1

REFLECTION & REFRACTION OF LIGHT

Reflection of Light

• Definitions
(a) Centre of curvature: The centre of the sphere of which the mirror is a part is called the centre of curvature.
(b) Radius of curvature: The radius of the sphere of which the mirror is a part is called the radius of curvature. It is
represented by, C in the figure.
(c) Pole: The mid-point of circular aperture of the curved mirror is called pole. It is shown by point p in the mirror.
(d) Principal axis: The line drawn through the centre of curvature and the pole of the mirror is called the principal axis.
(e) Focus: All rays parallel to the principal axis after reflection pass through a point F on the principal axis
(or appear to be combine from F). This point F on the principal axis is called focus. It is represented by F in the
figure.
(f) Focal length: The distance from the pole to the focus is known as focal length of mirror.
(g) Aperture: The part of the mirror from which reflection can take place is called aperture.

Questions & answers

1. Write the sign convention for spherical mirrors. Explain it with the help of a labelled diagram.

These days New Cartesian Sign Convention is used for measuring the various distances in the ray-diagrams of spherical
mirrors (concave mirrors and convex mirrors). According to the New Cartesian Sign Convention :
(i) All the distances are measured from pole of the mirror as origin.
(ii) Distances measured in the same direction as that of incident light are taken as positive.
(iii) Distances measured against the direction of incident light are taken as negative.
(iv) Distances measured against the direction of incident light are taken as negative.
(v) Distances measured downward and perpendicular to the principal axis are taken as negative.
2. State the uses of concave mirrors.

Concave mirrors are used :
(i) as reflectors in torches, vehicle head-lights and search-lights to get powerful beams of light.
(ii) as shaving mirrors to see a large image of the face.
(iii) by dentists to see the large image of the teeth of the patients.
(iv) in the field of solar energy to focus sun's rays for heating solar furnaces.
3. Name the type of mirror which is used as a reflector in the head-lights of a car. Why is it used for this purpose?

Concave mirror is used as a reflector in the head-lights of a car. The reason for this use is as follows: When a lighted
bulb is placed at the focus of a concave reflector, then the concave reflector collects all the diverging rays of light of the
bulb and converts them into a powerful beam of parallel light rays. This parallel beam of light rays can reach a large
distance in the darkness of night and make us see things up to a considerable distance.
4. Name the type of mirror used by dentists. Why is it used for this purpose?
5. The magnification produced by a plane mirror is +1. What does this mean?

The plus sign (+) of the magnification shows that the image is virtual and erect. And the value 1 for magnification
shows that the image is exactly of the same size as the object. So, the magnification of +1 produced by plane mirror
means that the image formed in a plane mirror is virtual and erect, and of the same size as the object.
6. What is the difference between a real image and a virtual image? Give one example of each type of image.

(i) The image which can be obtained on a screen is called a real image. In a cinema hull, we see the images of actors and
actresses on the screen. So, the images formed on a cinema screen are real images
(ii) The image which cannot be obtained on a screen is called a virtual image. A virtual image can be seen only by
looking into a mirror (or a lens). The image of our face formed by a plane mirror cannot be obtained on a screen, it can
be seen only by looking into the mirror. So, the image of our face in a plane mirror is a virtual image
7. What happens when a sharp image of the sun is produced on a piece of paper by using a concave mirror? What is the
distance of this image from the mirror known as?

When a sharp, point image of the sun is obtained on a piece of paper by using a concave minor, then after a few
minutes, the paper starts burning at the point of sun’s image and a hole is formed in it. This is because the concave
mirror converges (or concentrates) a lot of sun's heat rays to a small point on paper kept at its focus' and this heat energy
burns the paper. The distance of sun's image (or paper) from the concave mirror gives us the approximate focal length of
concave mirror.

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8. A ray of light is incident on a concave mirror along its principal axis. What will happen to this ray of light after
reflection from concave mirror? Give reason for your answer.

If a ray of light is incident on a concave mirror along its principal axis, then it is reflected back along the same path.
This is because a ray of light going along the principal axis falls normally (perpendicularly) on the surface of concave
mirror. The angle of incidence as well as the angle of reflection for such a ray of light will be 0°
9. How will you find out the focal length of a concave mirror quickly but approximately?

We focus a distant object like a tree or window on a screen (or a wall) by using a concave mirror whose focal length is
to be determined. The sharp image of tree window will be formed at the focus of the concave mirror. That is, the
distance of image (or screen) from the concave mirror will be equal to the focal length of concave mirror. This distance
can be measured with a scale. It will give us the approximate focal length of the concave minor.
10. Name the type of mirror used by dentists. Why is it used for this purpose?

Concave mirrors are used by dentists to see the large images of the teeth of patients. This is because when a tooth is
within the focus of a concave mirror, then an enlarged image of the tooth is seen in the concave mirror. Due to this, it
becomes easier to locate the defect in the tooth. The concave mirrors used by dentists are very small in size. They are
fitted in a frame with a long handle
11. Which type of mirror is used as a shaving mirror? Support your answer with reason.

Concave mirrors are used as shaving mirrors to see a large image of the face. This is because when the face is held
within the focus of a concave mirror, then an enlarged image of the face is seen in the concave mirror. This helps in
making a smooth shaver.
12. Define linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror. Write its formula.

The ratio of the height of image to the height of object is known as linear magnification. That is ,
h e ig h t o f im a g e h2
M a g n ific a tio n = or m =
h e ig h t o f o b je c t h1

13. What is the significance :

(a) if the magnification (m) has a positive sign (+) ?
(b) it the magnification (m) has a negative sign (–) ?

(a) A positive sign (+) in the magnification value indicates that the image is virtual and erect (It is formed above the
principal axis).
(b) A negative sign (–) in the value of magnification indicates that the image is real and inverted (It is formed below the
principal axis).
14. How will you distinguish between a plane mirror, a concave mirror and a convex mirror without touching them ?

We can distinguish between these mirrors just by looking into them, that is, by bringing our face close to each mirror,
turn by turn. All of them will produce an image of our face but of different types. A plane mirror will produce an image
of the same size as our face and we will look our normal self. A concave mirror will produce a magnified image and our
face will look much bigger. A convex mirror will produce a diminished image and our face will look much smaller (like
that of a small child).
15. Explain why, convex mirrors are used as rear - view mirrors in vehicles.

Convex mirrors are preferred as rear-view mirrors because of two reasons: -
(i) A convex mirror always produces an erect (right side up) image of the objects.
(ii) The image formed in a convex mirror is highly diminished or much smaller than the object, due to which a convex
mirror gives a wide field of view (of the traffic behind). A convex mirror enables a driver to view much larger area
of the traffic behind him than would be possible with a plane mirror. A plane mirror gives a narrow field of view.
16. A ray of light travelling obliquely to the principal axis is incident at the pole of a concave mirror. Draw a ray-diagram to
show the path of this ray of light after reflection from the concave mirror. Mark the angle of incidence (i) and the angle
of reflection (r) in the diagram.
17. A ray of light parallel to the principal axis is incident on a convex mirror. Draw a ray-diagram to show the path of this
ray of light after reflection from convex mirror. Mark the angle of incidence (i) and the angle of reflection (r) in the
diagram.
18. A ray of light is directed towards the centre of curvature of a convex mirror. Draw a ray-diagram to show the path of
this ray of light after reflection from the convex mirror. What is the (i) angle of incidence, and (ii) angle of reflection, in
this case?
19. Write Characteristics of spherical mirrors and their applications
S. Concave Mirror Convex Mirror
No.
1. In headlights of torch, vehicles, in general for To see the rear objects behind the
focusing of light in various optical automobiles as
instruments. Rear view mirror.
2. In lights used by doctors for operations. To see the image of larger area.
3. In shaving mirrors. To spread the light of street lamps.

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Numericals on reflection of light

20. A object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from the pole of an concave mirror. Its image is formed at 6 cm from its pole.
Calculate the focal length of the mirror. [f = -3.75 cm]
21. An object is placed at a distance of 6 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 12 cm. Find the position and nature of the
image. [v = 4 cm, Nature : Virtual, erect and small in size]
22. A concave mirror produces a real image of height 2 cm of an object of height 0.5 cm placed 10 cm away from the
mirror. Find the position of the image and focal length of the mirror? [f = - 8 cm and v = -40 cm]
23. A dentist uses a small concave mirror of focal length 3.0 cm and holds it at a distance of 2 cm from the tooth. What is
the magnification of the image? [m = 3]
24. How far should an object be held from a concave mirror of focal length 40 cm so as to get an image magnified three
times? [–160/3 cm, – 26.6 cm]
25. A concave mirror of focal length 10 cm is kept in front of an object at a distance of 50 cm from it. If the object is 1.0 cm
high, what will be the size of the image? [hi = - 0.25 cm]
26. How far from a lamp must a concave mirror of focal length 3.0 m be placed in order to throw its image on the screen 8.0
from the mirror? [u = - 4.8 m]
27. An object is located 20 cm in front of a concave mirror of radius of curvature 60 cm. Find the position and nature of the
image formed. [v = 60 cm, m = 3]
28. In the following diagrams OA is the incident ray and AB is the reflected ray in curved mirrors. Locate the centre of
curvature, focus and hence find the focal length of the mirrors.

(i) (ii)
29. An object of 5 cm in height is placed in front of a concave mirror on the principal axis at a distance of 10 cm from the
mirror. If the focal length of the mirror is 20 cm, by graphical drawing find the nature and magnification of the image
formed.

Virtual, erect and magnified image is formed behind the mirror.
30. An object 10 cm tall is placed on the principal axis of a convex mirror of focal length 30 cm at a distance of 20 cm from
the pole. Find the nature, size, position and magnification of the image formed on the principal axis, by graphical
construction. [v = 20 cm, m = 2]

Virtual, erect and diminished image is formed, magnification = 0.6
31. Two plane mirrors are inclined to each other at some angle. A ray of light is incident on one of them at an angle of 60°
with the mirror. The light after reflection falls on the second mirror and finally gets reversed. Find the angle between the
mirrors. [30°]
32. Determine the smallest size of a plane mirror which will enable a man of 1.8 metre height to see his full image.
[0.9 m]
33. Find the size, nature and position of image formed when an object of size 1 cm is placed at a distance of 15 cm from a
concave mirror of focal length 10 cm. [hi = – 2 cm, v = – 30 cm]
34. An object 2 cm high is kept at a distance of 16 cm from a concave mirror which produces a real image 3 cm high.
(i) What is the focal length of the mirror? [f = - 9.6 cm]
(ii) Find the position of the image.
35. An object 5 cm high is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a concave mirror of radius of curvature 30 cm. Find the
nature, position and size of the image. [hi = 15cm, v = 30 cm]
36. Using the mirror formula obtain relations between m and f. [m = f / f – u or (f – v) / f]
37. What is the position of an image when an object is placed at a distance of 20 cm from a concave mirror of focal length
of 20 cm? [v = ∞]
38. A concave mirror of focal length 30 cm is placed at a distance of 90 cm from the wall. How far from the wall should an
object be placed so as to get its real image on the wall? [u = - 45 cm]
39. An object is kept at a distance of 15 cm from a concave mirror whose radius of curvature is 30 cm. What is the position
of the image? [v= infinity]
40. What is the position of the image when the object is placed at a distance of 24 cm from a concave mirror of focal length
24 cm? [v= infinity]

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41. If an object is placed at a distance of 8 cm from a concave mirror at focal length 10 cm, discuss the nature of the image
formed by drawing the ray diagram. [virtual, erect, magnified, v = 40 cm]
42. An object is placed 20 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 12 cm. Find the position and nature of the image
[real, inverted, v = -30 cm]
43. Describe the nature of the image formed when object is placed at a distance of 20 cm from a concave mirror of focal
length 10 cm.

real, inverted, image of the same size at 20 cm from the mirror
44. Find the size, nature and position of the image formed when an object of 1.5 cm size is placed at a distance of 15 cm
from a concave mirror of focal length 10 cm. [real, inverted, 3 cm in size, v = -30 cm ]
45. An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a spherical mirror and the image is for at a distance of 30 cm from the
mirror on the same side as the object. Find nature and the focal length of the mirror. [concave mirror, f = -7.5 cm]
46. An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 5 cm.
(i) Draw a ray-diagram showing the formation.
(ii) State two characteristics of the image formed. [(ii) Virtual, erect and diminished (iii) 3.3 cm]
(iii) Calculate the distance of the image from the mirror.
47. An arrow 2.5 cm high is placed at a distance of 25 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 20 cm. Find the nature,
position and size of the image formed. [virtual, erect, 1.1 cm in size, v = 11.1 cm]
48. An object placed 20 cm in front of a mirror is found to have an image 15 cm in front of it. Find the focal length and the
kind of mirror used. [concave mirror, f = -60/7 cm]
49. An object placed 20 cm in front of a mirror is found to have an image 15 cm behind the mirror. Find the focal length and
the kind of mirror used. [ convex mirror, f = + 60 cm]
50. At what distance from a concave mirror of focal length 10 cm should an object be placed, so that its image is formed 20
cm from the mirror? [v = -20 cm]

51. A converging mirror forms a real image of height 4 cm of an object of height 1 cm placed 20 cm away from the mirror.
(i) Calculate the image mirror [(i) v = -80 cm (ii) r = -32 cm.]
(ii) What is the radius of curvature of the mirror?
52. *A convex mirror produces a magnification of ½ when an object is placed at a distance of 60 cm from it. Where should
the object be placed, so that the size of the image becomes 1/3 of that of the object? [120 cm]
53. A man is running towards a plane mirror at the rate of 2ms-1. With what speed is he approaching his own image?
[4 ms-1]

54. A Concave mirror has a focal length of 25 cm. At which of the following distance should a person hold his face from
this concave mirror so that it may act as a shaving mirror? Give reason for your choice
(a) 45 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 25 cm (d) 30 cm
55. An object of height 4 cm is placed at a distance of 25 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. At what
distance from the mirror a screen be place in order to obtain a sharp image of the object? What is the nature and size of
the image formed? [V= -37.5cm , hi = -6cm]

The size of image is 6 cm. It is a magnified image. The minus sign of height of image shows that it is a real and inverted
image.
56. A concave mirror produces three times magnified real image of an object placed at 10 cm in front of it. Where is the
image located?

Thus, the image is located at a distance of 30 cm on the left side of the concave mirror.
57. At what distance from a concave mirror of focal length 10 cm should an object be placed so that its real image is
formed 20 cm from the mirror?

The object should be placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of concave mirror.
58. An object 3cm high is placed at a distance of 8 cm from a concave mirror which produces a virtual image 4.5 cm high.
(i) What is the position of the image? (ii) What is the focal length of the mirror?

The position of image is at 12 cm behind the concave mirror (on its right side). The focal length of concave mirror is 24
cm.
59. A converging mirror forms a real image of height 4 cm of an object of height 1cm placed 20 cm away from the mirror.
(a) Calculate the image distance. (b) What is the focal length of the mirror?

The image distance is 80 cm in front of the concave mirror (on its left side). The focal length of concave mirror is 16
cm.
60. At what distance from a concave mirror of focal length 10 cm should an object 2 cm long be placed so as to get an erect
image 6 cm tall?

The object should be placed at a distance of 6.6 cm in front of the concave mirror.
61. An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find the position and nature of
the image.

The position of image is 6 cm behind the convex mirror (on its right side).
The magnification has a positive sign (plus sign), therefore, the nature of image is virtual and erect.
62. An object 5 cm in length is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of a convex mirror of radius of curvature 30 cm. Find
the position of the image, its nature and size.

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The position of image is 8.6 cm behind the convex mirror (on its right side) The size of image is 2.15 cm. It is a
diminished image.
63. An object placed 20 cm in front of a mirror is found to have an image 15 cm (a) in front of it, (b) behind the mirror. Find
the focal length of the mirror and the kind of mirror in each case.

a) Focal length, f = – 8.57 cm ,The negative sign (minus sign) of focal length shows that it is a concave mirror.
b) Focal length, f = + 60 cm The positive sign (plus sign) of focal length shows that it is a convex mirror.

Refraction of Light

64. The refractive indices of kerosene, turpentine and water are 1.44, 1.47 and 1.33, respectively. In which of these
materials does light travel fastest?
Speed of light in air

We know that : Refractive index =
Speed of light in medium
Speed of light in air
So, Speed of light in medium =
Refractive index
The speed of light will be the maximum in the medium (or substance) which has the lowest refractive index. The light
will have maximum speed in water

65. How will you show that a convex lens converges (or focuses) parallel rays of light to a single point?

Place a piece of paper on the ground in bright sunshine. Hold a convex lens some distance above the piece of paper in
such a way that a sharp image of the sun is formed on the piece of paper. Here the convex lens is converging the parallel
rays of sunlight due to which the sun's rays get concentrated on a small part of the paper (where image is formed). The
heat energy of focused sunlight rays burns a hole in the piece of paper (where sun's image is formed). The distance
between the position of convex lens and the position of image (or paper) gives us the approximate focal length of the
convex lens.
66. What kind of lens can form:
(a) An inverted magnified image? (b) An erect magnified image?
(c) an inverted diminished image ? (d) an erect diminished image ?

(a) Convex lens. (b) Convex lens (c) Convex lens (d) Concave lens
67. A ray of light passing through the focus falls on a concave mirror. Draw a ray-diagram to show the path of this ray of
light after reflection from the concave mirror. Also mark the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection in this
diagram.
68. A ray of light parallel to the principal axis is incident on a concave lens. Draw a ray-diagram to show the path of this ray
of light after refraction through the concave lens.
69. A ray of light travelling obliquely to the principal axis is incident at the optical centre of a concave lens. Draw a ray-
diagram to show the path of this ray of light after refraction through the concave lens.
70. A ray of light is directed towards the focus of a concave lens. Draw a ray-diagram to show the path of this ray of light
after refraction through the concave lens.
71. Describe with the help of a ray-diagram, the size, nature and position of the image formed by a concave lens when an
object is placed anywhere between optical centre and infinity.
72. State and explain the laws of refraction of light.

The refraction of light on going from one medium to another takes
place according to two laws which are given below :
(i) According to the first law of refraction of light : The incident
ray, the refracted ray and the normal at the point of incidence, all
lie in the same plane. For example, in Figure , the incident ray AO,
the refracted ray OB, and the normal ON, all lie in the same plane
(which is the plane of the paper here).
(ii) The second law of refraction is called Snell's law of refraction.
According to Snell's law of refraction of light : The ratio of sine of
angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is constant for a
given pair of media (such as ‘air and glass’ or 'air and water'). That is
:
sine of angle of incidence
= constant
sine of angle of refraction
sin i
or = constant
sin r

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73. A ray of light travelling in air is incident on a rectangular glass block and emerges out into air from the opposite face.
Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the
complete path of this ray of light. Also
explain the construction of this ray diagram.

A ray of light AO travelling in air is incident
on a rectangular glass slab PQR.S at point
O. On entering the glass slab, it gets
refracted and bends towards the normal ON
(see Figure). A second change of direction
takes place when the refracted ray of light
OB, travelling in glass emerges (or comes
out) into air at point B. Since the ray of light
OB now goes from a denser medium 'glass'
into the rarer medium 'air', it bends away
from the normal BN1' and goes in the
direction BC. Please note that the incident
ray AO and the emergent ray BC are parallel
to each other (though the emergent ray has
been displaced parallel to the incident ray).
The incident ray AO and emergent ray BC
are parallel to each other because the extent
of bending of the ray of light at points O and B on the opposite, parallel faces (PQ and SR) of the rectangular glass slab
is equal and opposite. The incident ray AO bends towards the normal at point O whereas the refracted ray OB bends
away from the normal at point B by an equal amount. Thus, the light emerges from a parallel-sided glass slab in a
direction parallel with that in which it enters the glass slab. Though the emergent ray BC is parallel to the incident ray
AO, but the emergent ray has been sideways displaced (or laterally displaced) from the original path of the incident ray
by a perpendicular distance CD (see Figure). In Figure the original path of incident light is AOD but the emergent light
goes along BC, the displacement between them being CD. Lateral displacement depends on following factors:
Lateral displacement is directly proportional to (i) angle of incidence (ii) thickness of glass slab, and (iii) refractive
index of glass slab. Higher the values of these factors, greater will be the lateral displacement.(iv)It is inversely
proportional to wavelength of light.

74. Give one example to show that the optical density of a substance is different from its mass density.

A substance may have a higher optical density than another substance but its mass density may be less. For example,
kerosene having a higher refractive index has a higher optical density than water (which has a lower refractive
index),but the mass density of kerosene is less than of water.
75. What is a lens? Distinguish between a convex lens and a concave lens.

A lens is a piece of transparent glass bound by two spherical surfaces. There are two types of lenses: Convex lens and
Concave lens.
(i) A convex lens is thick at the centre but thinner at the edges.
(ii) A concave lens is thin in the middle but thicker at the edge.
76. Lens. When two spherical or plane refracting surfaces are joined together, they form a lens. The lens, we normally use
are convex or concave. A lens, therefore, is defined as a transparent portion covered by two spherical or one spherical
and one plane surface. The lenses are shown below:

Types of lens :
(a) Double convex lens: If both the refracting surfaces of the lens convex, then the lens is said to be double convex lens
or simply lens. It is thicker at the middle and thinner at the edges.
(b) Double concave lens : If both the refracting surfaces of the lens are concave, then the lens is said to be double
concave lens or simply concave lens. It is thinner at the middle and thicker at the edges.

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77. Rules in order to draw ray diagrams in lenses

(i) A ray of light from the object parallel to the principal axis will pass through the principal focus (second) after
refraction in a convex lens. In concave lens, it appears to diverge from the principal focus ‘F1’ on the same side of the
incident ray.

(ii) A ray of light passing through the principal focus (first) will emerge parallel to the principal axis in case of convex
lens or appear to meet at principal focus of concave lens after refraction and will also emerge parallel to the principal
axis.

(iii) Any ray of light passing through the optical centre of the lens will emerge without any deviation after refraction
through both the lenses.

Important Terms
(a) Optical centre: The central point ‘O’ on the principal axis, of the lens, through which incident ray of light passes
undeviated with negligible lateral displacement is called optical centre of the lens.
(b) Centre of curvature: The centre of the sphere, whose part is a spherical surface of the lens is called centre of
curvature. Since, the lens have two spherical surfaces so two different centre of curvatures C1 and C2 lie on either side of
the surface.
(c) Radius of curvature : The radius of the sphere from which the spherical surface of lens is made, is called radius of
curvature of lens. So, each surface of lens having separate radii of curvature R1 and R2 respectively.
(d) Principal axis of lens: A line C1 C2 joining the centre of curvatures C1 and C2 of the two spherical surfaces is the
principal axis of the lens.

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 (e) Principal focus:
(i) Convex lens: When a parallel beam of light is incident on one of the spherical surface of a convex lens, the rays after
refraction through it, meet at a fixed point on the principal axis. This point is called the principal focus of the convex
lens.
Same effect can also be obtained from the other surface also. So, the convex lens has two focus F1 and F2 one on each
side of the lens.

(ii) Concave lens: When a parallel beam of light is incident on either of the spherical surface of a concave lens, after
refraction through it, they appear to come from a fixed point on the principal axis. This point is called the principal focus
of a concave lens.

(iii) Focal length : The distance of the principal focus from the optical centre of the spherical lens is called the focal
length ‘f of the lens.
78. To find Focal Length. To get rough focal length of a convex lens, focus a distant object to a screen, using the convex
lens. The distance between the lens and the screen is called focal length.

Position of Positio Nature Ray Diagram Applicatio

Oject n of of Image n and
Image Conventio
n sign
Convex lens

Astronomi
(i) At ∞
At Real, cal
focus inverted telescope.
F2 and u is – ve ,v
diminish and f are +
ed ve

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(ii) Beyon Betwe Real, Camera u

en F2 inverted is –ve v
d
and and and f are
2F2 diminish +ve
ed

Erecting
(iii) At 2F1 At 2F2 Real, lens of
inverted terrestrial
and size telescope.
to size u is –ve ,v
and f are
+ve

Projector.
(iv) Betwe Beyon Real, u is –ve ,v
d 2F2 inverted and f are
en F1
and +ve
and enlarged
2F1

(v) At F1 At Real, Simple

infinit inverted microscop
y and e. u is –ve
enlarged ,v and f are
+ve

(vi) Betwe On the Virtual, Magnified

same erect lens or
en F1
side of and glass. u
and the enlarged and v are –
optica lens as ve, f is +ve
l the
centre object
O

Concave lens
(vii) At ∞ At Virtual, Myopia
focus erect correction
(F1) and u, v and f
diminish all are –ve
ed

(viii) At any Betwe Virtual, Wideangle

positi en F1 erect spyhole in
and and doors. u, v
on
optical diminish and f all -
betwe centre ed ve
en ∞ O
and
optica
l

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Previous Years’ Questions

79. Refractive index of media A, B, C and D are

A 1.33
B 1.52
C 1.44
D 1.65
In which of the four media is the speed of light (i) maximum (ii) minimum?
80. Redraw the diagram given below in your answer book and show the direction of the light ray after reflection(or
refraction) from the mirror(or lens).

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)

(g) (h)

Important Questions

81. How does the frequency of a beam of ultraviolet light change, when it goes from air into glass?
82. When light undergoes refraction at the surface of separation of two media, what happens to its wavelength?
83. How does a focal length of convex lens change, if monochromatic red light is used instead of monochromatic blue light?
84. A concave mirror is placed in water. Will there be any change in focal length? Give reason.

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85. What is the radius of a plane mirror?

86. Define absolute refractive index of a medium.
87. Can refractive index of a medium be less than unity.
88. When the angle of incidence is 90°, what is the angle of refraction?
89. A concave mirror forms sharp image of a distant tree. What is the separation between the mirror and the screen called?
90. Velocity of light in water is ¾ times the velocity of light in vacuum. Find the refractive index of water.
91. Specified the size of image formed by a concave mirror when m > 1.
92. What is the value of 1n2 × 2n1?

Numericals on refraction of light

93. Define refractive index of a medium in terms of speed of light. If the speed of light in water is 2.25 × 108 m/s and that in
vacuum be 3 × 108 m/s, calculate the refractive index of water.
[1.33]
94. The refractive index of one type of glass is 1.50. If the speed of light in vacuum be 3 × 108 ms–1, calculate the speed of
light in this glass [2 × 108 ms–1]
95. If the refractive index of diamond for light going from air to diamond be 2.42, what will be the refractive index for light
going from diamond to air? [1/2·42]
96. Find the power of a concave lens of focal length 2 m?

The power of this concave lens is - 0.5D
97. Find the focal length of a lens of power, - 2.0 D. What type of lens is this?

The focal length of this length of this lens is 0.5 m (or 0.5x100=50 cm). The negative sign of power or focal length
shows that it is a concave lens.
98. A doctor has prescribed a corrective lens of power + 1.5 D. Find the focal length of the lens. Is the prescribed lens
converging or diverging?

f = + 0.66 m (or + 66 cm) The positive sign of power or focal length shows that it is a converging lens (or convex lens)
99. A convex lens forms a real and inverted image of a needle at a distance of 50 cm from the lens. If the image is of the
same size as the needle, where is the needle placed in front of the lens? Also find the power of the lens. [+4D]
100. Two thin lenses of power + 5.0 D and, - 7.5 D are kept in contact with each other. Find the power and focal length of
this lens combination. [2.5D,0.4m]
101. An object 5 cm in length is held 25 cm away from a converging lens of focal length 10 cm. find the position, nature and
size of the image formed.

The position of image is at 16.67 cm from the lens on its right side. The size of image is 3.3 cm, so it is a diminished
image. The negative sign of height of image shows that the nature of image real and inverted.
102. A concave lens of focal length 15 cm forms an image 10 cm from the lens. How far is the object placed from the lens?
Calculate the magnification. Is the image real or virtual?

The object is placed at a distance of 30 cm in front of concave lens (on its left side). The magnification is +0.33. Since
the value of magnification is less than 1, it means that the image is diminished. The + sign of m indicates image is
virtual and erect.
103. An object of height 2 cm is placed at a distance of 15 cm from a convex lens of focal length 10 cm. Find the position,
size and nature of the image. Also find the magnification.

The position of image is 30 cm from the lens on its right side. Thus, the magnification is 2. Since the magnification is
more than 1, therefore, the image is magnified (or enlarged). The image is twice the size of the object. The negative sign
of magnification shows that the image is real and inverted. the size of image is 4 cm.
104. The focal length of a diverging lens is 15 cm. At what distance should an object be placed from this lens so that it forms
an image at 10 cm from the lens? Also calculate the calculate the magnification. What is the nature of the image
formed?

The object should be placed at a distance of 30 cm in front of concave lens.
m = +0.33 since the magnification is less than 1, it means that the image is diminished (smaller than the object). It is
actually one-third the size of the object. The positive sign of magnification shows that the nature of image is virtual and
erect.
105. A small object is so place in front of a convex lens of 5 cm focal length that a virtual image is formed at a distance of 25
cm. Find the magnification.

The magnification produced is 6. This means that the image formed is 6 times the size of the object.
106. Calculate the focal length of a convex lens which produces a virtual image at a distance of 50 cm of an object placed at
20 cm in front of it. [+33.3 cm]
107. A convex lens produces an inverted image magnified three times of an object placed at a distance of 15 cm from it.
Calculate focal length of the lens. [+11.25 cm]
108. An object 60 cm from a lens gives a virtual image at a distance of 20 cm in front of the lens. What is the focal length of
the lens? Is the lens converging or diverging? Give reasons for your answer.

The focal length of lens is, -30 cm. The negative sign of focal length shows that it is a diverging lens or concave lens.
109. An object is 2 m from a lens which forms an erect image exactly one-fourth the size of the object. Determine the focal
length of the lens. What type of lens is this?

The focal length of the lens is, -66.7 cm. The negative sign of focal length shows that it is a concave lens.

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110. An object is placed as the following distances from a convex lens of focal length 15 cm:

(a) 35 cm (b) 30 cm (c) 20 cm (d) 10 cm
Which position of the object will produce?
(i) a magnified real image ? (ii) a magnified virtual image ?
(iii) a diminished real image ? (iv) an image of same size as the object ?
(i) 20 cm (ii) 10 cm (iii) 35 cm (iv) 30 cm

Knowledge break
• Characteristics of image formed by plane mirror.
(i) If an object is approaching towards a mirror with velocity v then its image will
move with velocity v with respect to the mirror in the direction opposite to object
obje and move with
velocity 2v with respect to the object.

(ii) If plane mirror is moving with velocity v towards a stationary object then its image will move towards the object
with velocity 2v.

Note: Every part of the mirror forms a full image of any object but as a big mirror reflects more light
the image is bright.
ht. On covering some part of the mirror the image will be less bright.

• Table to determine the number of images formed from two plane mirror inclined at angle θ If 360/θ = m, then

When ‘m’ is even When ‘m’ is odd (integer) When ‘m’ is a

(integer) fraction
Number of images will If object is on the If object is not on Number of images
be bisector of mirrors then the bisector then formed will be equal
n = (m –1) number of images will be number of images n to the integral part
n = (m – 1) =m the fractional
number.
Example1. θ = 60° θ = 120° θ = 120° θ = 75°
360 360 360 360
m= =6 m= =3 m= =3 m= = 4.8
60 120 120 75
n=6-1=5 n=3-1=2 n=3 n=4
(whole number of
fraction)
Example 2. θ = 90° θ = 72° θ = 72° θ = 100°
360 360 360 360
m= =4 m= =5 m= =5 m= = 3.6
90 72 72 100
n=4-1=3 n=5-1=4 n=5 n=3

Note
For the refraction by spherical lens, we assume
(i) Lens is to be a thin lens having small thickness,.
(ii) Aperture of the thin lens is small, much less than its radius of curvature.

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