1.

There are two objects O1 and O2 at an identical distance of 20 cm on the

two sides of the pole of a spherical concave refracting boundary of radius
60 cm. The indices of refraction of the media on two sides of the boundary
are 1 and 4/3 respectively. Find the location of the object (a) O1 when
seen from O2 (b) O2 when seen from O1.
Ans: (a) v = -24 cm (b) v = - (180/13) cm
2. An object of height 1 cm is kept at a distance of 40 cm from a concave

spherical surface having radius of curvature

R = 20 cm, separating air and glass having

refractive index 1.33. Find the location, height

and the nature of the image formed.

Ans: v = -32 cm, hI = 0.6 cm, virtual, erect and diminished

3. A parallel beam of light travelling in water

(μ = 4/3) is refracted by a spherical air bubble
of radius R situated in water. Find the position
of the image due to refraction at the first surface
and the position of the final image. Ans: v = -3R and V = -(5R/2)
4. A glass sphere of radius R = 10 cm having
refractive index μ = 3/2 id kept inside water.
A point object O is placed at 20 cm from A
as shown in figure. Find the position and
nature of image when seen from other side of the sphere. Given 𝜇𝑤 4/3.
Ans: v = -100 cm
5. A quarter cylinder of radius R and refractive
index 1.5 is placed on a table. A point object P
is kept at a distance of mR from it. Find the
value of m for which a ray from P will emerge
parallel to the table as shown in the figure.
Ans: 4/3
6. In the figure, light is incident on the thin lens as shown.
The radius of curvature of both the surfaces is R.
𝝁𝟑 𝑹
Determine the focal length of this system. Ans: f =
𝝁𝟑 − 𝝁𝟏

7. A parallel beam of light traveling in water having refractive index 4/3 is

refracted by a spherical air bubble of radius 2 mm situated in water.

Assuming the light rays to be paraxial, find the position of the image due

to refraction at the first surface and the position of the final image.

Ans: v1 = -6 mm, v2 = - 5 mm

8. A glass rod has ends as shown in figure. The

refractive index of glass is μ. The object O is

at a distance 2R from the surface of larger

radius of curvature. The distance between apexes of ends is 3R. (a) Find

the distance of image formed of the point object from right hand vertex.

(b) What is the condition to be satisfied if the image is to be real?

Ans: (a) (b)

9. A glass sphere has a radius of 5 cm and

μ = 1.6. A paperweight is constructed by

slicing through the sphere on a plane that

is 2 cm from the centre of the sphere and

perpendicular to a radius of the sphere that passes through the centre of

the circle formed by the intersection of the plane and the sphere. The

paperweight is placed on a table and viewed from directly above by an

observer who is 8 cm from the tabletop, as shown in the figure. When

viewed through the paperweight how far away does the tabletop appear to
 the observer. Ans: 7.42 cm

10. The slab of a material of μ = 2 shown in

Figure has a curved surface APB of radius

of curvature 10 cm and a plane surface CD.

On the left of APB is air and on the right of

CD is water with refractive indices as given in the figure. An object O is

placed at a distance of 15 cm from pole P as shown. Find the distance of

the final image of O from P, as viewed from the left. Ans: v = - 30 cm

11. A spherical refractive surface of radius 10 cm

separates two media of refractive indices μ =1

and μ = 3/2 respectively. A point object P starts

from rest at t = 0 with an acceleration 2 cm/s 2. Find the speed of image at

t = 1 s. Ans: 12 cm/s

12. A liquid of refractive index 𝜇1 = 2 is filled in a

thin glass sphere of radius 20 cm. A fish is

moving towards the centre of sphere with a

speed of 2 cm/s. Find the speed of the image

of fish in mirror, when fish is at distance 10 cm from the centre of sphere

as shown in the figure.

(a) 8 cms-1 (b) 12 cms-1 (c) 24 cms-1 (d) 20 cms-1 Ans: A

13. In given figure, spherical refractive surface

separates two media. The refractive index of

𝑡
right side of surface is 𝜇 = 1 + , where t is in
10

second. A paraxial parallel beam of light incident

 on the surface from air. Find the time at which the converging point of

beam is 30 cm rightward from the surface.

(a) 10 s (b) 5 s (c) 1 s (d) 20 s Ans: B

14. A spherical refractive surface 10 cm separates

two medium of refractive index 1.5 and 4/3

respectively as shown in figure. A linear object

of length 4 cm is placed 20 cm before the refractive surface.

(a) the image of object is virtual (b) the image of object is real

(c) the size of image is 3.27 cm (d) None of these Ans: A, C

15. A solid glass of radius 10 cm and refraction

index 1.5 is placed in water of refractive index

4/3. A point mark P is at distance 5 cm from

the centre. This point mark is viewed along the

diameter of the sphere as shown in the figure.

(a) the image of point object P seen by observer O1 is 2 cm from itself

(b) the image of point object P seen by observer O1 is 24/17 cm from itself

(c) the image of point object P seen by observer O2 is 16 cm from itself

(d) the image of point object P seen by observer O2 is 26 cm from itself

Ans: D
16. If the speed of image at the instant as shown

in figure is 11𝑥0 . Find the value of 𝑥0 . (Take

radius of curvature is 10 cm)

Ans: 4

17. Water (with refractive index = 4/3) in a tank is 18 cm deep. Oil of index
7/4 lies on water making a convex surface of radius of curvature R = 6 cm
as shown in the figure. Consider oil to act as a thin lens. An object S is
 placed 24 cm above water surface. The location of its
image is at x cm above the bottom of the tank. Then,
find x.
Ans: 2

18. Figure shows an irregular block of material of

refractive index √2. A ray of light strikes the
face AB as shown in the figure. After refraction
it is incident on a spherical surface CD of
radius of curvature 0.4 m and enters a medium of refractive index 1.514
to meet PQ at E. Find the distance OE upto two places of decimal.
Ans: 6.06 m
19. A glass hemisphere M of 𝜇 = 1.5 and radius
10 cm has a point object O placed at a
distance 20 cm behind the flat face which
is viewed by an observer from the curved
side as shown. Find the location of final
image after two refractions as seen by observer.
Ans: 80 cm from the pole P of curved surface and it is a real image.
20. Figure shows a small object M of length 1 mm which
lies along a diametrical line of a glass sphere of
radius 10 cm and μ = 3/2 which is viewed by an
observer as shown. Find the size of object as seen
by the observer. Ans: 8/3 mm
21. A solid glass with radius R and an index of refraction 1.5 is silvered over

one hemisphere. A small object is located on the axis of the sphere at a

distance 2R to the left of the vertex of the unsilvered hemisphere. Find the

position of final image after all refractions and reflections have taken

place. Ans: at the pole of silvered/curved surface.

22. A spherical convex surface separates object and
image space of refractive index 1 and 4/3. If
radius of curvature of the surface is 10 cm, find
its power. Ans: -1/30
23. A hemispherical portion of the surface of a solid
glass sphere of refractive index 1.5 and of radius
r is silvered to make the inner side reflecting. An
object is placed at the axis of the sphere at a
distance 3r from the centre of the sphere. The light from the object is
refracted at the unsilvered part, then reflected from the silvered part and
again refracted at the unsilvered part. Locate the final image formed.
Ans: Final image is formed at pole of the mirror
24. Consider the figure shown. A hemispherical cavity of
radius R is carved out from a sphere (m = 1.5) of radius
2R such that principal axis of cavity coincides with
that of sphere. One side of sphere is silvered as shown.
Find the value of x for which the image of an object at
O is formed at O itself. Ans: 𝒙 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 𝑹
25. One end of a long glass rod having refractive index μ = 1.5 is formed into
the shape of a convex surface of radius 6 cm. An object is located in air
along the axis of the rod, at a distance of 10 cm from the end of the rod.
(a) How far apart are the object and the image formed by the glass rod?
(b) For what range of distances from the end of the rod must the object be
located in order to produce a virtual image? Ans: (a) 80 cm (b) u < 12 cm
26. An object is at a distance of d = 2.5 cm from the surface of a glass sphere
with a radius R = 10 cm. Find the position of the image produced by the
sphere. The refractive index of the glass is μ = 1.5.
Ans: Final image is formed at 65 cm from first face on the same side
of the object.
27. A glass hemisphere of radius 10 cm and refractive index μ = 1.5 is
silvered over its curved surface. There is an air bubble in the glass 5 cm
 from the plane surface along the axis. Find the position of the images of
this bubble seen by observer looking along the axis into the flat surface
of the hemisphere. Ans: 3.33 cm, infinity
28. A hollow sphere of glass of refractive index μ has a small mark on its
interior surface which is observed from a point outside the sphere on the
side opposite the centre. The inner cavity is concentric with external
surface and the thickness of the glass is everywhere equal to the radius of
the inner surface. Prove that the mark will appear nearer than it really is,
(𝜇−1)𝑅
by a distance (3𝜇−1)
, where R is the radius of the inner surface.

29. Figure shows a fish bowl of radius 10 cm in which

along a diametrical line a fish F is moving at speed
2 mms-1. Find the speed of fish as observed by an
observer from outside along same line when fish is
at a distance 5 cm from the centre of bowl to right of it as shown in figure.
Ans: 3.84 mms-1
30. A parallel incident beam falls on a solid glass sphere at near normal
incidence. Calculate the image distance in terms of refractive index μ of
the sphere and its radius R. Ans:

31. Figure shows a glass hemisphere placed on a white

horizontal sheet. A vertical paraxial light beam of
diameter d incident on the curved surface of hemisphere
as shown. Find the diameter of the light spot formed on sheet after
refraction. Ans: 2d/3
32. A transparent sphere of radius R has a cavity of radius
R/2 as shown in figure. Find the refractive index of the
sphere if a parallel beam of light falling on left surface
focuses at point P. Ans:
33. A glass sphere (μ = 1.5) with a radius of 15.0 cm has a tiny air bubble
5 cm above its centre. The sphere is viewed looking down along the
extended radius containing the bubble. What is the apparent depth of the
 bubble below the surface of the sphere? Ans: 8.57 cm
34. A cylindrical glass rod of radius 0 1. m and
refractive index √3 lies on a horizontal plane
mirror. A horizontal ray of light moving
perpendicular to the axis of the rod is incident
on it. (a) At what height from the mirror should the ray be incident so that
it leaves the rod at a height of 0 1. m above the plane mirror? (b) At what
distance a second similar rod, parallel to the first, be placed on the
mirror, such that the emergent ray from the second rod is in line with the
incident ray on the first rod? Ans: (a) 0.186 m (b) 0.315 m
35. A ray is incident on a glass sphere as shown in
figure. The opposite surface of the sphere is
partially silvered. If the net deviation of the ray
transmitted at the partially silvered surface is
one third of the net deviation suffered by the ray
reflected at the partially silvered surface (after emerging out of the
sphere), find the refractive index of the sphere. Ans: √𝟑
36. A transparent hemisphere has a radius of curvature 8 cm
and an index of refraction of 1.6. A small object O is placed
on the axis halfway between the plane surface and the
spherical surface i.e., 4 cm from each. Then find the distance
between the two images when viewed along the axis from the two sides of
the hemisphere (approximately). Ans: 2.5 cm
37. A uniform, horizontal parallel beam of light
is incident on a quarter cylinder, of radius
5 cm having refractive index 5/3. The width
of the region at which the incident rays after
normal incidence on plane surface and subsequent refraction at curved
surface intersect the x axis is (Neglect the ray which travels along x-axis)
(A) 4 cm (B) 5/4 cm (C) 9/4 cm (D) 25/4 cm Ans: D
38. Figure shows a spherical cavity in a solid glass block.
The cavity is filled with a liquid and from outside an
observer sees the distance AB which is the diameter
of the cavity and it appear as infinitely large to the
observer. If refractive index of liquid is 𝜇1 and that of glass is 𝜇2 , then find
𝜇1
. Ans: 2
𝜇2

39. An opaque sphere of radius a is just immersed in a

transparent liquid as shown in figure. A point source
is placed on the vertical diameter of the sphere at a
distance a/2 from the top of the sphere. One ray
originating from the point source after refraction
from the air liquid interface forms tangent to the sphere. The angle of
refraction for that particular ray is 30°. Find the refractive index of the

liquid. Ans: 4/√𝟕

40. A transparent solid sphere of radius 2 cm and
density ρ floats in a transparent liquid of density
2ρ kept in a beaker. The bottom of the beaker is
spherical in shape with radius of curvature 8 cm
and is silvered to make it concave mirror as shown
in the figure. When an object is placed at a distance of 10 cm directly
above the centre of the sphere its final image coincides with it. Find h
(as shown in figure), the height of the liquid surface in the beaker, in
cm, from the apex of the bottom. Consider the paraxial rays only. The
refractive index of the sphere is 3/2 and that of the liquid is 4/3.
Ans: 15
41. A parallel paraxial beam of light is incident on a
glass sphere of radius 10 cm along its diameter
AB from one side as shown. If all the rays after
refraction converge at the point B then calculate
the refractive index of the glass sphere. Ans: 2
42. Two identical glass rods S1 and S2 (refractive
index 1.5) have one convex end of radius of
curvature 10 cm. They are placed with the curved surfaces at a distance
d as shown in the figure, with their axes (shown by the dashed line)
aligned. When a point source of light P is placed inside rod S1 on its axis
at a distance of 50 cm from the curved face, the light rays emanating from
it are found to be parallel to the axis inside S2. Find the distance d.
Ans: 70 cm
43. One end of a glass rod of refractive index (1.5)
is a spherical surface of radius of curvature R.
The centre of the spherical surface lies inside
the glass. A point object placed in air on the axis of the rod at the point P
has its real image inside glass at the point Q (see fig). A line joining the
points P and Q cuts the surface at O such that OP = 2OQ. Find the
distance PO. Ans: 8R
44. In the adjacent figure, a ray of, light travelling in
air strikes the plane surface AB of a solid semi-
cylinder with refractive index 𝜇2 , at an angle 300
with the normal to the surface. The emergent ray
comes out at C. Find the value of 𝜇2 (axis of the
cylinder is perpendicular to plane of the paper
√𝟓
and incident ray lies in the plane of the paper. Ans:
𝟐

45. Left half of a glass sphere is surrounded with a

medium having refractive index 3 and the right
half is surrounded with medium having refractive

index √3 as shown. A ray is incident at an angle of

600 as shown. Find the total deviation as the ray
comes out of the sphere. Ans: 60 CW
46. A spherical surface of radius R separates air
from a medium of refractive index m. Parallel
beam of light is incident, from medium side,
 making a small angle q with the principal axis of the spherical surface.
Find the co-ordinates of the point where the rays will
focus in air. Ans:
47. A transparent ball of radius R is viewed by an
observer O along its diameter AB. The observe
O sees the distance AB to be infinitely large.
Find the refractive index of the material of the ball. Ans: μ = 2
48. A concave spherical surface of radius of curvature R = 20 cm separates
two media A and B having refractive indices μA = 4/3 and μB = 3/2
respectively. A point object is placed on the principal axis. Find the
distance of the object from the surface so that its image is virtual when
(a) the object is in medium A. (b) the object is in medium B.
Ans: (a) For all distance (b) For all distance
49. A glass (μ = 1.5) sphere of radius R is viewed from
outside along a diameter. Calculate the distance
between two points (say P and Q) lying on the line
AB whose images are seen at centre C and point A respectively.
Ans: R/2
50. A concave spherical surface of radius of curvature 10 cm separates two
mediums X and Y of refractive indices 4/3 and 3/2 respectively. Centre of
curvature of the surface lies in the medium X. An object is placed in
medium X. Will the image be real or virtual?
Ans: Image is always virtual
51. A region bounding water has air on two
sides. Tell the nature (real or virtual) of
the image for following cases- (The
object is real and lies on the principal
axis (see fig) in all cases.) (a) The object
is to the left of surface 1 and the image to be considered is formed after
the first refraction. (b) The object is to the left of surface 1 and the image
to be considered is formed after two refractions. (c) The object is to the
 right of second surface and the image to be considered is formed after one
refraction.
Ans: (a) Virtual (b) May be real or virtual (c) May be real or virtual
52. A small object O is placed in air at the principal axis at a distance x from
the pole of the curved surface of a transparent hemisphere having
refractive index 2 and radius R as shown. Based on above information,
answer the following questions.
(a) The value of x, for which the final image of the
object at O will be virtual is
(A) 2R (B) 3R (C) R/3 (D) 1.5 R Ans: C
(b) The nature of final image of the object when
x = 2 R is
(A) Erect and magnified (B) Inverted and magnified
(C) Erect and same size (D) Inverted and same size Ans: D
(c) It is observed that for x = R, a ray starting from O strikes the spherical
surface at grazing incidence. The angle with the normal at which the ray
emerges from the plane surface is
(A) 90° (B) 0° (C) 30° (D) 60° Ans: C
53. A point object O is placed in front of a
sphere of radius R and   1.5 at
distance R/N. Find value of N so that
emergent rays are parallel to x-axis.
Consider paraxial rays only. Ans: 2
54. A real point object is kept at a distance of OP  u. The radius of curvature
of spherical surface APB is CP  R. The refractive indices of the media are
n1 and n2 which are as shown in the diagram. Then (consider only
paraxial rays)
A) if n1  n2 the image is virtual for all values
of u
B) if n2  2n1 the image is virtual when R  u
C) the image is real for all values of u, n1 and n2
 D) if n2  n1 the image will be always real Ans: A, B
55. Consider a hemisphere of radius R with center of
curvature at origin O, as shown in figure. Refractive
2𝑅
index of material of the hemisphere varies as 𝜇 = ,
2𝑅−𝑥

where x is x - coordinate of material point. A ray

travelling in air in X-Y plane is grazingly incident at O,
as shown. Choose the correct option(s).
A) Trajectory followed by ray as it travels inside the hemisphere is
circular.
B) y-coordinate of the point of hemisphere where the ray comes out of the
hemisphere lies between 0.5 R and 0.75 R.
C) Deviation suffered by the ray just before it comes out of the
hemispherical surface lies between 00 and 300.
D) Deviation suffered by the ray just before it comes out of the
hemispherical surface lies between 300 and 450. Ans: A, C
56. In the figure shown a point object O is placed in air on the principal axis.
The radius of curvature of the spherical surface is 60cm. I f is the final
image formed after all the refractions and reflections:
A) If d1  120 cm, then the ‘If’ is formed on ‘O’
for any value of d2
B) If d1  120 cm, then the ‘If’ is formed on ‘O’
only if d2  360 cm
C) If d1  120 cm, then the ‘If’ is formed on ‘O’ for all value of d2
D) If d1  120 cm, then the ‘If’ cannot be formed on ‘O’ Ans: A, B
Question Stem (57 – 58)
A ray of light travelling in air is incident at nearly
grazing incidence on a large rectangular slab of
transparent medium having thickness 16 m.
Treating the point of incidence as the origin and
the refractive index of medium varies with

thickness as a function of y (in metre), 𝜇 (𝑦) = √𝑦 3⁄2 + 1, If equation of the

 path of ray is 𝑥 = 𝐾𝑌 1⁄𝐾 and ray emerges out of the slab at 𝑥 = 𝑥0 , then
57. Value of k is _______. Ans: 4
58. Value of 𝑥0 is _______m. Ans: 8
59. Figure shows a quadrant of a glass cylinder of radius R  6/7 cm and
refractive index   5/4 kept on a horizontal ground surface. Horizontal
light rays are incident on flat surface of the quadrant as shown.
Light rays undergo refraction at the two surfaces
and reach on ground. Ignoring the light having
zero angle of incident at the second refraction,
the length on the ground illuminated by the light
rays on ground in cm is ___ Ans: 7R/3
60. A ray of light travelling in glass (  3/2) is
incident on a horizontal glass air surface at the
critical angle C. If a thin layer of water ( 4/3)
is now poured on the glass air surface, the ray of
light emerges into air at the water air surface at
an angle of (/k) radians from the normal at that point, find the value of
k. Ans: 2
61. A point object is kept at a distance of 2 m from origin on x - axis. A
quarter cylinder of radius R 30 cm  and refractive index   1.5 having
its axis , to plane of paper is placed between the object and the parabolic
reflector at a distance of 130 cm from origin as shown in figure. The
position of the image after reflection from the parabolic reflector y 2 = 2x is
25 cm. Find the value of ?

Ans: 2
62*. A steel wire is coaxially embedded in a glass tube, external diameter of
which is much greater than that of the wire. Refractive index of the glass
is 4/3. If diameter of the steel wire appears 8/3 mm when looked into the
glass tube through its curved surface, find the actual diameter of the steel
wire? Ans: 2 mm
63*. An isotropic point light source is placed inside a homogeneous sphere of
radius R at a distance r from the centre. What should the value of
refractive index of the material of the sphere be so that all the light
𝑹
emitted by the source comes out of the sphere? Ans: 𝝁 >
𝒓

64*. A spider is hanging above the north pole of a transparent globe of

diameter d at a distance d/√3 from the centre of the globe. Refractive
index of the material of the globe is μ = 2. Between which latitudes a fly
can sit on the globe so that it cannot be seen by the spider. Treat the
spider and the fly both as point objects. Ans: Between 60° N and 60° S
65*. A capillary of outer radius r, made of a glass of refractive index μ is filled
with a liquid of refractive index μ1 (μ1 < μ). What should the minimum
internal radius of the capillary be so that all the light incident on the
𝒓𝟎
capillary enter the liquid? Ans:
𝝁𝟏

66*. A narrow parallel beam of light when incident

normally on a screen, makes a light spot of
radius rb = 0.5 cm on the screen. Now a
transparent sphere of radius rs = 20.0 cm
made from a material of refractive index μ = 2.0 is introduced with its
centre on the axis of the beam. If centre of the sphere is at a distance
l = 100 cm from the screen, what would be radius R of the light spot?
Ans: 2 cm
67. A transparent cylinder has it s right half polished so
as to act as a mirror. A paraxial light ray is incident
from left, that is parallel to principal axis, exits
parallel to the incident ray as shown. Find refractive
index n of the material of the cylinder. Ans: 2
68. In the adjacent figure a ray of light travelling
in air (  1) strikes the plane surface AB of
a transparent and solid semi-cylinder at an
angle 300 with the normal to the surface.
The emergent ray omes out at C. Axis of
cylinder is perpendicular to plane of the
paper and incident ray lies in the plane of
the paper. Find the value of the refractive index of the material of the
semi-cylinder. Ans: √5/2