Light Reflection and Refraction

ONE MARK QUESTIONS

1. Write down four important characteristics of image formed by a plane

mirror.

2. Describe a spherical mirror.

3. Define the following terms in relation to concave spherical mirror:

(a) Pole

(b) Centre of curvature

(c) Radius of curvature

(d) Principal axis

(e) Principal focus

(f) Aperture

(g) Focal length

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a convex mirror

for seeing traffic at the rear?

5. What are the units of power a lens.

6. Give two uses of a convex lens.

7. Give one use of a concave lens.

8. What is a prism?

9. Define the term reflection.

10. Define the terms:

(a) Angle of incidence

(b) Angle of reflection

(c) Plane of incidence

11. State the laws of reflection.

12. Explain why we see the sign front of some

vehicles.

13. What is the radius of curvature of a plane mirror?

14. How many images are formed by two parallel mirrors?

15. Name a mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object.

16. The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20 cm. What is its

focal length?

17. Light enters from air to glass having refractive index 1.50. What is the
speed of light in glass? Speed of light in air is 3 X 108 m/s.

18. The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the meaning of this
statement?

TWO MARKS QUESTIONS

19. If the image formed by a convex lens is of the same size as that of the
object. What is the position and nature of the image with respect to the
lens?

20. How can you identify the three types of mirrors without touching
them?

21. (a) What happens to a ray of light when it travels from one medium to
another having equal refractive indices?

(b) State the cause of refraction of fight.

22. (a) What should be the position of the object, when a concave mirror is
to be used:

(i) as a shaving mirror, and

(ii) in torches producing parallel beam of light?

(b) A man standing in front of a mirror finds his image having a very
small head and legs of normal size. What type of mirror are used in
designing such a mirror?

23. Name the type of lens that can be used. as magnifying glass. Give
reason(s) and draw a ray diagram to support your answer.

24. An object is placed at the following distances from a concave mirror of

focal length 15 cm.

(a) 10 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 30 cm (d) 40 cm

Which position of the object will produce:

(i) Virtual image

(ii) A diminished real image

 (iii) An enlarged real image

(iv) An image of same size

25. (a) What is meant by refraction of light?

(b) If on applying Cartesian sign convention for spherical lenses, the

image distance obtained is negative, state the significance of the
negative sign.

26. What is minimum number of rays required for locating the image
formed by a concave mirror for an object? Draw a ray diagram to show
the formation of a virtual image by a concave mirror.

27. (a) Name the spherical mirror used as:

(i) Shaving mirror,

(ii) Rearview mirror in vehicles,

(iii)Reflector in search – lights.

(b) Write any three differences between a real and virtual image.

28. What is meant by power of a lens? Give its SI unit.

When two or more lenses are placed in contact, what will their
combined power?

29. For the same angle of incidence in media P, Q and R, the angles of
refraction are 45°, 35° and 15° respectively. In which medium will the
velocity of light be minimum? Give reason.

30. Define absolute refractive index. Absolute refractive indices of

medium A and medium B are na and nb respectively, what is the
refractive index of medium B with respect to medium A? How does the
velocity of light vary with change in the optical density of the media?

31. As the velocity of light increases, the refractive index of the medium
decreases. Light enters from air to water having refractive index 4/3.
Find the speed of light in water. The speed of light in vacuum is 3 X 108
m/s.

32. What is meant by radius of curvature of a spherical mirror? How is it

related to the focal length of the mirror?

33. Refractive index of turpentine oil, kerosene and alcohol are 1.47, 1.44
and 1.36 respectively. On the basis of this information, complete the
following ray diagram to show path of ray of light through each medium.
Give reason for your answer.
34. With the help of ray diagram show that angle of incidence is equal to
the angle of reflection when a ray is incident on the concave/convex
mirror.

35. A doctor has prescribed a corrective lens of power +1.5 D. Find the
focal length of the lens. Is the prescribed lens diverging or converging?

36. With the help of a ray diagram, show that the formation of the image
of an object by a concave mirror when it is placed at the centre of
curvature.

37. Draw a ray diagram for the image formed by a concave mirror when
the object is placed beyond its centre of curvature.

38. Differentiate between reflection and refraction of light.

39. Define optical centre and principal axis of a lens. Show the path of
the refracted ray when a ray of light is incident towards the optical centre
of concave lens.

40. An object is placed at the focus of a convex lens. Draw a ray diagram
to locate the position of the image formed, if any. State its position and
nature.

41. Define the term magnification. Write its formula also.

42. Write the relation between object distance and image distance from a
lens and focal length of a lens.

43. With the help of ray diagrams differentiate between a converging lens
and a diverging lens.
44. If the image formed by a spherical mirror for all positions of the
object placed in front of it, is always erected and diminished, what type of
mirror is it? Draw a labelled ray diagram to support your answer.

45. 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 vacuum.

THREE MARKS QUESTIONS

46. A ray of light is incident obliquely on a glass slab. Draw a ray

diagram showing the path of the light ray. Clearly, mark angle of
incidence, angle of refraction, angle of emergence and lateral
displacement of the ray. Give a formula to find refractive index of glass
slab in terms of angle of incidence and angle of refraction.

47. (a) For the same angle of incidence 45°, the angle of refraction in two
transparent media; I and II is 20° and 30° respectively. Out of I and II,
which medium is optically denser and why?

(b) Light enters from air to diamond which has refractive index of 2.42.
Calculate the speed of light in diamond, if speed of light in air is

48. A student focused the image of a candle flame on a white screen by

placing the flame at various distances from a convex lens. He noted his
observations:

Distance of Distance of
flame from screen from
the lens (cm) the lens (cm)

60 20

40 24

30 30

24 40

15 70

(a) From the above table, find the focal length of lens without using
lens formula.

(b) Which set of observations is incorrect and why?

 (c) In which case the size of object and image will be same? Give
reason for your answer.

49. (a) Define power of a lens and write its SI unit.

(b) A convex lens forms a real and inverted image of a needle at a

distance of 50 cm from it. Where is the needle placed in front of the
lens, if image size is equal to the object size? Also, find the power of
the lens.

50. (a) A ray of light falls normally on a face of a glass slab. What are the
values of angle of incidence and angle of refraction of this ray?

(b) Light enters from air to a medium X. Its speed in medium X

becomes 1.5 X 108 m/s. Find the refractive index of medium X.

51. (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. Draw a ray diagram to show the path of a ray of light passing
obliquely from water to alcohol.

(b) The absolute refractive index of diamond is 2.42 and the absolute
refractive index of glass is 1.50. Find the refractive index of diamond with
respect to glass.

52. A 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal

length 15 cm. Give the location of image and magnification. Describe
what happens to the image as the needle is moved farther from the
mirror.

53. (a) State Snell’s law of refraction.

(b) When a ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into a glass slab,
it is observed that the light ray emerges parallel to the incident ray but it
is shifted sideways slightly. Draw a ray diagram to illustrate it.

54. A student wants to project the image of a candle flame on a screen 60

cm in front of a mirror by keeping the flame at a distance of 15 cm from
its pole.

(a) Write the type of mirror he should use. b. Find the linear
magnification of the image produced.

(b) What is the distance between the object and its image?

(c) Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation in this case.

55. Discuss the position and nature of the image formed by a concave
mirror when the object is moved from infinity towards the pole of the
mirror.
56. State the laws of refraction.

57. (a) Define radius of curvature and focal length of a spherical mirror
and show it on a figure.

(b) Write relation between radius of curvature and focal length of a

spherical mirror.

58. An object of height 5 cm is placed perpendicular to the principal axis

of a concave lens of focal length 10 cm. If the distance of the object from
the optical centre of the lens is 20 cm, determine the position, nature
and size of the image formed using the lens formula.

59. If the image formed by a 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 ray diagram to justify your answer. Where and why do we
generally use this type of mirror?

60. The nature, size and position of image of an object produced by a

lens or mirror are as shown below. Identify the lens/ mirror (X) used in
each case and draw the corresponding complete ray diagram, (size of the
object about half of the image).

61. (a) Calculate the distance at which an object should be placed in

front of a convex lens of focal length 10 cm to obtain a virtual image of
double its size.

(b) In the above given case, find the magnification, if image formed is
real. Express it in terms of relation between v and u

62. One half of a convex lens is covered with a black paper.

(a) Show the formation of image of an object placed at 2F1 of such

covered lens with the help of ray diagram. Mention the position and
nature of image.

(b) Draw the fay diagram for same object at same position in front of
the same lens, but now uncovered. Will there be any difference in
the image obtained in the two cases? Give reason for your answer.

63. What is meant by power of a lens? Write its SI unit. A student uses a
lens of focal length 40 cm and another of -20 cm. Write the nature and
power of each lens.
64. 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 vacuum.

FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS

65. An object of height 4.0 cm is placed at a distance of 30 cm from the

optical centre ‘O’ of a convex lens of focal length 20 cm. Draw a ray
diagram to find the position and size of the image formed. Mark optical
centre ‘O’ and principal focus ‘F’ on the diagram. Also find the
approximate ratio of size of the image to the size of the object.

66. (a) Define real image of an object.

(b) Name the mirror that:

(i) can give real as well as virtual image of an object.

(ii) will always give virtual image of same size of an object

(iii) will always give virtual and diminished image of an object.

(iv) is used by a doctor in examining teeth

(c) With the help of a ray diagram explain the use of concave mirror
as solar concentrators.

67. Name the type of mirror used in the following:

(a) Solar furnace

(b) Side/rear - view mirror of a vehicle.

Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the formation of image in each of

the above two cases.

Which of these mirrors could also form a magnified and virtual image of
an object? Illustrate with the help of a ray diagram.

68. (a) A thin converging lens forms a

(i) Real magnified image.

(ii) Virtual magnified image of an object placed in front of it.

Write the positions of the objects in each case.

(b) Draw labelled ray diagrams to show the image formation in each case.

(c) How will the following be affected on cutting this lens into two halves
along the principal axis?

(i) Focal length

 (ii) Intensity of the image formed by half lens.

69. (a) Define principal focus of a spherical mirror.

(b) For what position of the object does a concave mirror form a real,
inverted and diminished image of the object? Draw the ray diagram.

(c) An object 4 cm high is placed at a distance of 6 cm in front of a

concave mirror of focal length 12 cm. Find the position of the image
formed.

70. (a) Define optical centre of a spherical lens.

(b) You are given a convex lens of focal length 30 cm. Where would you
place an object to get a real, inverted and highly enlarged image of the
object? Draw a ray diagram showing the image formation

(c) A concave lens has a focal length of 20 cm. At what distance an object
should be placed so that it forms an image at 15 cm away from the lens?

71. (a) Under what condition, a concave mirror produces a virtual and
magnified image? Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the formation of
image in the above case. Also, state the position of object to produce
magnified and real image.

(b) A ray of light moving along principal axis is falling on a concave

mirror. Draw the path of reflected ray. Also, state the values of angle of
incidence and reflection in this case

72. Which lens can be used as a magnifying glass? For which position of
object does a convex lens form:

(a) a virtual and erect image?

(b) a real and inverted image of same size as that of object? Draw
labelled ray diagrams to show the formation of the required image
in each of the above two cases.

73. (a) Describe an activity to find the approximate value of focal length
of a concave mirror.

(b) What happens to the size of the image of an object when it is moved
gradually away from a concave mirror?

(c) In an experiment to study refraction through

a glass slab, it is observed that a ray of light undergoing refraction

emerges parallel to the direction of incident ray. Why does it happen so?
Explain with the help of a diagram.
74. (a) The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the meaning of
this statement?

(b) Redraw the diagram given below in your answer book and complete
the path of ray.

(c) What is the difference between virtual images produced by concave,

plane and convex mirrors?

(d) What does the negative sign in the value of magnification produced by
a mirror indicates about a image?

75. (a) Write one use of concave mirror as well as convex mirror.

(b) Draw ray diagrams for the following cases when a ray of light:

(i) passing through centre of curvature of a concave mirror is

incident on it.

(ii) parallel to principal axis is incident on convex minor.

(iii) is incident at the pole of a convex mirror.

(iv) passing through focus of a concave mirror incident on it.

76. (a) Draw a ray diagram in each of the following cases to show the
position and nature of the image formed when object is placed:

(i) between focus and centre of curvature of a concave mirror.

(ii) between focus and pole of a concave mirror.

 (iii)between centre of curvature and infinity for a concave
mirror.

(b) (i) Give mathematical formulae for determining magnification

produced by a spherical mirror.

(ii) What does m =- 1 signify? Identify the mirror that can produce it.

77. Draw the ray diagram in each case to show the position, nature of
image formed when the object is placed:

(a) at the centre of curvature of a concave mirror

(b) within focal length of a convex lens

(c) between pole and focus of concave mirror

(d) in front of concave lens

(e) in front of convex mirror

78. (a) A converging lens forms a real and inverted image of an object at a
distance of 100 cm from it. Where should an object be placed in front of
the lens, so that the size of the image is twice the size of the object? Also,
calculate the power of a lens.

(b) State laws of refraction.

79. (a) Explain the following terms related to spherical lenses:

(i) Optical centre

(ii) Centres of curvature

(iii)Principal axis

(iv) Aperture

(v) Principal focus

(vi) Focal length

(b) A converging lens has focal length of 12 cm. Calculate at what

distance should the object be placed from the lens so that, it forms an
image at 48 cm on the other side of the lens.

80. Draw a labelled ray diagram to locate the image of an object formed
by a convex lens of focal length 20 cm when the object is placed 30 cm
away from the lens.
81. An object is situated at 8 cm from a convex lens of focal length 10
cm. Find the position and nature of image. Draw ray diagram to illustrate
the formation of image (not to scale).

82. One half of a convex lens of focal length 10 cm is covered with a

black paper. Can such a lens produce an image of a complete object
placed at a distance of 30 cm from the lens? Draw a ray diagram to
justify your answer.

A 4 cm tall object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a

convex lens of focal length 20 cm. The distance of the object from the
lens is 15 cm. Find the nature, position and size of the image.

83. (a) Define absolute refractive index.

(b) The path of a light ray from three different media A, B and C for a
given angle of incidence is shown below. Study the diagrams and answer
the following questions:

(i) Which of the three media A, B or C has maximum optical density?

 (ii) Through which of the three media, will the speed of light be
maximum?

(iii)Will the light travelling from A to B bend towards or away from the
normal?

(iv) Will the refractive index of B relative to C be more than unity or less
than unity?

84. State the relation between object distance, image distance and focal
length of a concave or convex mirror. A concave mirror produces two
times magnified real image of an object at 10 cm from it. Find the
position of the image.

85. (a) Write relation between u, v, f for lenses and for mirrors, where u,
v, f are object distance, image distance and focal length respectively.

(b) The magnification produced by a concave mirror is m = + 4. Write the

information about the image given by this statement.

(c) Draw a ray diagram for the following and show the formation of the
images in case of concave mirror when the object is placed:

(i) between the pole and focus point.

(ii) at the centre of curvature.

86. The focal length of a concave mirror is 30 cm. Find the position of the
object in front of the mirror so that the image is three times the size of
the object.

87. A 5 cm tall object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a

convex lens of focal length 20 cm. The distance of the object from the
lens is 30 cm. Find the

(a) position

(b) nature

(c) size of the image formed.

88. An object 4 cm high is placed at a distance of 27 cm in front of a

convex lens of focal length 18 cm. Find the position, nature and size of
the image formed.

89. An object 5 cm high is kept 25 cm away from a converging lens

(convex lens) of focal length 10 cm. What is nature, position and the size
of the image?

90. An object is placed 15 cm from a convex mirror of radius of curvature

60 cm. Find the position of image and its magnification.
91. A point object is placed at a distance of 12 cm from a convex lens on
its principal axis. Its image is formed on the other side of the lens at a
distance of 18 cm from the lens. Find the focal length of the lens. Is the
image magnified? Justify your answer.

92. (a) Two lenses have power of (i) +2D (ii) -4D. What is the nature and
focal length of each lens?

(b) An object is kept at a distance of 100 cm for a lens of power -4D.

Calculate image distance.

93. A 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal

length 15 cm. Give the location of the image and its magnification.

94. A convex mirror used on an automobile has 3 m radius of curvature.

If a bus is located at 5 m from this mirror, find the position, nature and
size of the image.

95. An object, 4.0 cm in size, is placed 25.0 cm in front of a concave

mirror of focal length 15.0 cm. At what distance from the mirror should a
screen be placed in order to obtain a sharp image? Find the nature and
the size of the image.

96. The power of a lens is 2.5 dioptre. What is the focal length and the
type of lens?

97. A10 cm tall object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a

convex lens of focal length 30 cm. The distance of the object from the
lens is 20 cm.

Find the (i) position, (ii) nature and (iii) size of the image formed.

98. Find the position, nature and size of the image of an object 3 cm high
placed at a distance of 9 cm from a concave mirror of focal length 18 cm.

99. (a) A concave mirror produces three times enlarged image of an object
placed at 10 cm in front of it. Calculate the focal length of the mirror.

(b) Show the formation of the image with the help of a ray diagram when
object is placed 6 cm away from the pole of a convex mirror.

100. An object 1 cm tall is placed at a distance of 15 cm from a concave

mirror of focal length 10 cm. Find the position, size and nature of the
image formed.

101. A 2.0 cm tall object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a

convex lens of focal length 10 cm. The distance of the object from the
lens is 15 cm. Find the position, nature and size of the image forms.