PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Multiple Choice Questions [1 mark]

1. An object is placed at a distance of 40 cm from a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. If the
object is displaced through a distance of 20 cm towards the mirror, the displacement of the
image will be
(a) 30 cm away from the mirror
(b) 36 cm away from the mirror
(c) 30 cm towards the mirror
(d) 36 cm towards the mirror
2. The direction of ray of light incident on a concave mirror is shown by
PQ while directions in which the ray would travel after reflection is
shown by four rays marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Fig. given alongside). Which
of the four rays correctly shows the direction of reflected ray?
[NCERT Exemplar]
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 3 (d) 4

3. A concave mirror of focal length 15 cm forms are 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
4. A short pulse of white light is incident from air to a glass slab at normal incidence. After
travelling through the slab, the first colour to emerge is [NCERT Exemplar]
(a) blue (b) green (c) violet (d) red
5. The optical density of turpentine is higher than that of water while its mass density is lower.
Figure shows a layer of turpentine floating over water in a container. For which one of the four
rays incident on turpentine in the figure, the path shown is correct? [NCERT Exemplar]

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

6. Why is refractive index in a transparent medium greater than one?
(a) Because the speed of light in vacuum is always less than speed in a transparent medium
(b) Because the speed of light in vacuum is always greater than the speed in a transparent medium
(c) Frequency of wave changes when it crosses medium
(d) None of the above
7. Transmission of light in optical fibre is due to
(a) scattering
(b) diffraction
(c) refraction
(d) multiple total internal reflection
8. You are given four sources of light each one providing a light of a single colour – red, blue,
green and yellow. Suppose the angle of refraction for a beam of yellow light corresponding
to a particular angle of incidence at the interface of two media is 90°. Which of the following
statements is correct if the source of yellow light is replaced with that of other lights without
changing the angle of incidence? [NCERT Exemplar]

1
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

(a) The beam of red light would undergo total internal reflection.
(b) The beam of red light would bend towards normal while it gets refracted through the second
medium.
(c) The beam of blue light would undergo total internal reflection.
(d) The beam of green light would bend away from the normal as it gets refracted through the
second medium.
9. Which of the following is not due to total internal reflection ?
(a) Working of optical fibre
(b) Difference between apparent and real depth of a pond
(c) Mirage on hot summer days
(d) Brilliance of diamond
10. An object approaches a convergent lens from the left of the lens with a uniform speed 5 m/s
and stops at the focus. The image [NCERT Exemplar]
(a) moves away from the lens with an uniform speed 5 m/s.
(b) moves away from the lens with an uniform accleration.
(c) moves away from the lens with a non-uniform acceleration.
(d) moves towards the lens with a non-uniform acceleration.
11. The radius of curvature of the curved surface of a plano-convex lens is 20 cm. If the refractive
index of the material of the lens be 1.5, it will [NCERT Exemplar]
(a) act as a convex lens only for the objects that lie on its curved side.
(b) act as a concave lens for the objects that lie on its curved side.
(c) act as a convex lens irrespective of the side on which the object lies.
(d) act as a concave lens irrespective of side on which the object lies.
12. A student measures the focal length of a convex lens by putting an object pin at a distance 'u'
from the lens and measuring the distance 'v' of the image pin. The graph between 'u' and 'v'
plotted by the student should look like

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

13. Focal length of a convex lens of refractive index 1.5 is 2 cm. Focal length of lens, when
immersed in a liquid of refractive index of 1.25 will be
(a) 10 cm (b) 7.5 cm (c) 5 cm (d) 2.5 cm
14. An equiconvex lens is cut into two halves along (i) XOX' and (ii) Y
YOY ' as shown in the figure. Let f, f ' and f '' be the of the focal
lengths of complete lens of each half in case (i) and of each half
in case (ii) respectively. Choose the correct statement from the
X′ X
following : O

(a) f ' = 2 f and f '' = f (b) f ' = f and f '' = f

(c) f ' = 2 f and f '' = 2 f (d) f ' = f and f '' = 2 f
′

2
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Y
15. A ray of light incident at an angle q on a refracting face of a prism
emerges from the other face normally. If the angle of the prism is 5° and the prism is made of
a material of refractive index 1.5, the angle of incidence is [NCERT Exemplar]
(a) 7.5° (b) 5° (c) 15° (d) 2.5°
16. The refractive index of the material of a prism is 2 and the angle of the prism is 30°. One
of the two refracting surfaces of the prism is made a mirror inwards, by silver coating. A
beam of monochromatic light entering the prism from the other face will retrace it path (after
reflection from the silvered surface) if its angle of incidence of the prism is
(a) 60° (b) 45° (c) 30° (d) zero
17. A beam of light consisting of red, green and blue colours
is incident on a right angled prism. The refractive index of
the material of the prism for the above red, green and blue
wavelengths are 1.39, 1.44 and 1.47 respectively.
The prism will
(a) not separate the three colours at all
(b) separate the red colour part from the green and blue colours
(c) separate the blue colour part from the red and green colours
(d) separate all the three colours from one another
18. A thin prism having refracting angle 10° is made of glass of refractive index 1.42. This prism is
combined with another thin prism of glass of refractive index 1.7. This combination produces
dispersion without deviation. This refracting angle of second prism should be
(a) 6° (b) 8° (c) 10 ° (d) 4°
19. The sky would appear red instead of blue if
(a ) atmospheric particles scatter blue light more than red light
(b) atmospheric particles scatter all colours equally
(c) atmospheric particles scatter red light more than blue light
(d) the sun was much hotter
20. The reddish appearance of rising and setting sun is due to
(a) reflection of light (b) diffraction of light
( c) scattering of light ( d) interference of light
21. A setting sun appears to be at an altitude higher than it really is. This is because of
(a) absorption of light (b) reflection of light
(c) refraction of light (d) dispersion of light
22. For relaxed eye, the magnifying power of a microscope is
fe
×e – o
v0 D v0 u0 D u0 D
(a) u × (b)
u
×
D
(c)
v
× (d)
v
0 fe 0 0 fe 0 fe
23. If the focal length of objective lens is increased then magnifying power of
(a) microscope will increase but that of telescope decrease
(b) microscope and telescope both will increase
(c) microscope and telescope both will decrease
(d) microscope will decrease but that of telescope will increase
24. Four lenses of focal length ±15 cm and ±150 cm are available for making a telescope. To
produce the largest magnification, the focal length of the eyepiece should be
(a) +15 cm (b) +150 cm (c) –150 cm (d) –15 cm
25. The magnifying power of a telescope is 9. When it is adjusted for parallel rays the distance
between the objective and eyepiece is 20 cm. The focal length of lenses are
(a) 11 cm, 9 cm (b) 10 cm, 10 cm (c) 15 cm, 5 cm (d) 18 cm, 2 cm

3
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Very Short Answer Questions [1 mark]

Q. 1. When light travels from an optically denser medium to a rarer medium, why does the critical
angle of incidence depend on the colour of light? [CBSE Ajmer 2015]
Q. 2. How does the angle of minimum deviation of a glass prism vary if the incident violet light is
replaced by red light? [CBSE 2019 (55/3/1)]

Q. 3. Why does bluish colour predominate in a clear sky?

[CBSE Delhi 2010; Allahabad 2015]

Q. 4. A ray of light falls on a transparent sphere with centre C as shown in the figure. The ray
emerges from the sphere parallel to the line AB. Find the angle of refraction at A if refractive
index of the material of the sphere is 3 . [CBSE (F) 2014]
.
Q. 5. For the same angle of incidence, the angle of refraction in two media A and B are 25° and 35°
respectively. In which one of the two media is the speed of light lesser?
[CBSE Bhubaneshwar 2015]
Q. 6. The line AB in the ray diagram represents a lens. State whether the lens is convex or concave.
[CBSE Chennai 2015]

Q. 7. The focal length of an equiconvex lens is equal to the radius of curvature of either face. What
is the value of refractive index of the material of the lens? [CBSE Panchkula 2015]

Q. 8. How does focal length of a lens change when red light incident on it is replaced by violet
light? Give reason for your answer. [CBSE (F) 2012]
Q. 9. A concave lens of refractive index 1.5 is immersed in a medium of refractive index 1.65. What
is the nature of the lens? [CBSE Delhi 2015]

Q. 10. Under what condition does a biconvex lens of glass having a certain refractive index act as a
plane glass sheet when immersed in a liquid? [CBSE Delhi 2012]

Q. 11. A converging lens of refractive index 1.5 is kept in a liquid medium having same refractive
index. What is the focal length of the lens in this medium?

Q. 12. Out of blue and red light which is deviated more by a prism? Give reason. [CBSE Delhi 2010]

Q. 13. A ray of light passes through an equilateral glass prism such that the angle of incidence is
3
equal to angle of emergence and each of these angles is equal to of angle of prism. What is
4
the value of angle of deviation? [CBSE Patna 2015]

Q. 14. Why does the sun look reddish at sunset or sunrise?

[CBSE (F) 2015, (Central) 2016, 2019 (55/2/1)]
Q. 15. Why can’t we see clearly through fog? Name the phenomenon responsible for it.
[CBSE (North) 2016]

4
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 16. You are given following three lenses. Which two lenses will you use as an eyepiece and as an
objective to construct an astronomical telescope? Give reason.
Lenses Power (D) Aperture (cm)
 L1 3   8
 L2 6   1
 L3 10   1 [CBSE Delhi 2009, CBSE (AI) 2017]
Q. 17. Does the magnifying power of a microscope depend on the colour of the light used? Justify
your answer. [CBSE (F) 2017]

Q. 18. (a) Explain briefly how the focal length of a convex lens changes with increase in wavelength
of incident light.
(b) What happens to the focal length of convex lens when it is immersed in water? Refractive
index of the material of lens is greater than that of water. [HOTS] [CBSE (South) 2016]

Q. 19. Redraw the diagram given below and mark the position of the centre of curvature of the
spherical mirror used in the given set up. [CBSE Sample Paper]

Q. 20. An equi-convex lens has refractive index 1.5. Write its focal length in terms of radius of
curvature R. [HOTS]

Q. 21. A concave mirror and a converging lens have the same focal length in air. Which one of the
two will have greater focal length when both are immersed in water? [HOTS]
Q. 22. A concave lens is placed in water. Will there be any change in focal length? Give reason. [HOTS]

Q. 23. For which colour the magnifying power of a simple microscope is highest? For which colour
it is lowest?
Q. 24. A telescope has been adjusted for relaxed eye. You are asked to adjust it for least distance of
distinct vision, then how will you change the distance between two lenses? [HOTS]

Q. 25. Consider a point at the focal point of a convergent lens. Another convergent lens of short focal
length is placed on the other side. What is the nature of the wavefronts emerging from the
final image? [HOTS] [NCERT Exemplar]
Q. 26. Will the focal length of a lens for red light be more, same or less than that for blue light?
[HOTS] [NCERT Exemplar]
Q. 27. An unsymmetrical double convex thin lens forms the image of a point object on its axis. Will
the position of the image change if the lens is reversed? [HOTS] [NCERT Exemplar]
Q. 28. State the condition under which a large magnification can be achieved in an astronomical
telescope. [CBSE 2019 (55/3/1)]

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PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Short Answer Questions–I [2 marks]

Q. 1. An object AB is kept in front of a concave mirror as shown in the figure. [CBSE (AI) 2012]

(i) Complete the ray diagram showing the image formation of the object.
(ii) How will the position and intensity of the image be affected if the lower half of the mirror’s
reflecting surface is painted black?

Q. 2. For paraxial rays, show that the focal length of a spherical mirror is one-half of its radius of
curvature. [CBSE 2019 (55/3/1)]

Q. 3. For paraxial rays, show that the focal length of a convex mirror is one half of its radius of curvature.
Q. 4. The following data was recorded for values of object distance and the corresponding values of
image distance in the experiment on study of real image formation by a convex lens of power + 5 D.
One of these observations is incorrect. Identify this observation and give reason for your choice:
S. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Object distance (cm) 25 30 35 45 50 55
Image distance (cm) 97 61 37 35 32 30

Q. 5. A spherical convex surface of radius of curvature 20 cm, made of glass (n = 1.5) is

placed in air. Find the position of the image formed, if a point object is placed at
30 cm in front of the convex surface on the principal axis. [CBSE Sample Paper 2018]

O P C
30 cm 20 cm

Q. 6. A converging and a diverging lens of equal focal lengths are placed co-axially in contact. Find
the power and the focal length of the combination. [CBSE (AI) 2010]

Q. 7. An object is kept in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. The image formed is real
and three times the size of the object. Calculate the distance of the object from the mirror.
[CBSE 2019 (55/4/1)]

Q. 8. Calculate the radius of curvature of an equi-concave lens of refractive index 1.5, when it is
kept in a medium of refractive index 1.4, to have a power of –5D? [CBSE 2019 (55/1/1)]

6
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 9. Calculate the distance d, so that a real image of an object at O, 15 cm in front of a convex lens
of focal length 10 cm be formed at the same point O. The radius of curvature of the mirror is
20 cm. Will the image be inverted or erect?
OR
An object is placed 15 cm in front of a convex lens of focal length 10 cm. Find the nature and
position of the image formed. Where should a concave mirror of radius of curvature 20 cm be
placed so that the final image is formed at the position of the object itself?
[CBSE Panchkula 2015]

Q. 10. An astronomical telescope has an angular magnification of magnitude 5 for distant objects.
The separation between the objective and an eye piece is 36 cm and the final image is formed
at infinity. Calculate the focal length of the objective and the focal length of the eye piece?
 [CBSE Sample Paper 2018]

Q. 11. The refractive index of a material of a concave lens is n1. It is immersed in a medium of
refractive index n2. A parallel beam of light is incident on the lens. Trace the path of emergent
rays when (i) n2 = n1 (ii) n2>n1 (iii) n2< n1.

Q. 12. A convex lens made of a material of refractive index n1 is kept in a medium of refractive index
n2. Parallel rays of light are incident on the lens. Complete the path of rays of light emerging
from the convex lens if: (i) n1 > n2 (ii) n1 = n2 (iii) n1<n2.

Q. 13. The radii of curvature of both the surfaces of a lens are equal. If one of the surfaces is made
plane by grinding, then will the focal length of lens change? Will the power change?
[CBSE Guwahati 2015]
Q. 14. A beam of light converges at a point P. Now a convex lens is placed in the path of the convergent
beam at 15 cm from P. At what point does a beam converge if the convex lens has a focal
length 10 cm? [CBSE 2019 (55/4/1)]

Q. 15. A lens is placed in the path of a beam of light which converges to the point O in the absence of
the lens. The distance between the lens and the point is
15 cm, what distance from the point O will the beam
converge if the lens is a concave lens of focal length
25 cm.
I
O

Q. 16. A convex lens is placed in contact with a plane mirror. A point object at a distance of 20 cm on
the axis of this combination has its image coinciding with itself. What is the focal length of the
lens? [CBSE Delhi 2014]
Q. 17. (i) State the condition under which a large magnification can be achieved in an astronomical
telescope. [CBSE 2019 (55/3/1)]
(ii) Give two reasons to explain why a reflecting telescope is preferred over a refracting
telescope. [CBSE (F) 2017]

Q. 18. Calculate the speed of light in a medium whose critical angle is 45°. [CBSE Patna 2015]
Does critical angle for a given pair of media depend on wave length of incident light? Give reason.

7
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 19. A ray of light incident normally on one face of a right isosceles prism is totally reflected
as shown in figure. What must be minimum value of refractive index glass? Give relevant
calculations. [CBSE Delhi 2016]

Q. 20. An equilateral glass prism has a refractive index 1.6 in air. Calculate the angle of minimum
deviation of the prism, when kept in a medium of refractive index 4 2 / 5.
[CBSE 2019 (55/1/1/)]
Q. 21. (a) A ray of light is incident normally on the face AB of a right-angled glass prism of refractive
index ang = 1.5. The prism is partly immersed in a liquid
of unknown refractive index. Find the value of refractive
A B
index of the liquid so that the ray grazes along the face BC 60°
after refraction through the prism.
(b) Trace the path of the rays if it were incident normally on
the face AC. [HOTS] [CBSE Ajmer 2015]

Q. 22. A ray of light incident on an equilateral glass prism propagates parallel to the base line of the
prism inside it. Find the angle of incidence of this ray. Given refractive index of material of
glass prism is 3. [CBSE Bhubaneshwar 2015]

Q. 23. A ray of light passing from air through an equilateral glass prism undergoes minimum
3
deviation when the angle of incidence is th of the angle of prism. Calculate the speed of
4
light in the prism. [CBSE (AI) 2017]

Q. 24. A right-angled crown glass prism with critical angle 41° is placed before an object, PQ in two
positions as shown in the figures (i) and (ii). Trace the paths of the rays from P and Q passing
through the prisms in the two cases.

8
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Short Answer Questions–II [3 marks]

Q. 1. (i) What is total internal reflection? Under what conditions does it occur?
(ii) Find a relation between critical angle and refractive index.
(iii) Name one phenomenon which is based on total internal reflection.
[CBSE (East) 2016, 2019 (55/1/1)]
Q. 2. (i) Name the phenomenon on which the working of an optical fibre is based.
(ii) What are the necessary conditions for this phenomenon to occur?
(iii) Draw a labelled diagram of an optical fibre and show how light propagates through the
optical fibre using this phenomenon. [CBSE (South) 2016, 2019 (55/2/3)]

Q. 3. A converging beam of light travelling in air converges at

a point P as shown in the figure. When a glass sphere of
refractive index 1.5 is introduced in between the path of
the beam, calculate the new position of the image. Also P
10 cm
draw the ray diagram for the image formed.
 [CBSE 2019 (55/3/1)]

Q. 4. A point ‘O’ marked on the surface of a glass sphere of diameter 20 A

cm is viewed through glass from the position directly opposite to the
point O. If the refractive index of the glass is 1.5, find the position O C P
of the image formed. Also, draw the ray diagram for the image
formed. Also, draw the ray diagram for the formation of the image.
 [CBSE 2019 (55/3/1)]
Q. 5. How is the working of a telescope different from that of a microscope?
[CBSE Delhi 2012, 2019 (55/2/3)]

Q. 6. (a) A mobile phone lies along the principal axis of a concave mirror. Show, with the help of a
suitable diagram, the formation of its image. Explain why magnification is not uniform.
(b) Suppose the lower half of the concave mirror’s reflecting surface is covered with an opaque
material. What effect this will have on the image of the object? Explain. [CBSE Delhi 2014]

Q. 7. (a) Calculate the distance of an object of height h from a concave mirror of radius of curvature
20 cm, so as to obtain a real image of magnification 2. Find the location of image also.
(b) Using mirror formula, explain why does a convex mirror always produce a virtual
image. [CBSE Delhi 2016]
Q. 8. What are optical fibres? Mention their one practical application.
[CBSE Delhi 2011, Guwahati 2015]

Q. 9. A convex lens made up of glass of refractive index 1.5 is dipped, in turn, in (i) a medium of
refractive index 1.65, ( ii) a medium of refractive index 1.33.
(a) Will it behave as a converging or a diverging lens in the two cases?
(b) How will its focal length change in the two media? [CBSE (AI) 2011]

Q. 10. A symmetric biconvex lens of radius of curvature R and made of

glass of refractive index 1.5, is placed on a layer of liquid placed
on top of a plane mirror as shown in the figure. An optical needle
with its tip on the principal axis of the lens is moved along the
axis until its real, inverted image coincides with the needle itself.
The distance of the needle from the lens is measured to be x.
On removing the liquid layer and repeating the experiment, the
distance is found to be y. Obtain the expression for the refractive
index of the liquid in terms of x and y. [CBSE 2018]

9
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 11. A biconvex lens of glass of refractive index 1.5 having focal length 20 cm is placed in a medium
of refractive index 1.65. Find its focal length. What should be the value of the refractive index
of the medium in which the lens should be placed so that it acts as a plane sheet of glass?
[CBSE Bhubaneshwar 2015]
Q. 12. A converging lens has a focal length of 20 cm in air. It is made of a material of refractive index 1.6.
If it is immersed in a liquid of refractive index. 1.3, find its new focal length. [CBSE (F) 2017]

Q. 13. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm and a concave lens of focal length 15 cm are kept 30
cm apart with their principal axes coincident. When an object is placed 30 cm in front of
the convex lens, calculate the position of the final image formed by the combination. Would
this result change if the object were placed 30 cm in front of the concave lens? Give reason.
[CBSE 2019 (55/5/1)]

Q. 14. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm is placed coaxially with a convex mirror of radius of
curvature 20 cm. The two are kept 15 cm apart. A point object is placed 40 cm in front of the
convex lens. Find the position of the image formed by this combination. Draw the ray diagram
showing the image formation. [CBSE (AI) 2014]
Q. 15. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm is placed coaxially with a concave mirror of focal length
10 cm at a distance of 50 cm apart from each other. A beam of light coming parallel to the
principal axis is incident on the convex lens. Find the position of the final image formed by this
combination. Draw the ray diagram showing the formation of the image. [CBSE (AI) 2014]

Q. 16. In the following diagram, an object ‘O’ is placed 15 cm in front of a convex lens L1 of focal
length 20 cm and the final image is formed at ‘I’ at a distance of 80 cm from the second lens
L2. Find the focal length of the L2. [CBSE (F) 2016]

Q. 17. Find the position of the image formed of an object ‘O’ by the lens combination given in the
figure. [CBSE (F) 2011, 2019 (55/4/1)]

Q. 18. (i) A screen is placed at a distance of 100 cm from an object. The image of the object is
formed on the screen by a convex lens for two different locations of the lens separated by
20 cm. Calculate the focal length of the lens used.
(ii ) A converging lens is kept coaxially in contact with a diverging lens - both the lenses being
of equal focal length. What is the focal length of the combination? [CBSE (North) 2016]

10
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 19. You are given three lenses L1, L2 and L3 each of focal length 20 cm. An object is kept at 40 cm in
front of L1, as shown. The final real image is formed at the focus ‘I’ of L3. Find the separations
between L1, L2 and L3. [CBSE (AI) 2012]

.
Q. 20. A ray PQ incident on the face AB of a prism ABC, as shown
in the figure, emerges from the face AC such that AQ = AR.
Draw the ray diagram showing the passage of the ray through
the prism. If the angle of the prism is 60° and refractive
index of the material of the prism is 3, determine
the values of angle of incidence and angle of deviation.
        [CBSE Panchkula 2015]

Q. 21. A ray PQ incident on the refracting face BA is refracted

in the prism BAC as shown in the figure and emerges
from the other refracting face AC as RS such that
AQ = AR. If the angle of prism A = 60° and refractive
index of material of prism is 3 , calculate angle q.
[CBSE North 2016]

Q. 22. Figure shows a ray of light passing through a prism. If the refracted ray QR is parallel to the base
BC, show that
[CBSE (F) 2014]
(i) r1 = r 2 = A/2,
(ii) angle of minimum deviation, Dm = 2i – A.

Q. 23. A compound microscope uses an objective lens of focal length 4 cm and eyepiece lens of focal
length 10 cm. An object is placed at 6 cm from the objective lens. Calculate the magnifying power
of the compound microscope. Also calculate the length of the microscope. [CBSE (AI) 2011]

Q. 24. The total magnification produced by a compound microscope is 20. The magnification
produced by the eye piece is 5. The microscope is focussed on a certain object. The distance
between the objective and eyepiece is observed to be 14 cm. If least distance of distinct vision
is 20 cm, calculate the focal length of the objective and the eye piece. [CBSE Delhi 2014]

11
PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 25. A small telescope has an objective lens of focal length 150 cm and eyepiece of focal length
5 cm. What is the magnifying power of the telescope for viewing distant objects in normal
adjustment?
If this telescope is used to view a 100 m tall tower 3 km away, what is the height of the image
of the tower formed by the objective lens? [CBSE Allahabad 2015]

Q. 26. An amateur astronomer wishes to estimate roughly the size of the sun using his crude telescope
consisting of an objective lens of focal length 200 cm and an eyepiece of focal length 10 cm. By
adjusting the distance of the eyepiece from the objective, he obtains an image of the sun on a
screen 40 cm behind the eyepiece. The diameter of the sun’s image is measured to be 6.0 cm.
Estimate the sun’s size, given that the average earth-sun distance is 1.5 × 1011 m.
[CBSE 2019 (55/5/1)]

Q. 27. An object is placed 40 cm from a convex lens of focal length 30 cm. If a concave lens of focal
length 50 cm is introduced between the convex lens and the image formed such that it is
20 cm from the convex lens, find the change in the position of the image.
[CBSE Chennai 2015] [HOTS]
Q. 28. A biconvex lens with its two faces of equal radius of curvature R is made of a transparent
medium of refractive index n1. It is kept in contact with a medium of refractive
index n2 as shown in the figure.
(a) Find the equivalent focal length of the combination.
(b) Obtain the condition when this combination acts as a diverging lens. n
(c) Draw the ray diagram for the case n1 > (n2 + 1) /2, when the object is kept far
away from the lens. Point out the nature of the image formed by the system.
n
[CBSE Patna 2015] [HOTS]

Q. 29. Three rays (1, 2, 3) of different colours fall normally on one of the sides of an isosceles right
angled prism as shown. The refractive index of prism for these rays is 1.39, 1.47 and 1.52
respectively. Find which of these rays get internally reflected and which get only refracted
from AC. Trace the paths of rays. Justify your answer with the help of necessary calculations.
[CBSE (F) 2016] [HOTS]

Q. 30. A ray of light incident on one of the faces of a glass prism of angle ‘A’ has angle of incidence
2A. The refracted ray in the prism strikes the opposite face which is silvered, the reflected ray
from it retraces its path. Trace the ray diagram and find the relation between the refractive
index of the material of the prism and the angle of the prism. [CBSE Chennai 2015] [HOTS]

Q. 31. A ray PQ incident normally on the refracting face BA is refracted in the

prism BAC made of material of refractive index 1.5. Complete the path of ray
through the prism. From which face will the ray emerge? Justify your answer.
[CBSE Central 2016] [HOTS]

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PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 32. Trace the path of a ray of light passing through a glass prism (ABC) as
shown in the figure. If the refractive index of glass is 3 , find out of the
value of the angle of emergence from the prism. [CBSE (F) 2012] [HOTS]

Q. 33. A ray of light incident on the face AB of an isosceles triangular A

prism makes an angle of incidence (i) and deviates by angle b as
shown in the figure. Show that in the position of minimum deviation Q β R
+b = +a . Also find out the condition when the refracted ray QR
suffers total internal reflection. [CBSE 2019 (55/2/2)] P

α α
B C

Q. 34. A triangular prism of refracting angle 60° is made of a transparent material of refractive index
2 3 . A ray of light is incident normally on the face KL as shown in the figure. Trace the
path of the ray as it passes through the prism and calculate the angle of emergence and angle
of deviation.  [CBSE 2019 (55/2/1)]
P K

60°
Q

L M

Long Answer Questions [5 marks]

Q. 1. (i) Derive the mirror formula. What is the corresponding formula for a thin lens?
(ii) Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation by a concave mirror when the object is
kept between its focus and the pole. Using this diagram, derive the magnification formula
for the image formed. [CBSE Delhi 2011]

Q. 2. With the help of a ray diagram, show the formation of image of a point object due to refraction
of light at a spherical surface separating two media of refractive indices n1 and n2 (n2 > n1 )
respectively. Using this diagram, derive the relation
n2 n1 n1 – n2
v – u = R
Write the sign conventions used. What happens to the focal length of convex lens when it is
immersed in water?

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PRATAP SINGH BISHT 9998989668

Q. 3. Draw a ray diagram for formation of image of a point object by a thin double convex lens having
radii of curvature R1 and R2. Hence, derive lens maker’s formula for a double convex lens. State
the assumptions made and sign convention used. [CBSE (F) 2013, (Central) 2016, 2020 (55/2/1)]

Q. 4. Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of real image of the same size as that of the object
placed in front of a converging lens. Using this ray diagram establish the relation between u,
v and f for this lens.
Q. 5. (a) Draw the labelled ray diagram for the formation of image by a compound microscope.
Derive an expression for its total magnification (or magnifying power), when the final
image is formed at the near point. [CBSE Delhi 2009, 2010, 2013, 2019 (55/5/1)]
Why both objective and eyepiece of a compound microscope must have short focal lengths?
(b) Draw a ray diagram showing the image formation by a compound microscope. Hence
obtain expression for total magnification when the image is formed at infinity.
[CBSE Delhi 2013]
1 1 1
Q. 6. Define power of a lens. Write its units. Deduce the relation = + for two thin lenses
f f1 f2
kept in contact coaxially. [CBSE (F) 2012, 2019(55/4/3)]

Q. 7. Explain with the help of a labelled ray diagram, how is image formed in an astronomical
telescope. Derive an expression for its magnifying power. [CBSE (F) 2014, 2019 (55/1/1)]
OR
Draw a ray diagram showing the image formation of a distant object by a refracting telescope.
Define its magnifying power and write the two important factors considered to increase the
magnifying power.
Describe briefly the two main limitations and explain how far these can be minimised in a
reflecting telescope. [CBSE (F) 2015]

Q. 8. (i) Draw a labelled ray diagram to obtain the real image formed by an astronomical telescope
in normal adjustment position. Define its magnifying power. [CBSE 2019 (55/1/2)]
(ii) You are given three lenses of power 0.5 D, 4 D and 10 D to design a telescope.
(a) Which lenses should be used as objective and eyepiece? Justify your answer.
(b) Why is the aperture of the objective preferred to be large? [CBSE (Central) 2016]

Q. 9. (a) With the help of a labelled ray diagram, explain the construction and working of a
Cassegrain reflecting telescope.
(b) An amateur astronomer wishes to estimate roughly the size of the sun using his crude
telescope consisting of an objective lens of focal length 200 cm and an eyepiece of focal
length 10 cm. By adjusting the distance of the eyepiece from the objective, he obtains an
image of the sun on a screen 40 cm behind the eyepiece. The diameter of the sun’s image
is measured to be 6.0 cm. Estimate the Sun’s size, given that the average earth-sun distance
is 1.5 × 1011 m. [CBSE 2019 (55/5/1)]

Q. 10. Draw a graph to show the angle of deviation δ with the variation of angle of incidence i for a
monochromatic ray of light passing through a prism of refracting angle A. Deduce the relation
A + dm
sin e o
2
n= [CBSE Delhi 2011, 2016; (F) 2011, 2017; Sample Paper 2016]
A
sin c m
2

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