Chapter: Reflection of Light (Spherical & Plane Mirrors) Max. Marks: 50 | Time Allowed: 1.
5
Hours
General Instructions:
1. This question paper consists of 18 questions divided into five sections: A, B, C, D, and E.
2. Section A comprises 8 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) of 1 mark each.
3. Section B comprises 4 Very Short Answer Questions of 2 marks each.
4. Section C comprises 3 Short Answer Questions of 3 marks each.
5. Section D comprises 3 Long Answer Questions of 5 marks each.
6. Section E comprises 2 Case-Based/HOTS questions of 5 marks each.
7. All questions are compulsory. Wherever necessary, neat and properly labelled ray
diagrams must be drawn.
SECTION A (8 Marks)
Answer all questions by choosing the correct option.
Q1. A ray of light strikes a plane mirror $PQ$ at an angle of incidence of $30^{\circ}$. It is
reflected from the plane mirror and then strikes a second plane mirror $QR$ placed at right
angles to the first mirror. The angle of reflection at the second mirror will be:
(a) $30^{\circ}$
(b) $45^{\circ}$
(c) $60^{\circ}$
(d) $90^{\circ}$
Q2. In order to get an upright, magnified virtual image of our face using a concave mirror, our
face should be placed:
(a) At the focus of the mirror
(b) At the centre of curvature of the mirror
(c) Between the pole and the focus of the mirror
(d) Beyond the centre of curvature of the mirror
Q3. The linear magnification produced by a convex mirror is always:
(a) Less than 1
(b) More than 1
(c) Equal to 1
(d) Less than 1 or more than 1 depending on object position
Q4. A magnification of $-0.6$ is obtained with a concave mirror. The nature and size of the
image relative to the object is:
(a) Real, inverted and magnified
(b) Virtual, erect and diminished
(c) Real, inverted and diminished
(d) Virtual, erect and magnified
Q5. Which type of mirror possesses a wider field of view, making it suitable for security
monitoring in big shopping stores?
(a) Concave mirror
(b) Plane mirror
(c) Convex mirror
(d) Plano-concave mirror
Q6. The radius of curvature of a hollow sphere of aluminium is $50\text{ cm}$. If the outer shiny
surface of this sphere is used as a mirror, its focal length will be:
(a) $+50\text{ cm}$
(b) $-25\text{ cm}$
(c) $+25\text{ cm}$
(d) $-50\text{ cm}$
Q7. An object is placed at a distance of $20\text{ cm}$ in front of a concave mirror of focal
length $20\text{ cm}$. The image is formed at:
(a) Focus
(b) Centre of curvature
(c) Infinity
(d) Pole
Q8. Assertion (A): The word AMBULANCE on the front of emergency vehicles is written in a
laterally inverted form as "ƎƆИA_I_U_M_A".
Reason (R): A plane mirror forms a virtual, erect image of the same size but interchanges the
left and right sides of the object.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
SECTION B (8 Marks)
Very Short Answer Type Questions. (2 Marks Each)
Q9. State the two core laws of reflection of light.
Q10. Distinguish between regular (specular) reflection and diffuse reflection of light. Does
diffuse reflection mean the failure of the laws of reflection? Explain briefly.
Q11. A boy stands $2\text{ m}$ away in front of a large plane mirror.
(a) What is the distance between the boy and his image?
(b) If the boy walks towards the mirror at a speed of $1\text{ m/s}$, at what speed does his
image approach him?
Q12. What happens to the reflection of a ray of light passing directly through the centre of
curvature ($C$) of a concave mirror? Justify your answer.
SECTION C (9 Marks)
Short Answer Type Questions. (3 Marks Each)
Q13. An arrow $2.5\text{ cm}$ high is placed at a distance of $25\text{ cm}$ from a diverging
mirror of focal length $20\text{ cm}$. Find the nature, position, and size of the image formed.
Q14. A converging mirror forms a real image magnified three times when an object is placed
$20\text{ cm}$ in front of it.
(a) Calculate the focal length of the mirror.
(b) Where must the object be placed to give a virtual image magnified three times its original
height?
Q15. State which type of spherical mirror is used in the following scenarios and give a clear
scientific reason for each choice:
(a) Headlights of a car
(b) Solar furnace collector
(c) Rear-view mirror of an automobile
SECTION D (15 Marks)
Long Answer Type Questions. (5 Marks Each)
Q16. An object $7.0\text{ cm}$ high is placed at a distance of $27\text{ cm}$ in front of a
concave mirror of focal length $18\text{ cm}$.
(a) At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed so that a sharp, focused image
can be obtained? (2 Marks) (b) Find the size (height) and state the nature of the image. (2
Marks) (c) What happens to the size and nature of the image if the object is moved very close
to the pole of the mirror gradually? (1 Mark) Q17. (a) Derive the relationship between the
object distance ($u$), image distance ($v$), and focal length ($f$) of a spherical mirror when
linear magnification $m = -\frac{v}{u}$. Explain how the sign of '$m$' determines the nature of
the image. (2 Marks) (b) A spherical mirror produces a virtual image at a distance of $15\text{
cm}$ behind it when an object is placed $20\text{ cm}$ in front of it. Determine the
magnification of the image, the focal length, and identify the specific type of mirror used. (3
Marks) Q18. (a) Draw a neat, labelled ray-diagram to show the formation of an image by a
convex mirror when the object is placed anywhere between infinity and the pole ($P$) of the
mirror. Clearly mark the principal axis, pole ($P$), principal focus ($F$), and centre of curvature
($C$). (3 Marks) (b) State two prominent characteristics of the image formed in the above ray
diagram. (2 Marks) ---
SECTION E (10 Marks)
Case-Based / High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Questions. (5 Marks Each)
Q17. Case Study 1: The Optician's Chair setup A man sits in an optician's chair for an eye test.
He faces a large, flat plane mirror that is mounted on the wall exactly $2\text{ m}$ away in front
of him. To conserve space in the clinic, the optician hangs an eye-testing chart on the wall
directly behind the patient's head, which is positioned $50\text{ cm}$ ($0.5\text{ m}$) behind
the patient's eyes.
(a) At what total distance from the patient's eyes does the chart appear to be when he looks
into the mirror? Show your step-by-step reasoning. (2 Marks) (b) If the patient moves
$0.5\text{ m}$ closer to the mirror, what will be the new distance between the patient and the
apparent position of the chart's image? (2 Marks) (c) Explain the phenomenon of 'lateral
inversion' that occurs when reading the letters of the chart through the mirror. (1 Mark) Q18.
Case Study 2: Designing a Security Mirror A shop owner wants to install a spherical mirror
near the ceiling to keep track of activities and prevent shoplifting. The mirror needs to produce
a diminished, upright image of the aisles so that a large area can be seen clearly at a glance. A
security mirror installed $5.0\text{ m}$ away from a row of display items produces an image
that is exactly $\frac{1}{10}\text{th}$ the size of the items.
(a) Identify the type of mirror required for this setup. Explain why a concave mirror cannot be
used for this specific commercial security role. (2 Marks) (b) Calculate the position of the
image formed behind this mirror. (1 Marks) (c) Calculate the focal length ($f$) and the radius of
curvature ($R$) of this security mirror using appropriate sign conventions. (2 Marks)