10

Light : Reflection
and Refraction
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q. 1 Which of the following can make a parallel beam of light when light from a
point source is incident on it?
(a) Concave mirror as well as convex lens
(b) Convex mirror as well as concave lens
(c) Two plane mirrors placed at 90° to each other
(d) Concave mirror as well as concave lens
Ans. (a) A ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror or convex lens, after
reflection/refraction, will emerge parallel to the principal axis.

O
P
C F F1 F2

Q. 2 A 10 mm long awl pin is placed vertically in front of a concave mirror.

A 5 mm long image of the awl pin is formed at 30 cm in front of the
mirror. The focal length of this mirror is
(a) − 30 cm (b) −20 cm (c) − 40 cm (d) − 60 cm
Ans. (b) Given, object size, h = + 10.0 mm (Q 1 cm = 10 mm)
= + 10
. cm
Light : Reflection and Refraction 157

Image size, h′ = 5.0 mm = 0.5 cm

Image distance, v = − 30 cm (For real image)
Focal length, f =?
h′ (image size)
As, magnification, m =
h (object size)
−v h′ − v
Also, magnification, m = ⇒ =
u h u
0.5 −30
= ⇒ u = − 60 cm
1 u
1 1 1
Using mirror formula, = +
f v u
1 1 1 −2 − 1 −3
⇒ = − = =
f −30 60 60 60
⇒ f = − 20 cm

Q. 3 Under which of the following conditions, a concave mirror can form an

image larger than the actual object?
(a) When the object is kept at a distance equal to its radius of curvature
(b) When object is kept at a distance less than its focal length
(c) When object is placed between the focus and centre of curvature
(d) When object is kept at a distance greater than its radius of curvature
Ans. (c) A concave mirror can form an image enlarged, real and inverted than the actual
object, beyond centre of curvature (C) when object is placed between the focus (F)
and centre of curvature.

Q. 4 Figure shows a ray of light as it travels from medium A to medium B.

Refractive index of the medium B relative to medium A is

45°
45° Medium B
30° Medium A
60°

3 2 1
(a) (b) (c) (d) 2
2 3 2
Ans. (a) Given, angle of incidence, i = 60°, angle of refraction, r = 45°
Refractive index of the medium B relative to medium A,
 3
 
sin i sin 60°  2  3
µ BA = = = =
sin r sin 45°  1  2
 
 2
Light : Reflection and Refraction 159

Ans. (d) Since in the diagram all the parallel rays converge at a point. So inside the box there
will be a convex lens.
M

C2
C1

F1 F1 O F2 2F2

Q. 8 Which of the following statements is true?

(a) A convex lens has 4 dioptre power having a focal length 0.25 m
(b) A convex lens has 4 dioptre power having a focal length − 0.25 m
(c) A concave lens has 4 dioptre power having a focal length 0.25 m
(d) A concave lens has 4 dioptre power having a focal length − 0.25 m
Ans. (a) 1
The power P of a lens of focal length f is given by P = , where f is the focal length in
f
metre and power in dioptre.

1 1 1
P= or f = = = 0.25 m
f P 4

Q. 9 Magnification produced by a rear view mirror fitted in vehicles

(a) is less than one
(b) is more than one
(c) is equal to one
(d) can be more than or less than one depending upon the position of the object in
front of it.
Ans. (a) The convex mirror forms virtual, erect and diminished image of the object And rear
view mirror also form some type of image. Therefore, magnification (m) produced by a
rear view mirror fitted in vehicles is less than one i.e., m < 1.

Q. 10 Rays from sun converge at a point 15 cm in front of a concave mirror.

Where should an object be placed so that size of its image is equal to
the size of the object?
(a) 15 cm in front of the mirror
(b) 30 cm in front of the mirror
(c) between 15 cm and 30 cm in front of the mirror
(d) more than 30 cm in front of the mirror
Ans. (b) The rays from sun i.e., from infinity, are parallel to principal axis after reflection
converge at a point, known as focus. Therefore, focal length (F) of concave mirror is
15 cm. And we know that, same size, real and inverted image is formed by concave
mirror when object is placed at focus 2 F or centre of curvature so to form same size
image object will be placed at 15 × 2 = 30 cm.
160 NCERT Exemplar (Class X) Solutions

Q. 11 A full length image of a distant tall building can definitely be seen by using
(a) a concave mirror (b) a convex mirror
(c) a plane mirror (d) both concave as well as plane mirror
Ans. (b) The convex mirror forms virtual, erect and diminished image of the objects. So, it can
form full length image of a distant tall building.

Q. 12 In torches, search lights and headlights of vehicles, the bulb is placed

(a) between the pole and the focus of the reflector
(b) very near to the focus of the reflector
(c) between the focus and centre of curvature of the reflector
(d) at the centre of curvature of the reflector
Ans. (b) Concave mirrors are commonly used in torches, search lights and vehicles headlights
to get powerful parallel beams of light.
Here the bulb is placed very near to the focus of the reflector as the incident rays, which
passes through the focus of concave mirror, after reflection become parallel to the
principal axis of the mirror.

Q. 13 The laws of reflection hold good for

(a) plane mirror only (b) concave mirror only
(c) convex mirror only (d) all mirrors irrespective of their shape
Ans. (d) The laws of reflection holds good for light reflected from any smooth surface i.e., all
mirrors regardless of its shape.

Q. 14 The path of a ray of light coming from air passing through a rectangular
glass slab traced by four students shown as A, B, C and D in the figure.
Which one of them is correct?

A B C D

(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

Ans. (b) In a rectangular glass slab, the emergent rays are parallel to the direction of the
incident ray, because the lateral daviation of bending of the ray of light at the opposite
parallel faces (air-glass interface) and (glass-air interface) of the rectangular glass slab
are equal and opposite. This is why the ray emerges are parallel to the incident ray.

Q. 15 You are given water, mustard oil, glycerine and kerosene. In which of
these media, a ray of light incident obliquely at same angle would bend
the most?
(a) Kerosene (b) Water (c) Mustard oil (d) Glycerine
Ans. (d) The given material having their refractive index as kerosene is 1.44, water is 1.33,
musterd oil is 1.46 and glycerine is 1.74. Thus, glycerine is most optically denser and
hence have the largest refractive index. Therefore, ray of light bend most in glycerine.
Light : Reflection and Refraction 161

Q. 16 Which of the following ray diagrams is correct for the ray of light
incident on a concave mirror as shown in figure?

C F
P P P
C F 2F F

(A) (B)

C F
P P
C F

(C) (D)
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Ans. (d) A ray parallel to the principal axis, after reflection will pass through the principal focus
in case of a concave mirror.

Q. 17 Which of the following ray diagrams is correct for the ray of light
incident on a lens shown in figure?

F F
O

F F F F
O
O

(A) (B)

F F F F
O
O

(C) (D)
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Ans. (a) A ray of light passing through the principal focus of a convex lens after refraction from
a convex lens, will emerge parallel to the principal axis.
162 NCERT Exemplar (Class X) Solutions

Q. 18 A child is standing in front of a magic mirror. She finds the image of her
head bigger, the middle portion of her body of the same size and that of
the legs smaller. The following is the order of combinations for the
magic mirror from the top.
(a) Plane, convex and concave (b) Convex, concave and plane
(c) Concave, plane and convex (d) Convex, plane and concave
Ans. (c) Concave mirrors (of large focal length) can be used to see a larger image of the head,
the plane mirror for middle portion to see her body of the same size and convex mirror
to see the diminished image of leg. Hence, the combinations for magic mirror from the
top is concave mirror, plane mirror and convex mirror.

Q. 19 In which of the following, the image of an object placed at infinity will

be highly diminished and point sized?
(a) Concave mirror only
(b) Convex mirror only
(c) Convex lens only
(d) Concave mirror, convex mirror, concave lens and convex lens
Ans. (d) The incident rays which comes from an object placed at infinity will be parallel and the
rays parallel to the principal axis, after reflection/refraction by concave mirror, convex
mirror, concave lens and convex lens, will pass or appear to pass through the principal
focus. Hence, image will be highly diminished and point sized.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q. 20 Identify the device used as a spherical mirror or lens in following cases,
when the image formed is virtual and erect in each case.
(a) Object is placed between device and its focus, image formed is enlarged and
behind it
(b) Object is placed between the focus and device, image formed is enlarged and
on the same side as that of the object
(c) Object is placed between infinity and device, image formed is diminished and
between focus and optical centre on the same side as that of the object
(d) Object is placed between infinity and device, image formed is diminished and
between pole and focus, behind it
Ans. (a) The spherical mirror is used as concave mirror.

A′
A

C F B P B′

Object between F and P

Light : Reflection and Refraction 163

(b) The spherical lens is used as convex lens.

B′

B′ F1 F2 B O F2 2F2

Object between focus (F ) and device (O)

(c) The spherical lens is used as concave lens.

A
A′
B
F B′ O

Object between infinity and device ( O)

(d) The spherical mirror is used as convex mirror.

A Convex mirror

A′

B P B′ F C

Object between infinity and device ( P)

Q. 21 Why does a light ray incident on a rectangular glass slab immersed in

any medium emerges parallel to itself? Explain using a diagram.
Ans. In the given figure, EO is the incident ray, OO' is the refracted ray and O'H is the emergent ray.
E N
F i1
A Air
B
O Glass
Glass
slab r1
N' i2
M' L
C O' G D Air
H
M' r2
P
The extent of bending of the ray of light at the opposite parallel faces AB (air-glass interface)
and CD (glass-air interface) of the rectangular glass slab is equal and opposite. This is why
the ray emerges parallel to the incident ray on a rectangular glass slab. However, the light
ray is shifted sideward slightly. When glass slab in immersed in any medium the interface AB
(medium-glass) and CD glass medium are equal and apposite so, the emergent ray will
always be parallel to the incident ray.
Light : Reflection and Refraction 165

Q. 25 A convex lens of focal length 20 cm can produce a magnified virtual as

well as real image. Is this a correct statement? If yes, where shall the
object be placed in each case for obtaining these images?
Ans. Yes, the statement is correct. The convex lens of focal length 20 cm can produce a
magnified, virtual as well as real image. The object should be placed
(i) Between focus F1 and optical centre O (i.e., a distance less than 20 cm from the lens) for
magnified, virtual and erect image.
(ii) Between F1 and 2 F1 (i.e., at a distance between 20 cm to 40 cm) for real, inverted and
enlarged image.

Q. 26 Sudha finds out that the sharp image of the window pane of her science
laboratory is formed at a distance of 15 cm from the lens. She now tries
to focus the building visible to her outside the window instead of the
window pane without disturbing the lens. In which direction will she
move the screen to obtain a sharp image of the building? What is the
approximate focal length of this lens?
Ans. Sudha should move the screen towards the lens to obtain a sharp image of the building
because window pane was lying beyond focus 2F or centre of curvature and convex lens
forms its image, on the other side between F and 2F and when she tries to focus the
building visible to her outside the window (i.e., at distant object at infinity), then lens forms
the image of building at a distance of focal length.
The approximate focal length of this lens is 15 cm.

Q. 27 How are power and focal length of a lens related? You are provided with
two lenses of focal length 20 cm and 40 cm, respectively. Which lens will
you use to obtain more convergent light?
Ans. The power of a lens is related to its focal length as
1
P=
f (in m)
For greater convergent light, lens of higher power and smaller focal length is needed i.e., the
lens of focal length 20 cm is needed for the same.

Q. 28 Under what condition in an arrangement of two plane mirrors, incident

ray and reflected ray will always be parallel to each other, whatever may
be angle of incidence. Show the same with the help of diagram.
Ans. When two plane mirrors are placed at right angle with each other, then incident ray and
reflected ray will always be parallel to each other, whatever may be angle of incidence.
Mirror I

i
r

i Mirror II
r
2i
166 NCERT Exemplar (Class X) Solutions

Q. 29 Draw a ray diagram showing the path of rays of light when it enters with
oblique incidence (i) from air into water; (ii) from water into air.
Ans. (i) When ray of light enters with oblique incidence from air into water, then it goes from
optical rarer medium to optical denser medium and velocity of light decreases which in
turn bends the incident light towards the normal. Also, i > r

n
Air

Water
r

(ii) When ray of light enters with oblique incidence from water into air, then it goes from
optical denser medium to optical rarer medium and velocity of light increases which in
turn bends the incident light away from the normal. Also, i < r.

Air
Water

Long Answer Type Questions

Q. 30 Draw ray diagrams showing the image formation by a concave mirror
when an object is placed
(a) between pole and focus of the mirror
(b) between focus and centre of curvature of the mirror
(c) at centre of curvature of the mirror
(d) a little beyond centre of curvature of the mirror
(e) at infinity
Ans. (a) The enlarged, virtual and erect image forms behind the mirror when the object is placed
between pole and focus of the mirror.
M A'
E
A

C i
F B r P B'

N
Light : Reflection and Refraction 167

(b) The enlarged, real and inverted image forms beyond centre of curvature when the
object is placed between focus and centre of curvature of the mirror.
M
E

A D
B' C
P
B F

A'
(c) The real and inverted image equal to the size of object forms at centre of curvature
when the object is placed at the centre of curvature of the mirror.
M
A D

B
P
B' C F

A' E

(d) The diminished, real and inverted image forms between centre of curvature and focus
when the object is placed a little beyond centre of curvature of the mirror.
A M

B'
B C F P
A'

D
N
(e) The real, inverted and highly reduced image forms at focus F when the object is placed
at infinity.
M
A D
i
r
At
infinity P
C F

B
N

31. Draw ray diagrams showing the image formation by a convex lens when an
object is placed
(a) between optical centre and focus of the lens
(b) between focus and twice the focal length of the lens
(c) at twice the focal length of the lens
(d) at infinity
(e) at the focus of the lens
170 NCERT Exemplar (Class X) Solutions

(b) The image formed is virtual, erect, diminished in size and between optical centre and
focus F when the object is placed between focus and twice the focal length of the lens.

A
A′

B B′ C F1 2F2
2F F

(c) The image formed is virtual, erect, diminished in size and between optical centre and
focus F when the object is placed beyond twice the focal langth of the lens.

A
A
B 2F C F1 2F2
F

Q. 34 Draw ray diagrams showing the image formation by a convex mirror when
an object is placed
(a) at infinity (b) at finite distance from the mirror
Ans. (a) The virtual, erect and highly diminished image of the object forms at focus F behind the
mirror when the object is placed at infinity.
G
i M
i
A D

E
P F C
Image
B
At
N
Infinity

(b) The virtual, erect and diminished image forms between focus F and pole P behind the
mirror when the object is placed at finite distance from the mirror.

i M
A i
D
A'

B P B' F C
Object Image

N
Light : Reflection and Refraction 171

Q. 35 The image of a candle flame formed by a lens is obtained on a screen

placed on the other side of the lens. If the image is three times the size
of the flame and the distance between lens and image is 80 cm, at what
distance should the candle be placed from the lens? What is the nature
of the image at a distance of 80 cm and the lens?
K Thinking Process
Using magnification find the object distance. Then, using lens formula, calculate the
value of focal length. Using sign of convention nature of lens can be identified.
Ans. The image is real as only the real image can be taken on the screen.
Here, image distance v = + 80 cm
Magnification, m = − 3
Object distance, u = ?
v 80
Since, magnification, m= ⇒ −3=
u u
−80
u= cm
3
Nature of image
→ Real, inverted
→ magnified
→ formed beyond 2F
Using lens formula, we have
1 1 1
− =
v u f
1 1 3 4 1
= − = =
f 80 −80 80 20
⇒ f = 20 cm
Positive focal length denotes that lens is convex.

Q. 36 Size of image of an object by a mirror having a focal length of 20 cm is

observed to be reduced to 1/3rd to its size. At what distance, the object
has been placed from the mirror? What is the nature of the image and
the mirror?
K Thinking Process
Solve object distance for both concave mirror and convex mirror using the relation of
magnification and mirror formula.
Ans. Here, considering (the case for both type of possible spherical mirrors
For concave mirror
Focal length, f = − 20 cm
1
Magnification, m = −
3
v
Since, magnification, m = −
u
1 v
∴ Magnification, m = − = −
3 u
u
v=
3
172 NCERT Exemplar (Class X) Solutions

Using mirror formula, we have

1 1 1 1 1 3 4
+ = ⇒ = + =
v u f f u u u
⇒ u = 4f = 4(−20) = − 80 cm
The object should be placed at a distance 80 cm from the concave mirror.

For convex mirror,

Focal length, f = + 20 cm
1
Magnification, m = +
3
v
Since, magnification, m = −
u
1 v
∴ Magnification, m = = − .
3 u
u
v=− .
3
Using mirror formula, we have
1 1 1
+ =
v u f
1 −3 1 −2
= + = .
f u u u
u = − 2 f = − 2(20) = − 40 cm
The object should be placed at a distance 40 cm from the convex mirror to form virtual,
erect and diminished image.

Q. 37 Define power of a lens. What is its unit? One student uses a lens of focal
length 50 cm and another of −50 cm. What is the nature of the length
and its power used by each of them?
Ans. Power of lense is defined as the ability of a lens to bend the rays of light. It is given by the
reciprocal of focal length in metre. Its unit is dioptre.
100 100
If focal length, (f ) = 50cm, then P = = = 2 D, lens is convex.
f 50
100 100
If focal length, (f ) = − 50 cm, then P = = = − 2 D, lens is concave.
f −50

Q. 38 A student focussed the image of a candle flame on a white screen using

a convex lens. He noted down the position of the candle, screen and the
lens as under
position of candle = 12.0 cm
position of convex lens = 50.0 cm
position of the screen = 88.0 cm
(i) What is the focal length of the convex lens?
(ii) Where will the image be formed, if he shifts the candle towards the
lens at a position of 31.0 cm?
(iii) What will be the nature of the image formed, if he further shifts the
candle towards the lens?
(iv) Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of the image in case as said
above.