Q1.
Define the following terms in the context of spherical mirrors:
(i) Pole
(ii) Center of curvature
(iii) Principal axis
(iv) Principal focus.
2 marks, Delhi [2016]
Pole: The centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror.
Centre of curvature: The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is part of a
sphere. The centre of that sphere is called centre of curvature.
Principal axis: An imaginary line passing through the pole and the centre of
curvature. The principal axis is normal to the mirror at the pole.
Principal focus: The point on the principal axis, at which incident light rays
parallel to the principal axis converge or appear to diverge from, is called the
principal focus of the lens.
[Link] the type of mirrors used in the following situations:
( i) Headlights of a car
(ii) Rear-view mirror of vehicle
(iii) Solar furnace
Support your answer with reason.
(i)The headlights of a car use concave mirrors.
Reason: When the headlight bulb is placed at the principal focus of the concave
mirror, it produces a strong forward beam consisting of parallel rays of light.
(ii) The rear-view mirrors use convex mirrors.
Reason: A convex mirror, due to its curvature, directs light from a wider angle to the
eye of the viewer. It also produces an erect image of the traffic behind.
(iii) A solar furnace uses concave mirrors.
Reason: The concave mirror focuses parallel rays of light coming from the sun at
the principal focus. The concentration of sunlight at the principal focus produces a
lot of useful heat.
3. Mention the type of mirrors used as (i) rear view mirrors, (ii) shaving
mirrors. List two reasons to justify your answer in each case.3m
4. What kind of mirrors are used in big shopping stores to watch activities of
customers?2m
5. Draw a ray diagram to show the path of the reflected ray in each of the
following cases.
A ray of light incident on a convex mirror:
(i) strikes at its pole making an angle from the principal axis.
(ii) is directed towards its principal focus.
(iii) is parallel to its principal axis. 3m
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
5. A convex mirror used for rear-view on an automobile has a radius of curvature of 3.00 m. If a bus is
located at 5.00 m from this mirror, find the position, nature and size of the image.
6. An object, 4.0 cm in size, is placed at 25.0 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15.0 cm. At
what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed in order to obtain a sharp image? Find the
nature and the size of the image.
7. Find the focal length of a convex mirror whose radius of curvature is 32 cm.
8. 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?
1. Which one of the following materials cannot be used to make a lens?
(a) Water (b) Glass (c) Plastic (d) Clay
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.
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.
4. A spherical mirror and a thin spherical lens have each 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
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.
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.
7. a. If the image formed by a mirror for all positions of the object placed in front of it is always
virtual and diminished, state the type of the mirror. Draw any ray diagram in support of your
answer.
b. Suppose you want to observe an erect image of a candle flame using a concave mirror of
focal length 20 cm. State the position of the candle flame from the mirror. List two other
characteristics of the observed image. Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image in this
case.