NAVY CHILDREN SCHOOL, MUMBAI

(AY 2024-25)
CLASS- 10 SUBJECT- PHYSICS 05/2024
WORKSHEET.NO. 2
CHAPTER 9- LIGHT: Reflection and Refraction

1. If the image formed by a spherical mirror for all positions of the object placed
in front of it is always erect and diminished , what type of mirror is it? Draw a
labelled ray diagram to support your answer. (2018)
Answer:
If the image formed by a spherical mirror is always erect and diminished then
it is convex mirror.

2. A ray of light is incident on a convex mirror as shown. Redraw the diagram

and complete the path of this ray after reflection from the mirror. Mark angle of
incidence and angle of reflection on it. (Delhi 2016)

Answer:

3. “The magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -3”. List four informations

you obtain from this statement about the mirror/ image. (AI 2016)
Answer:
Negative sign of magnification indicates that the image is real and inverted.
Since the image is real and inverted, the mirror is concave and magnification
of -3 indicates that the image is magnified.

4. The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is +1/3. Analysing this

value state the (i) type of mirror and (ii) position of the object with respect to
the pole of the mirror. Draw any diagram to justify your answer. (AI 2014,
Foreign 2014)
Answer:
(i) Convex mirror
 (ii) Between infinity and the pole of the mirror.

5. With the help of a ray diagram explain why a convex mirror is preferred for
rear view mirrors in the motor cars. (Foreign 2011)
Answer:
Convex mirror is preferred for rear view mirrors in motor cars because no
matter where the object is located in front of convex mirror, it always gives
erect and diminished image of the object, so that driver is able to see the
large traffic view in small area and the image is erect. This can be interpreted
from the following diagram.

6. A security mirror used in a big showroom has radius of curvature 5 m. If a

customer is standing at a distance of 20 m from the cash counter, find the
position, nature and size of the image formed in the security mirror.
Answer:
Given radius of curvature of the mirror,
R=5m
∴ Focal length, f = R/2 = 2.5 m (convex mirror) and u = -20 m
From mirror formula,
1f=1v+1u or 1v=1f−1u
= 12.5−1−20=−20−2.5−20×2.5
∴ v = 2.22 m
Thus, the image is formed 2.22 m behind the mirror. The image is diminished,
virtual and erect.

7. Suppose you have three concave mirrors A, B and C of focal lengths 10 cm,
15 cm and 20 cm. For each concave mirror you perform the experiment of
image formation for three values of object distances of 10 cm, 20 cm and 30
cm. By giving reason, answer the following:
(a) For the three object distances, identify the mirror/mirrors which will form an
image of magnification -1.
(b) Out of the three mirrors, identify the mirror which would be preferred to be
used for shaving purposes/make up.
(c) For the mirror B draw ray diagram for image formation for object distances
10 cm and 20 cm. (Foreign 2016)
Answer:
 Given fa = 10 cm, fb = 15 cm, fc = 20 cm
ua = 10 cm, ub = 20 cm, uc = 30 cm

(a) Magnification of -1 implies that size of image is same as that of object or

image is formed at the same distance as of the object. This is the case when
the object distance, u = 2f, i.e., when the object is at the centre of the
curvature.
For fa, ub and for fb, uc, we get magnification – 1.

(b) Concave mirror forms virtual, erect and magnified image when the object
is between focus and pole of the mirror, i.e., direct distance should be less
than the focal length of the mirror.
For object distance 10 cm, mirrors of focal length fb = 15 cm and fc = 20 cm
can be used.

8. The refractive index of carbon disulphide is 1.63.” What is the meaning of this
statement in relation to speed of light?
Answer: Speed of light in carbon disulphide is 1/1.63 times the speed of light
in free space.

9. The absolute refractive indices of glass and water are 4/3 and 3/2
respectively. If the speed of light in glass is 2 × 108 m/s, calculate the speed of
light in (i) vacuum, (ii) water. (AI 2015)
Answer:
Given that: ng = 43, nw = 32, vg = 2 × 108 m/s
Absolute refractive index of a medium, nm = cv
where, c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the speed of light in medium.
 Note: The values given in question are not correct as the speed of light in
vacuum is 3 × 108 m/s

10. The absolute refractive indices of glass and water are 1.5 and 1.33
respectively. In which medium does light travel faster? Calculate the ratio of
speeds of light in the two media. (Delhi 2013 C)
Answer:
Given : refractive index of glass, ng = 1.5
Refractive index of water, nw = 1.33
Since, refractive index of medium,

For glass ng = cvg ……… (i)

For water nw = cvw ……… (ii)
Since velocity of light in medium is inversely proportional to its refractive
index, the light will travel faster in optically rarer medium i.e., water.
Dividing (i) by (ii),

So, the ratio of vg and vw is 1.33 : 1.5.

11. (a) Water has refractive index 1.33 and alcohol has refractive index 1.36.
Which of the two medium is optically denser? Give reason for your answer.
(b) Draw a ray diagram to show the path of a ray of light passing obliquely
from water to alcohol.
(c) State the relationship between angle of incidence and angle of refraction in
the above case. (2020)
Answer:
(a) Here, alcohol is optically denser medium as its refractive index is higher
than that of water. When we compare the two media, the one with larger
refractive index is called the optically denser medium than the other as the
speed of light is lower in this medium.
(b) Since light is travelling from water (rarer medium) to alcohol (denser
medium), it slows down and bends towards the normal.
 where i = angle of incidence and r = angle of refraction.
(c) According to Snell’s law,
sinisinr=μalcohol μwater =1.361.33 = 1.0225
∴ sin i = 1.0225 × sin r

12. State the laws of refraction of light. Explain the term absolute refractive index
of a medium’ and write an expression to relate it with the speed of light in
vaccum. (2018)
Answer:
(a) Laws of refraction of light:
(i) The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal to the interface of two
transparent media at the point of incidence, all lie in the same plane.
(ii) The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction
is constant, for the light of a given colour and for the given pair of media.
This law is also known as Snell’s law of refraction.
sinisinr = constant,
where i is the angle of incidence and r is the angle of refraction.
This constant value is called refractive index of the second medium with
respect to the first when the light travels from first medium to second medium.
⇒ constant = n21 = v1v2 ∴sinisinr = v1v2
If n is the absolute refractive index of the medium, c is the velocity of light in
vacuum and v is the speed of light in a given medium, then n = cl v

13. With the help of a ray diagram state what is meant by refraction of light. State
Snell’s law for refraction of light and also express it mathematically.
The refractive index of air with respect to glass is 2/3 and the refractive index
of water with respect to air is 4/3. If the speed of light in glass is 2 × 108 m/s,
find the speed of light in (a) air, (b) water. (AI 2012)
Answer:
When travelling obliquely from one medium to another, the direction of
propagation of light in the second medium changes. This phenomenon is
known as refraction of light.
The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is
constant, for the light of a given colour and for the given pair of media. This
law is also known as snell’s law of refraction.
 sini/sinr = constant,
Where i is the angle of incidence and r is the angle of refraction.
Given that: nag = 2/3, nwa = 4/3, vg = 2 × 108 m/s
(a) Refer to answer 66.
(b) Va = nga × vg
= 1nag × Vg = 32 × 2 × 108 = 3 × 108 m/s

14. The refractive indices of four media A, B, C and D are given in the following
table:

Medium A B C D

Refractive Index 1.33 1.50 1.52 2.40

If light, travels from one medium to another, in which case the change in
speed will be (i) minimum, (ii) maximum?

Answer: (i) Minimum change is seen as light moves between 1.50 and 1.52,
i.e., B and C.
(ii) Maximum change when light moves between 1.33 and 2.40, i.e. A and D.

15. Explain with the help of a diagram, why a pencil partly immersed in water
appears to be bent at the water surface.
Answer: When a pencil is partly immersed in water it appears to bend in the
water surface due to the refraction of light at the air -water surface.
Water is optically denser medium compared to air. The light from the part of
the pencil which is immersed in water, travels from water to air i.e, denser
medium to rarer medium. Therefore, it light bends away from the normal.
Because of this bend, the pencil appears to be bent or broken.