NUMERICAL PROBLEMS
12.1. An object 10.0 cm in front of a convex mirror forms an image 5.0 cm behind the mirror. What
is the focal length of the mirror?
DATA: Object Distance = p = 10 cm
Image Distance = q = - 5 cm
Focal Length = f = ?
FORMULA: By spherical mirror formula, = +
f=
SOLUTION: As f =
( )( )
f= =
f = - 10 cm.
RESULT: The focal length of the mirror is – 10 cm.
12.2. An object 30 cm tall is located 10.5 cm from a concave mirror with focal length 16 cm. (a)
Where is the image located? (b) How high is it?
DATA: Object Height = ho = 30 cm.
Object Distance = p = 10.5 cm.
Focal Length = f = 16 cm.
(a) Image Location, q = ?
(b) Image Height, hi = ?
FORMULA: (a). = + (b). =
= − ℎ = × ℎ
𝑞=
SOLUTION: (a). As 𝑞 = (b). ℎ = × ℎ
( . )( ) .
𝑞= .
= .
ℎ = .
× 30
q = - 30.54 cm. ℎ = 87.26 𝑐𝑚.
RESULT: The image is located at 30.54 cm behind the mirror having height of 87.26 cm.
12.3. An object and its image in a concave mirror are of the same height, yet inverted, when the
object is 20 cm from the mirror. What is the focal length of the mirror?
DATA: As Image Height = Object Height
i.e, ℎ = ℎ ⇒ 𝑞 = 𝑝 = 20 𝑐𝑚.
Focal Length, f = ?
FORMULA: By using concave mirror formula, = +
SOLUTION: As, = +
Put 𝑞 = 𝑝 = 20 𝑐𝑚
= +
= =
f = 10 cm.
RESULT: The focal length of the mirror is 10 cm.
12.4. Find the focal length of a mirror that forms an image 5.66 cm behind the mirror of an object
placed at 34.4 cm in front of the mirror. Is the mirror concave or convex?
DATA: Object Distance = p = 34.4 cm
Image Distance = q = - 5.66 cm
Focal Length = f = ?
FORMULA: By spherical mirror formula, = +
f=
SOLUTION: As f =
( . )( ) .
f= . .
= .
f = - 6.77 cm.
RESULT: The focal length of the mirror is – 6.77 cm. As this focal length is negative,
therefore the mirror is convex.
12.5. An image of a statue appears to be 11.5 cm behind a convex mirror with focal length 13.5
cm. Find the distance from the statue to the mirror.
DATA: Image Distance = q = - 11.5 cm
Focal Length = f = - 13.5 cm
Object Distance, p = ?
FORMULA: By concave mirror formula, = +
= −
p=
SOLUTION: As p=
( . )( . ) .
p= . .
=
p = 77.62 cm.
RESULT: The distance from the statue to the mirror is 77.62 cm.
12.6. An image is produced by a concave mirror of focal length 8.7 cm. The object is 13.2 cm tall
and at a distance 19.3 cm from the mirror. (a) Find the location and height of the image.
(b) Find the height of the image produced by the mirror if the object is twice as far from the
mirror.
DATA: Focal Length = f = 8.7 cm
Object Height = ho = 13.2 cm.
(a). Object Distance, p = 19.3 cm (b). If obj distance, p = 2p
Image Distance, q = ? p = 2(19.3) = 38.6 cm
Image Height, hi = ? Then, Image distance, q = ?
and image height, hi = ?
FORMULA: (a). By concave mirror formula, = +
= −
𝑞= ------------- (1)
Now, =
ℎ = × ℎ ----------- (2)
(b) Similarly, 𝑞 =
---------- (3)
and ℎ=
× ℎ --------------------- (4)
SOLUTION: (a). Putting values in eq. (1) (b). Using eq. (3)
𝑞= 𝑞 =
( . )( . ) . ( . )( . .
𝑞= . .
= .
𝑞 = . .
= .
q = 15.84 cm. 𝑞 = 11.23 cm.
From eq. (2) Now from eq.(4)
ℎ = × ℎ ℎ=
× ℎ
. .
ℎ = .
× 13.2 ℎ= .
× 13.2
ℎ = 10.83 cm. ℎ = 3.84 cm.
RESULT: (a). Location and height of image is 15.84 cm and 10.83 cm respectively.
(b). The height of image is 3.84 cm when object twice as far from the mirror.
12.7. Nabeela uses a concave mirror when applying makeup. The mirror has a radius of curvature
of 38 cm. (a) What is the focal length of the mirror? (b) Nabeela is located 50 cm from the
mirror. Where will her image appear? (c) Will the image be upright or inverted?
DATA: (a) Radius of curvature, R = 38 cm.
Focal length, f = ?
(b) Object Distance, p = 50 cm
Image Distance, q = ?
(c) Nature of Image = ?
FORMULA: (a) f= --------- (1)
(b) By Spherical Mirror Formula,
= + = −
.
∴ q= ------------- (2)
SOLUTIOIN: (a) Using eq.(1)
f= f= = 19 cm.
.
(b) Now from eq.(2) q=
( )( )
q= = = 30.64 cm.
RESULT: (a) The focal length of the mirror is 19 cm.
(b) The image is formed 30.64 cm away from the mirror.
(c) The image is real and inverted because the image distance ‘q’ is positive.
12.8. An object 4 cm high is placed at a distance of 12 cm from a convex lens of focal length 8 cm.
Calculate the position and size of the image. Also state the nature of the image.
DATA: Object Height, ho = 4 cm.
Object Distance, p = 12 cm.
Focal length, f = 8 cm.
Image Distance, q = ?
Height of Image, hi = ?
Nature of image = ?
FORMULA: By Spherical Mirror Formula,
= + = −
.
∴ q= ------------- (1)
Now, = hi = × ho ------------ (2)
SOLUTIOIN: Using eq.(1)
.
q=
( )( )
q= = = 24 cm.
Now from eq. (2)
hi = × ho
hi = × 4 = 8 cm.
RESULT: The image size is 8 cm. The position of image is 24 cm in front of the lens, as this image
distance (q) is positive, therefore, the image nature is real and inverted.
12.9. An object 10 cm high is placed at a distance of 20 cm from a concave lens of focal length 15
cm. Calculate the position and size of the image. Also, state the nature of the image.
DATA: Object Height, ho = 10 cm.
Object Ditance, p = 20 cm.
Focal length, f = -15 cm. (concave lens.)
Image Distance, q = ?
Height of Image, hi = ?
Nature of image = ?
FORMULA: By Spherical Mirror Formula,
= + = −
.
∴ q= ------------- (1)
Now, = hi = × ho ------------ (2)
SOLUTIOIN: Using eq.(1)
.
q=
( )( )
q= = = −8.57 cm.
Now from eq. (2)
hi = × ho
.
hi = × 10 = 4.28 cm.
RESULT: The image size is 4.28 cm. The position of image is 8.57 cm behind the lens, as this image
distance is negative, therefore, the image nature is virtual and erect.
12.10. A convex lens of focal length 6 cm is to be used to form a virtual image three times the size
of the object. Where must the lens be placed?
DATA: Focal length, f = 6 cm.
According to the question, hi = 3 ho q = 3p
As the image is virtual, q -3p.
Distance between lens and object, p = ?
FORMULA: By Spherical Mirror Formula,
= +
Put q = -3p = −
= =
p =
SOLUTION: As p =
( )
p =
p = 4 cm.
RESULT: The lens must be placed at 4 cm from the object.
12.11. A ray of light from air is incident on a liquid surface at an angle of incidence 35o . Calculate
the angle of refraction if the refractive index of the liquid is 1.25. Also calculate the critical
angle between the liquid air inter-face.
DATA: Angle of incidence, ∠𝑖 = 35o
Refractive Index, n = 1.25
Angle of refraction, ∠𝑟 = ?
Critical angle, ∠𝐶 = ?
FORMULA: By Snell’s law, 𝑛=
𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝑟 =
∠𝑟 = sin ( ) ---------- (1)
Also 𝑛= 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝐶 =
∴ ∠𝐶 = sin ( ) -------------- (2)
SOLUTION: Using eq.(1)
∠𝑟 = sin ( )
.
∠𝑟 = sin ( .
) = sin ( .
)
∠𝑟 = sin (0.4588)
∠𝑟 = 27.31o
Now using eq. (2) ∠𝐶 = sin ( )
∠𝐶 = sin .
= sin (0.8)
∠𝐶 = 53.13o
RESULT: The angle of refraction on liquid air interface is 𝟐𝟕. 𝟑𝟏o and the critical angle of the liquid is
𝟓𝟑. 𝟏𝟑o.
12.12. The power of a convex lens is 5 D. At what distance the object should be placed from the
lens so that its real and 2 times larger image is formed.
DATA: Power of the lens, P = 5 D
According to the question, hi = 2 ho q = 2p
Focal length, f = ?
Distance between lens and object, p = ?
FORMULA: As we know that, Power of lens =
Focal length in metres, f = ---------- (1)
By Spherical Mirror Formula, = +
Put q = 2p = +
= =
p = ---------- (2)
SOLUTION: Using eq.(1) f=
f= =
f = 0.2 m or 20 cm.
Now from eq. (2) p =
( )
p =
p = 30 cm.
RESULT: The object must be placed at 30 cm from the lens.