NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science

Chapter 10 Light Reflection and Refraction provide comprehensive guidance for understanding
key concepts related to the behavior of light. This chapter covers essential topics such as the
laws of reflection, the formation of images by mirrors and lenses, and the principles of refraction
and dispersion.

The solutions include detailed explanations and step-by-step methods for solving problems,
helping students grasp the intricacies of how light interacts with different surfaces and materials.
By working through these solutions, students can enhance their problem-solving skills, clarify
doubts, and build a solid foundation in optics. These resources are designed to facilitate
effective learning and preparation, ensuring that students are well-equipped for their exams and
can confidently tackle related questions.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light

Reflection and Refraction Overview
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10, "Light: Reflection and Refraction," are
prepared by experts of Physics Wallah. These solutions help students understand how light
behaves, including how it reflects off surfaces and bends when it passes through different
materials. The explanations are clear and easy to follow, with step-by-step methods to solve
problems.

Using these solutions, students can better grasp the concepts, improve their problem-solving
skills, and get ready for their exams. The content is designed to make learning about light and
optics straightforward and effective.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light

Reflection and Refraction PDF
The PDF for NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10, "Light: Reflection and
Refraction," is available below.

It helps students understand key concepts such as the laws of reflection, refraction, and the
behavior of light through different media. By referring to this PDF, students can access
step-by-step solutions to their problems, ensuring a thorough grasp of the material and better
preparation for their exams.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light Reflection and Refraction PDF
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light
Reflection and Refraction
Here, we have provided NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 to help students
prepare more effectively for their exams.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light Reflection and

Refraction Questions Page: 168

1. Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.

Answer-

The principal focus of a concave mirror is the point on the principal axis where parallel light rays
that strike the mirror converge after reflecting off its surface. This convergence occurs due to the
mirror's curved shape, which directs the parallel rays to meet at this specific point.

2. The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20 cm. What is its focal length?

Answer-

Radius of curvature (R) = 20 cm

Radius of curvature of the spherical mirror = 2 × Focal length (f)

R = 2f

f= R/2 = 20 / 2 = 10

Therefore, the focal length of the spherical mirror is 10 cm.

3. Name the mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object.

Answer-

A convex mirror is the type of mirror that can provide an erect and diminished image of an
object. A concave mirror, on the other hand, can produce an erect and enlarged image only
when the object is placed between the focal point and the mirror (i.e., within the focal length).

4. Why do we prefer a convex mirror as a rear-view mirror in vehicles?

Answer-

A convex mirror is widely used as a rear-view mirror in vehicles because it provides a larger field
of view compared to flat or concave mirrors. This is due to the fact that convex mirrors diverge
light rays, allowing them to spread out and cover a broader area. As a result, they produce an
erect, virtual, and diminished image of objects, making it easier for drivers to see more of the
traffic behind them.

Page No: 171

1. Find the focal length of a convex mirror whose radius of curvature is 32 cm.

Answer-

Radius of curvature (R) = 32 cm

Radius of curvature = 2 × Focal length (f)

R= 2f

f = R/2 = 32/2 = 16

Therefore, the focal length of the given convex mirror is 16 cm.

2. A concave mirror produces three times magnified (enlarged) real image of an object
placed at 10 cm in front of it. Where is the image located?

Answer-

Magnification produced by a spherical mirror:

Object distance (u) = – 10 cm

v = 3 × (- 10) = – 30 cm

Therefore, the negative sign indicates that an inverted image is formed in front of the given
concave mirror at a distance of 30 cm.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light
Reflection and Refraction Page No: 176
1. A ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into water. Does the light ray bend
towards the normal or away from the normal? Why?

Answer-

When a light ray travels from an optically rarer medium, like air, to an optically denser medium,
such as water, the light ray slows down due to the higher refractive index of the denser medium.
As a result, it bends towards the normal line, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the
surface at the point of incidence. This bending of light towards the normal is a direct
consequence of the change in the light's speed as it moves between different media.

2. Light enters from air to glass, having a refractive index 1.50. What is the speed of light
in the glass? The speed of light in vacuum is 3 x 108 ms-1.

Answer-

Refractive index of a medium (nm) = Speed of light in vacuum/Speed of light in the medium

Speed of light in vacuum (c) = 3 × 108 m/s

Refractive index of glass (ng) = 1.50

Speed of light in the glass (v) = Speed of light in vacuum/ Refractive index of glass

= c/ng

=3 × 108/1.50 = 2x 108 ms-1.

3. Find out, from the table, the medium having the highest optical density. Also, find the
medium with the lowest optical density.

Material Refractive index Material medium Refractive

medium index

Air 1.0003 Canada Balsam 1.53

Ice 1.31 – –

Water 1.33 Rock salt 1.54

 Alcohol 1.36 – –

Kerosene 1.44 Carbon disulphide 1.63

Fused 1.46 Dense 1.65

quartz flint glass

Turpentine oil 1.47 Ruby 1.71

Benzene 1.50 Sapphire 1.77

Crown 1.52 Diamond 2.42

glass

Answer-

Lowest optical density = Air

Highest optical density = Diamond

The optical density of a medium is inversely related to its refractive index. A medium with a high
refractive index, like diamond, will have a high optical density, meaning it bends light
significantly and slows it down more compared to a medium with a lower refractive index, like
air. This explains why air has the lowest optical density and diamond has the highest.

4. You are given kerosene, turpentine and water. In which of these does the light travel
fastest? Use the information given in the table.

Material Refractive Material medium Refractive

index

medium index

Air 1.0003 Canada Balsam 1.53

Ice 1.31 – –
 Water 1.33 Rock salt 1.54

Alcohol 1.36 – –

Kerosene 1.44 Carbon disulphide 1.63

Fused 1.46 Dense 1.65

quartz flint glass

Turpentine oil 1.47 Ruby 1.71

Benzene 1.50 Sapphire 1.77

Crown 1.52 Diamond 2.42

glass

Answer-

● Refractive Index Relationship: The speed of light is inversely proportional to the

refractive index of a medium. This means that as the refractive index decreases, the
speed of light in that medium increases.
● Comparison: Since water has a lower refractive index compared to kerosene and
turpentine, light travels faster in water than in these other substances.

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

Answer-

The refractive index of a medium tells us how much the speed of light is reduced compared to
its speed in a vacuum. For a diamond with a refractive index of 2.42:

● Speed Reduction: The speed of light in diamond is reduced to 1/2.42 of its speed in a
vacuum.

This reduction occurs because light travels more slowly through mediums with higher refractive
indices due to greater optical density.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light Reflection and

Refraction Page No: 184
1. Define 1 dioptre of power of a lens.

Answer-

1 dioptre (D) is defined as the power of a lens with a focal length of 1 meter.

2. 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 convex lens if the image is equal to the size
of the object? Also, find the power of the lens.

Answer-

The position of the image should be at 2F since the image is real and the same size.

It is given that the image of the needle is formed at a distance of 50 cm from the convex lens.
Therefore, the needle is placed in front of the lens at a distance of 50 cm.

Object distance (u) = – 50 cm

Image distance, (v) = 50 cm

Focal length = f

According to the lens formula,

3. Find the power of a concave lens of focal length 2 m.

Answer-

The focal length of the concave lens (f) = 2 m

Power of lens (P) = 1/f = 1/ (-2) = -0.5D

Page No: 185

Exercise

1. Which one of the following materials cannot be used to make a lens?

(a) Water

(b) Glass

(c) Plastic

(d) Clay

Answer –

(d) Clay cannot be used to make a lens because it is not transparent. For a lens to function
properly, it must be able to transmit light through it, which requires the material to be
transparent. Since clay is opaque and does not allow light to pass through, it cannot be used to
make a lens that would focus or refract light. Lenses are typically made from materials like glass
or plastic, which are transparent and can bend light to form images.

2. The image formed by a concave mirror is observed to be virtual, erect and larger than
the object. Where should be the position of the object?

(a) Between the principal focus and the centre of curvature

(b) At the centre of curvature

(c) Beyond the centre of curvature

(d) Between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus.

Answer-

(d) The position of the object should be between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus.

3. Where should an object be placed in front of a convex lens to get a real image of the
size of the object?

(a) At the principal focus of the lens

(b) At twice the focal length

(c) At infinity

(d) Between the optical centre of the lens and its principal focus.

Answer –
(b) The object should be placed at twice the focal length

4. A spherical mirror and a thin spherical lens have a focal length of -15 cm. The mirror
and the lens are likely to be

(a) both concave

(b) both convex

(c) the mirror is concave, and the lens is convex

(d) the mirror is convex, but the lens is concave

Answer –

(a) Both are likely to be concave.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science Chapter 10 Light Reflection and

Refraction Page No: 186

5. No matter how far you stand from a mirror, your image appears erect. The mirror is
likely to be

(a) plane

(b) concave

(c) convex

(d) either plane or convex

Answer –

(d) The mirrors are likely to be either plane or convex

6. Which of the following lenses would you prefer to use while reading small letters found
in a dictionary?

(a) A convex lens of focal length 50 cm

(b) A concave lens of focal length 50 cm

(c) A convex lens of focal length 5 cm

(d) A concave lens of focal length 5 cm

Answer –
(c) A convex lens of focal length 5 cm can be used while reading small letters found in a
dictionary

7. We wish to obtain an erect image of an object, using a concave mirror of focal length
15 cm. What should be the range of distance of the object from the mirror? What is the
nature of the image? Is the image larger or smaller than the object? Draw a ray diagram
to show the image formation in this case.

Answer-

Range of the distance of the object = 0 to 15 cm from the pole of the mirror.

Nature of the image = virtual, erect, and larger than the object.

8. Name the type of mirror used in the following situations.

(a) Headlights of a car

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

(c) Solar furnace

Support your answer with a reason.

Answer-

(a) Concave Mirror: Concave mirrors are used in car headlights because they can focus light
into a powerful parallel beam. When the light source is placed at the principal focus of the
concave mirror, the mirror reflects the light in a parallel direction, which is ideal for illuminating
the road.

(b) Convex Mirror: Convex mirrors are used as side or rear-view mirrors in vehicles because
they provide a wide field of view. This allows drivers to see more of the area behind and beside
the vehicle, enhancing safety.

(c) Concave Mirror: Concave mirrors are used in solar furnaces because they can concentrate
parallel rays of sunlight to a single point, the principal focus. This concentration of light is useful
for generating high temperatures required in solar energy applications.

9. One-half of a convex lens is covered with black paper. Will this lens produce a
complete image of the object? Verify your answer experimentally. Explain your
observations.

Answer-

Yes, it will produce a complete image of the object, even when the lower half of the lens is
covered with black paper. This can be verified by observing the image of a distant object, such
as a tree, on a screen. Although the image will still be visible, the intensity or brightness of the
image will be reduced due to the obstruction of light from the covered part of the lens.

10. An object 5 cm in length is held 25 cm away from a converging lens of focal length 10
cm. Draw the ray diagram and find the position, size and nature of the image formed.

Answer-

Height of the object, h0 = 5 cm

Distance of the object from converging lens, u = -25 cm

Focal length of a converging lens, f = 10 cm

Using the lens formula,

Thus, the image is inverted and formed at a distance of 16.7 cm behind the lens and measures
3.3 cm. The ray diagram is shown below.

11. 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? Draw the ray diagram.

Answer-

Focal length of concave lens (OF1), f = – 15 cm

Image distance, v= – 10 cm
According to the lens formula,

The negative value of u indicates that the object is placed 30 cm in front of the lens. This is
shown in the following ray diagram.

12. 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.

Answer-

Focal length of convex mirror (f) = +15 cm

Object distance (u) = – 10 cm

According to the mirror formula,

The image is located at a distance of 6 cm from the mirror on the other side of the mirror.

The positive and a value of less than 1 magnification indicates that the image formed is virtual,
erect, and diminished.

13. The magnification produced by a plane mirror is +1. What does this mean?

Answer-

The positive sign indicates that the image formed by a plane mirror is virtual and erect. Since
the magnification is 1, it means that the image is of the same size as the object.

14. An object 5 cm is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of a convex mirror of radius of

curvature 30 cm. Find the position, nature and size of the image.

Answer-

Object distance (u) = – 20 cm

Object height (h) = 5 cm

Radius of curvature (R) = 30 cm

Radius of curvature = 2 × Focal length

R = 2f

f = 15 cm

According to the mirror formula,

The positive value of image height indicates that the image formed is erect.

Hence, the image formed is erect, virtual, and smaller in size.

15. An object of size 7.0 cm is placed at 27 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length
18 cm. At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed so that a sharply
focused image can be obtained? Find the size and nature of the image.

Answer-

Object distance (u) = – 27 cm

Object height (h) = 7 cm

Focal length (f) = – 18 cm

According to the mirror formula,

The negative value of image height indicates that the image formed is inverted.

16. Find the focal length of a lens of power -2.0 D. What type of lens is this?

Answer-

Power of lens (P) = 1/f

P = -2D

f = -1/2 = -0.5 m

A concave lens has a negative focal length. Therefore, it is a concave lens.

17. 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?

Answer-

Power of lens (P) = 1/f

P = 1.5D

f = 1/1.5 = 10/15 = 0.66 m

A convex lens has a positive focal length. Therefore, it is a convex lens or a converging lens.

Benefits of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Science

Chapter 10
● Clear Understanding: The solutions provide step-by-step explanations for each
problem, making it easier for students to grasp complex concepts related to light,
reflection, and refraction.
● Comprehensive Coverage: They cover all topics from the chapter, including the
behavior of light, mirrors, lenses, and various optical phenomena, ensuring thorough
preparation.
● Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: With detailed solutions students can practice and
improve their problem-solving skills, helping them tackle a range of questions effectively.
● Exam Preparation: The solutions are aligned with the NCERT curriculum making them
a reliable resource for preparing for exams and understanding the types of questions
that may appear.
● Concept Reinforcement: By working through these solution students can reinforce
their understanding of key concepts like the laws of reflection, refraction, and the
formation of images by lenses and mirrors.
● Time Efficiency: They save time by providing direct answers and explanations, helping
students quickly identify and correct mistakes in their understanding.