QUESTION BANK

Single correct type questions

1. A small object is placed 50 cm to the left of a thin convex lens of focal length 30 cm. A convex
spherical mirror of radius of curvature 100 cm is placed to the right of the lens at a distance of
50 cm. The mirror is tilted such that the axis of the mirror is at an angle  = 300 to the axis of the
lens, as shown in the figure.
f = 30 cm


(–50, 0) (0,0) R x
=
10
0c
50 cm m

(50+50 3, –50)

If the origin of the coordinate system is taken to be at the centre of the lens, the coordinates (in cm)
of the point (x, y) at which the image is formed are

(A) (0, 0) (
(B) 50 − 25 3, 25 ) (C) (25, 25 3)
 125 25 
(D) 
 3
,
3


2. Monochromatic light is incident on a glass prism of angle A. If the refractive index of the material of
the prism is , a ray, incident at an angle , on the face AB would get transmitted through the face
AC of the prism provided :

B C
   1      1  
(A)   sin−1  sin  A − sin−1     (B)   cos−1  sin  A + sin−1    
             

   1      1  
(C)   cos−1  sin  A + sin−1     (D)   sin−1  sin  A − sin−1    
             

3. A ray of light strikes a cubical slab surrounded by air as shown in the figure. Then the geometrical
path length traversed by the light in the slab will be :

 3 3
(A) 2 3 m (B) 2m (C) 6m (D)  +  m
 2 2 


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4. An object is moving with constant speed v0, towards a concave mirror along its principal axis, from a
distance 4f0 as shown, where f0 is the focal length of mirror. The correct graph of speed of image (vi)
with time(t) is

object
v0 P.A.

4f0
focal length =f0

vi vi vi vi

v0
v0 v0 v0 9
(A) 9 (B) 9 (C) 9 (D)

t t t t
f0 2f0 3f0 f0 2f0 3f0 f0 2f0 3f0 2f0
v v v v v v v v v v

5. A thin isosceles prism with angle 4° and refractive index 5/4 is placed inside a transparent tube with
liquid (refractive index = 1.5) as shown. The deviation of light due to prism will be

(A) 0.8° upward (B) 0.8° downward (C) 0.67° upward (D) 0.67° downward

Multiple correct type questions

 4
6. A beaker of radius r is filled with water  refractive index  up to a height H as shown in the figure
 3
on the left. The beaker is kept on a horizontal table rotating with angular speed . This makes the
water surface curved so that the difference in the height of water level at the center and at the
circumference of the beaker is h(h << H, h << r), as shown in the figure on the right. Take this surface
to be approximately spherical with a radius of curvature R. Which of the following is/are correct?
(g is the acceleration due to gravity)

h2 + r 2
(A) R =
2h
3r 2
(B) R =
2h
−1
3H  2H 
(C) Apparent depth of the bottom of the beaker is close to  1 + 
2  2g 
−1
3H  2H 
(D) Apparent depth of the bottom of the beaker is close to  1 + 
4  4g 

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7. For a prism of prism angle  = 60°, the refractive indices of the left half and the right half are,
respectively, n1 and n2 (n2  n1) as shown in the figure. The angle of incidence i chosen such that the
incident light rays will have minimum deviation if n1 = n2 = n = 1.5. For the case of unequal refractive
indices, n1 = n and n2 = n + n (where n << n), the angle of emergence e = i + e. Which of the
following statement(s) is(are) correct?

(A) The value of e (in radians) is greater than that of n

(B) e is proportional to n
(C) e lies between 2.0 and 3.0 milliradians, if n = 2.8  10-3
(D) e lies between 1.0 and 1.6 milliradians, if n = 2.8  10-3

8. A thin convex lens is made of two materials with refractive indices n1 and n2, as shown in
figure. The radius of curvature of the left and right spherical surfaces are equal, f is the focal
length of the lens when n1 = n2 = n. The focal length is f + f when n1 = n and n2 = n + n.
Assuming
n << (n – 1) and 1 < n < 2, the correct statement(s) is/are,
n f
(A) If  0 then 0
n f
(B) For n = 1.5, n = 10–3 and f = 20 cm, the value of |f | will be 0.02 cm (round off to 2nd decimal
place).
f n
(C) The relation between and remains unchanged if both the convex surfaces are replaced
f n
by concave surfaces of the same radius of curvature.
f n
(D) 
f n

9. Choose incorrect ray diagram [ denotes converging lens and denotes diverging lens] All symbols
have their usual meaning and all the rays shown are paraxial. (focal length of each lens is F)

O O
(A) (B)
F F
I I
2F
O
F
(C) F (D)

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10. The nature of object and image given with each of the optical condition is shown. Choose the correct
option(s)

I O
(A) Virtual image Virtual object

/////////////////////
(B) Virtual image I OReal object
////////////////

(C) Real object O I Virtual image

////
///////

O I
////////////

(D) Real object Virtual image

/////

11. For the refraction of light through a prism

(A) For every angle of deviation there are two angles of incidence.

(B) The light travelling inside an equilateral prism is necessarily parallel to the base when prism
is set for minimum deviation.

(C) There are two angles of incidence for maximum deviation.

(D) Angle of minimum deviation will increase if refractive index of prism is increased keeping the

outside medium unchanged if P > S

12. A cubic container is filled with a liquid whose refractive index increases linearly from top to bottom.
Which of the following figures may represent the path of a ray of light inside the liquid?

(A) (B) (C) (D)

13. Optical axis of a thin equi-convex lens is the X-axis. The co-ordinate of a point object and its image
are (–20 cm, 1 cm) and (25 cm, –2 cm) respectively

(A) the lens is located at x = 5 cm (B) the lens is located at x = –5 cm

(C) the focal length of the lens is 10 cm (D) the focal length of the lens is 15 cm

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Comprehension type questions
Paragraph for 14 to 16
A turnip sits before a thin converging lens, outside the focal point of the lens. The lens is filled with
a transparent gel so that it is flexible; by squeezing its ends toward its center [as indicated in
figure(a)], you can change the curvature of its front and rear sides.

14. When you squeeze the lens, the image.

(A) moves towards the lens (B) moves away from the lens
(C) shifts up (D) remains as it is

15. When you squeeze the lens, the lateral height of image.
(A) increases (B) decreases (C) remains same (D) data insufficient

16. Suppose that a sharp image must be formed on a card which is at a certain distance behind the lens
[figure(b)], while you move the turnip away from the lens, then you should
(A) decrease the squeeze of the lens Card
(B) increase the squeeze of the lens
(C) keep the card and lens as it is.
(D) move the card away from the lens

Figure(b)
Matrix Match Type Questions

17. List I contain four combinations of two lenses (1 and 2) whose focal lengths (in cm) are indicated in
the figures. In all cases, the object is placed 20 cm from the first lens on the left, and the distance
between the two lenses is 5 cm. List II contains the positions of the final images.

List – I List – II

(P) Final image is formed at 7.5 cm on the

(I) right side of lens 2.

(Q) Final image is formed at 60.0 cm on the

(II) right side of lens 2.

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 (R) Final image is formed at 30.0 cm on the
(III) left side of lens 2.

(S) Final image is formed at 6.0 cm on the

(IV) right side of lens 2.

(T) Final image is formed at 30.0 cm on the

right side of lens 2.

Which one of the following options is correct?

(A) (I) → P; (II) → R; (III) → Q; (IV) → T (B) (I) → Q; (II) → P; (III) → T; (IV) → S
(C) (I) → P; (II) → T; (III) → R; (IV) → Q (D) (I) → T; (II) → S; (III) → Q; (IV) → R

18. A right angled prism of refractive index µ1 is placed in a rectangular block of refractive index µ2, which
is surrounded by a medium of refractive index µ3, as shown in the figure. A ray of light 'e' enters the
rectangular block at normal incidence. Depending upon the relationships between µ1, µ2, and µ3, it takes
one of the four possible paths 'ef', 'eg', 'eh' or 'ei'.
f
45°
e g
1 h
i
2 3

Match the paths in List I with conditions of refractive indices in List II and select the correct answer
using the codes given below the lists :
List I List II

P. e→ f 1. 1  2 2

Q. e→ g 2. 2  1 and 2  3
R e →h 3.  1 = 2

S e →i 4. 2  1  2 2 and 2  3
Codes :
P Q R S
(A) 2 3 1 4
(B) 1 2 4 3
(C) 4 1 2 3
(D) 2 3 4 1

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19. Four combinations of two thin lenses are given in List I. The radius of curvature of all curved surfaces
is r and the refractive index of all the lenses is 1.5. Match lens combinations in List I with their focal
length in List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists.
List I List II

P. 1. 2r

Q. 2. r/2

R. 3. –r

S. 4. r

Code:
(A) P-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4 (B) P-2, Q-4, R-3, S-1
(C) P-4, Q-1, R-2, S-3 (D) P-2, Q-1, R-3, S-4

Subjective Type Questions

20. A concave mirror forms the real image of a point source lying on the optical axis at a distance of
50 cm from the mirror. The focal length of the mirror is 25 cm. The mirror is cut into two halves
and its halves are drawn a distance of 1 cm apart (from each other) in a direction perpendicular to
the optical axis. Find the distance (in cm) between the two images formed by the two halves of the
mirror.

21. A ray of light enters a diamond (n = 2) from air and is being internally reflected near the bottom as
shown in the figure. Find maximum value of angle  possible ?


135°
90°

22. An experimentalist devises a method for finding the radius of curvature of a convex mirror. He uses
a plane mirror strip between the object and the convex mirror and adjusts it till the two virtual images
formed by reflection at both the mirrors coincide without parallax. In his observations, the object
distance from the convex mirror is 0.5 m while it is 0.30 m in front of the plane mirror. Find the radius
of curvature (in cm) of the convex mirror.

23. A plano convex lens ( = 1.5) has a maximum thickness of 1 mm. If diameter of its aperture is 4 cm.
Find
(i) Radius of curvature of curved surface;
(ii) Its focal length in air.

24. A point object is placed 33 cm from a convex mirror of curvature radius = 40 cm. A glass plate of
thickness 6 cm and index 2.0 is placed between the object and mirror, close to the mirror. Find the
distance of final image from the object?

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25. A small object of length 1 mm lies along the principal axis of a spherical glass of radius R = 10 cm and
refractive index is 3/2. The object is seen from air along the principal axis from left. The distance of
object from the centre is 5 cm. Find the size of the image.

P Q

26. A meniscus lens is made of a material of refractive index 2. Both its surfaces have radii of curvature
R. It has two different media of refractive indices 1 and 3 respectively, on its two sides (see figure).
Calculate its focal length for 1 < 2 < 3, when light is incident on it as shown.

1 < 2 < 3
1 2 3

R R

27. Find the focal length of lens shown in the figure. Solve for three cases ns = 1.5, ns = 2.0, ns = 2.5.

28. A point source of light is kept at a distance of 15 cm from a converging lens, on its optical axis. The
focal length of the lens is 10 cm and its diameter is 3 cm. A screen is placed on the other side of the
lens, perpendicular to the axis of lens, at a distance 20 cm from it. Then find the area of the
illuminated part of the screen?

29. A parallel paraxial beam of light is incident on the arrangement as shown µA = 3/2, µB = 4/3, the two
spherical surfaces are very close and each has radius of curvature 10 cm. Find the point where the
rays are focussed. (w.r.t. point of entry)
10cm

B = 4/3
A
=3/2

30. A flint glass convex lens of focal length 16 cm is placed in contact with crown glass lens. The refractive
indices of crown glass for violet and red colour are v = 1.525, r = 1.515 and for flint glass v' = 1.655
and r' = 1.645.
(a) Find the nature and focal length of the crown glass lens which will form an achromatic
combination with the flint glass lens.
(b) What is the focal length of the combination?

8
31. Find the co-ordinates of image of point object P formed after two successive reflection in situation
as shown in figure considering first reflection at concave mirror and then at convex.
y f2=20cm
f1=15cm
P P2
O 2mm
P1
20cm
M2
M1
50cm

32. A narrow beam of light passing through the hemisphere of material with refractive index n, intersects
at point O. Where does the beam converge (i.e. y in cm) if beam were to travel in the opposite direction
as shown in figure (b)? The value of x is given to be 10 cm. Radius of the hemisphere is also 10 cm.

(a) O (b)

x y

33. A composite slab consisting of different media is placed infront of a concave mirror of radius of
curvature 150 cm. The whole arrangement is placed in water. An object O is placed at a distance
20cm from the slab. The R.I. of different media are given in the diagram. Find the position of the final
image formed by the system.
R = 150cm

=4/3 =1.5 =1.0 =1.5 =4/3

x
O
20cm
45cm 24cm 54cm 10cm

34. The rectangular box shown is the place of lens. By looking at the ray diagram, answer the following
questions :
(1) I
Ray (1) (2)
O

axis

Ray (2)
X X

Y
(i) If X is 5 cm then what is the focal length of the lens ?
(ii) If the point O is 1 cm above the axis then what is the position of the image? Consider the
optical center of the lens to be the origin.

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35. A parallel beam of light of diameter 4 cm falls on a thin convex lens of focal length 40 cm and then
on a thin convex lens of focal length 10 cm as shown in figure (a). In figure (b) the second lens is an
equiconcave lens of focal length 10 cm. In both the cases, the second lens has an aperture equal to
1cm and µ = 1.5. Compare the area illuminated by the beam of light on the screen, which passes
through the second lens in the two cases.
f = 40 f = 40
f = 10 f = 10

Screen

Screen
4cm

4cm
50cm 40cm 50cm 40cm

Figure (a) Figure (b)

36. A point source of light is placed 60 cm away from screen. Intensity detected at point P is I. Now a
diverging lens of focal length 20 cm is placed 20 cm away from S between S and P. The lens transmits
75% of light incident on it. Find the new value of intensity at P.
20 cm

P
S

60cm

37. Two rays travelling parallel to the principal axis strike a large plano–convex lens having a refractive
index of 1.60. If the convex face is spherical, a ray near the edge does not pass through the focal point
(spherical aberration occurs). If this face has a radius of curvature of magnitude 20.0 cm and the two
rays are h1 = 0.500 cm and h2 = 12.0 cm from the principal axis, find the difference in the positions
where they cross the principal axis.

C x
R

38. Water level in the tank is decreasing at a constant rate of 1 cm/s. A small metal sphere is moving
downwards with a constant velocity 5 cm/s. Base of the tank is a concave mirror of radius 40 cm.
Find the velocity of the image seen [ Take aw = 4/3].
(a) directly
(b) after reflection at the mirror

1 cm/s

10 cm/s

R = 40cm

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39. Two spherical mirrors, one convex and the other concave, each of same radius of curvature R are
arranged coaxially at a distance of 2R from each other as shown in figure. A small circle of radius a
is drawn on the convex mirror. What is the radii of first three images of the circle.

2R

40. A monochromatic beam of light is incident at 60° on one face of an equilateral prism of refractive
index n and emerges from the opposite face making an angle (n) with the normal (see the figure).
d
For n = 3 the value of  is 60° and = m The value of m is
dn

60° 

41. Consider a concave mirror and a convex lens (refractive index = 1.5) of focal length 10 cm each,
separated by a distance of 50 cm in air (refractive index = 1) as shown in the figure. An object is
placed at a distance of 15 cm from the mirror. Its erect image formed by this combination has
magnification M1. When the set- up is kept in a medium of refractive index 7/6, the magnification
M2
becomes M2. The magnitude is
M1

15 cm

50 cm

42. A planar structure of length L and width W is made of two different optical media of refractive indices
n1 = 1.5 and n2 = 1.44 as shown in figure. If L >> W, a ray entering from end AB will emerge from end
CD only if the total internal reflection condition is met inside the structure. For L = 9.6 m. if the
incident angle  is varied, the maximum time taken by a ray to exit the plane CD is t × 10–9 s, where t
is _____.
[Speed of light c = 3 × 108 m/s]

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 2
43. A rod of length 2 cm makes an angle rad with the principal axis of a thin convex lens. The lens
3
40
has a focal length of 10 cm and is placed at a distance of cm from the object as shown in the
3
30 3
figure. The height of the image is cm and the angle made by it with respect to the principal
13

axis is  rad. The value of  is rad, where n is_______.
n

44. A thin converging lens L1 forms a real image of an object located far
away from the lens as shown in the figure. The image is located at a A B h
distance 4l and has height h. A diverging lens of focal length l is placed O l 2l 3l 4l
2l from lens L1 at A. Another converging lens of focal length 2l is placed
3l from lens L1 at B. Find the height of final image thus formed?

45. In figure, L is half part of an equiconvex glass lens ( = 1.5) whose surfaces have radius of curvature
R = 40 cm and its right surface is silvered. Normal to its principal axis a plane mirror M is placed on
right of the lens. Distance between lens L and mirror M is b. A small object O is placed on left of the
lens such that there is no parallax between final images formed by the lens and mirror. If transverse
length of final image formed by lens is twice that of image formed by the mirror, calculate distance
'a' in cm between lens and object.
\\\\
\\\\\\\\\\

O
M
a b

46. A thin plate of transparent plastic is embedded in a thick slab of glass. The index of refraction of the
glass is n = 1.50 ; the index of refraction of the plate changes as shown in the diagram. A beam of
light passes through glass and strikes the surface of the plastic plate. The maximum angle of
incidence max which enables the beam to pass through the plate. Find max.
n

glass plastic glass

1.50
1.40
1.30
1.20

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47. A luminous point P is inside a circle. A ray enters from P and after two reflections by the circle, return
to P. If  be the angle of incidence, a the distance of P from the centre of the circle and b the distance
of the centre from the point where the ray in its course crosses the diameter through P, prove that

a −b
tan =
a +b

48. A large glass cube (n = 1.5) has a small air bubble below one surface. When a rupee coin
(diameter 2 cm) is placed directly over the bubble on the outside of the cube, the bubble cannot be
seen by looking down into the cube at any angle. However when a 50 paise coin (diameter 1.5 cm) is
placed directly over it, the bubble can be seen by the looking down into the cube. What is the range
of the possible depths d of the air bubble beneath the surface?
?

d
O

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