle subtended by the moon on the objective of telescope
3 .5  10 3 3 .5
   10  2 rad
3 .8  10 5 3 .8
fo  400  3.5  10 3 180
Also m        40     40    20 
fe  10  3.8  10 5 
Example: 14 A telescope has an objective lens of 10 cm diameter and is situated at a distance one
kilometre from two objects. The minimum distance between these two objects, which can be
resolved by the telescope, when the mean wavelength of light is 5000 Å, is of the order of
(a) 0.5 m (b) 5 m (c) 5 mm (d) 5cm
Solution: (b) Suppose minimum distance between objects is x and their distance from telescope is r
So Resolving limit
10
1 . 22  x 1 .22   r 1 .22  (5000  10 )  (1  10 )
3
d   x    6 .1  10  3 m  6 .1 mm
a r a (0  1)
Hence, It’s order is  5 mm.