CHAPTER

1 Light-Reflection and
Refraction

Previous Year Questions

(c) –, – (d) +, +
Multiple Choice Questions
5. A student wants to obtain an erect image of an object
3 using a concave mirror of 10 cm focal length. What
1. Absolute refractive index of glass and water is
4 2 will be the distance of the object from mirror?
and respectively. If the speed of light in glass is  [CBSE 2023]
3
2 × 108 m/s, the speed of light in water is: (a) Less than 10 cm
 [CBSE 2024] (b) 10 cm
9 5 (c) between 10 cm and 20 cm
(a) × 108 m/s (b) × 108 m/s
4 2 (d) more than 20 cm
7 16 6. To obtain a magnification of +2 with a concave
(c) × 108 m/s (d) × 108 m/s
3 9 mirror of radius of curvature 60 cm the object
2. At what distance from a convex lens should an distance must be [CBSE 2023]
object be placed to get an image of the same size (a) –90 cm (b) –45 cm
as that of the object on a screen? [CBSE 2024]
(c) –30 cm (d) –15 cm
(a) Beyond twice the focal length of the lens.
7. The laws of reflection hold true for: [CBSE 2020]
(b) At the principal focus of the lens.
(a) plane mirrors only
(c) At twice the focal length of the lens.
(b) concave mirrors only
(d) Between the optical center of the lens and its
principal focus. (c) convex mirrors only
3. In torch lights and head lights of vehicles, the bulb (d) all reflecting surfaces
is placed [CBSE 2023] 8. When an object is kept within the focus of a
(a) between the pole and the focus of the reflector. concave mirror, an enlarged image is formed behind
(b) very near to the focus of the reflector. the mirror. This image is: [CBSE 2020]
(c) between the focus and centre of curvature of (a) real (b) inverted
the reflector. (c) virtual and inverted (d) virtual and erect
(d) at the centre of curvature of the reflector.
4. An object is placed in front of a convex mirror Very Short Answer Type Questions
at infinity. According to the New Cartesian Sign
Convention, the sign of the focal length and the sign 9. An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from
of the image distance in this case are respectively: a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find the
 [CBSE 2023] position of the image formed be the mirror.
(a) +, – (b) –, +  [CBSE 2024]

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 1 17-01-2025 13:24:36

 10. A person suffering from presbyopia needs bifocal mirrors: [CBSE 2024]
lens. If he needs two lens of power -4.0 dioptre and Case Mirror Focal Length Object
+2.0 dioptre, which one of these two lenses is for (cm) Distance (cm)
the correction of distant vision and what is its focal 1 A 20 45
length? [CBSE 2024] 2 B 15 30
11. Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the path of 3 C 30 20
the reflected ray corresponding to the ray which is (i) In which one of the above cases the mirror will
incident obliquely to the principal axis, towards the form a diminished image of the object? Justify
pole of a convex mirror. Mark the angle of incidence your answer.
and angle of reflection on it. [CBSE 2019]
(ii) List two properties of the image formed in case
12. A teacher gives a convex lens and a concave mirror 2.
of focal length of 20 cm each to his student and
(iii) (A) What is the nature and size of the image
asks him to find their focal lengths by obtaining the
formed by mirror C? Draw ray diagram to
image of a distant object. The student uses a distant
justify your answer.
tree as the object and obtains its sharp image, one by
one, on a screen. The distances d1 and d2 between OR
the lens/mirror and the screen in the two cases and (iii) (B) An object is placed at a distance of 18 cm
the nature of their respective sharp images are likely from the pole of a concave mirror of focal
to be length 12 cm. Find the position of the image

Give reason for your answer. [CBSE 2019] formed in this case.
(a) (20 cm, 40 cm) and (erect and erect) 16. A concave mirror has a focal length of 20 cm. At
(b) (20 cm, 40 cm) and (inverted and inverted) what distance from the mirror should a 4 cm tall
object be placed so that it forms an image at a
(c) (20 cm, 20 cm) and (inverted and inverted)
distance of 30 cm from the mirror ? Also calculate
(d) (20 cm, 40 cm) and (erect and inverted) the size of the image formed. [CBSE 2019]
17. A real image 2/3rd of the size of an object is formed
Short Answer Type Questions by a convex lens when the object is at a distance of
13. Define the term power of accommodation of human 12 cm from it. Find the focal length of the lens.
eye. What happens to the image distance in the eye  [CBSE 2019]
when we increase the distance of an object from 18. (a) A 5 cm tall object is placed perpendicular to the
the eye? Name and explain the role of the part of principal axis of a convex lens of focal length
human eye responsible for it in this case. 20 cm. The distance of the object from the lens
 [CBSE 2024] is 30 cm. Find the position, nature and size of
the image formed. [CBSE 2019]
14. The image of an object formed by lens is of the
(b) Draw a labelled ray diagram showing object
same size but inverted, if the object distance is 30
distance, image distance and focal length in the
cm, calculate [CBSE 2024]
above case. [CBSE 2019]
(a) (i) The distance between the object and it’s
image
Long Answer Type Questions
(ii) Focal length of the lens
(b) Draw a ray diagram to show the image formed 19. (a) The variation of image distance (v) with object
in the above case. distance (u) for a convex lens is given in the
15. Study the data given below showing the focal following observation table. Analyse it and
answer the questions that follow:[CBSE 2024]
length of three concave mirrors A, B and C and the
respective distances of objects placed in front of the

2 Class-X PHYSICS PW

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 2 17-01-2025 13:24:36

 S. No. Object Distance (u) Image Distance (v) what distance from the lens should a 5 cm tall
cm cm object be placed so that its image is formed at a
1 –150 +30 distance of 15 cm from the lens? Also, calculate
2 –75 +37.5 the size of the image formed.
3 –50 +50 20. Draw a ray diagram in each of the following cases
4 –37.5 +75 to show the formation of image, when the object is
5 –30 +150 placed: [CBSE 2020]
6. –15 +37.5 (i) between optical centre and principal focus of a
(i) Without calculation, find the focal length of the convex lens.
convex lens. Justify your answer. (ii) anywhere in front of a concave lens.
(ii) Which observation is not correct? Why? Draw (iii) at 2F of a convex lens.
a ray diagram to find the position of the image
State the signs and values of magnifications in the
formed for this position of the object. above mentioned cases (i) and (ii).
(iii) Find the approximate value of magnification
21. An object 4.0 cm in size, is placed 25.0 cm in
for u = –30 cm.
front of a concave mirror of focal length 15.0 cm.
OR  [CBSE 2020]
(b) (i) At what distance from the mirror should a
(i) Define principal axis of a lens. Draw a ray screen be placed in order to obtain a sharp
diagram to show what happens when a ray of image?
light parallel to the principal axis of a concave (ii) Find the size of the image.
lens passes through it.
(iii) Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of
(ii) The focal length of a concave lens is 20 cm. At image in this case.

Light-Reflection and Refraction 3

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 3 17-01-2025 13:24:36

 4. (b) –, +
Previous Year Questions
According to the new sign convention : the focal
length of a convex mirror is negative. The image
Multiple Choice Questions distance for a virtual image formed by a convex
9 mirror is positive.
× 108 m/s
1. (a)
4 5. (a) Less than 10 cm

Let ng be the absolute refractive index of glass.
Virtual image is formed when a object is placed

nw be the absolute refractive index of water.
between pole and focus of the concave mirror.

vg and vw be the speed of light in glass and water
6. (d) –15cm
respectively.
3 4 If radius of curvature is 60 cm then focal length will
Given, ng= ; nw= ; vg= 2 × 108 m/s be 30 cm, f = –30 cm
2 3
c If radius of curvature is 60 cm then focal length will
We know that, n =
be 30 cm, f = –30 cm.
v
c 3 c 4 So the object must be placed between pole and
So, n=
g = and n=
w = focus. So option (d) is correct.
vg 2 vw 3
Dividing these two equations, 7. (d) The laws of reflection is valid for all reflecting
surfaces.
vw 9
= 8. (d) virtual and erect
vg 8
9 9 When an object is placed between pole and focus of
⇒ vw =
× 3 × 108 = × 108 m/s concave mirror virtual and erect image is formed.
8 4
9
Hence, speed of light in water is × 108 m/s. Very Short Answer Type Questions
4
2. (c) At twice the focal length of the lens. 9. Given that, u = –10 cm, f = +15 cm, v = ?

According to the mirror formula,
A
O 1 1 1
=
−
B F 2F v f u
2F F C B′
where, u = the distance between the object and the
pole of the mirror,
A′
v = the distance between the image and the pole of

When the object is placed at twice the focal length, the mirror, and f = focal length
the image formed by the convex lens is real and of 1 1 1 1 1 1
⇒ = − ⇒ = +
the same size as the object v 15 −10 v 15 10
3. (b) Very near to the focus of the reflector 1 2+3 5 30
⇒= = ⇒ v= = 6cm
v 30 30 5
In torches and head lights of vehicles the bulb is
placed very near to the focus of the reflector to get
So, when an object is placed at a distance of 10 cm
a parallel beam of light through which we can see from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm, the
to a longer distance. image will be formed at a distance of 6 cm behind

4 Class-X PHYSICS PW

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 4 17-01-2025 13:24:37

 the mirror. distance remains constant as the distance between
10. A bifocal lens consists of both concave lens and the eye lens and the image which is formed on the
convex lens to help an individual suffering from retina doesn't change.
presbyopia. The upper part of the lens consists of
To maintain clear focus on the retina, the eye needs
concave lens typically used for distant vision, and to change its focal length so that the image is still
the lower part consists of convex lens for near formed on the retina. The part of the human eye
vision. responsible to do this is the ciliary muscle.

In this case, the person needs a bifocal lens with
14. (a) (i) Magnification of lens
a power of -4.0 diopters and +2.0 diopters. The
positive sign indicates that it is a converging lens, = Image distance height of theimage
=
used to correct near vision and the negative sign Object distance height of the object
indicates that it is a diverging lens, used to correct Since image of an object formed by lens is of
distant vision. Hence, the -4.0 diopter lens is for the the same size but inverted Magnification of
correction of distant vision. lens = –1
We know that, Image distance image distance
M =−1 =
=
Object distance – 30
Focal length (f ) of the lens is given by,
Image distance = –30 cm
1
f = where P is power. The distance between the object and it's image
P
= v – u = 30 – (–30) = 60 cm
Given power of lens for distant vision is –4.0
(ii) From lens formula,
diopters.
1 1 1
1 = −
So, f = m f v u

−4.0
1 1 1 1 1 1
Therefore, the focal length of the –4.0 diopter lens = − = + =
for distant vision is –0.25 m or –25 cm. f 30 −30 30 30 15

f = 15 cm
Negative sign indicates that it is a concave lens.

O F2
i 2F2
11. r P (b)
F C 2F1 F1 C
15cm I Real and
15cm inverted
30cm A′
12. (c) (20 cm, 20 cm) and (inverted and inverted)
15. (i) In case-1, a diminished image will be formed.
Reason: Only real and inverted image can be Focal length = 20 cm
obtained on the screen and in both cases the image

⇒ Radius of curvature = 40 cm
is formed at the principal focus.
Now, object distance = 45 cm
Short Answer Type Questions This means that the position of the object is
beyond the centre of curvature, hence the nature
13. The ability of the eye lens to adjust its focal length
of the image is real, inverted and diminished.
in order to see objects at different distances clearly
is known as the power of accommodation of the (ii) Given: Focal length = 15 cm
human eye.
⇒ Radius of curvature = 30 cm
Also, object distance = 30 cm

When the object is moved farther away, there is no
This means the object is placed at the centre of
change in the image distance in the eye. The image curvature. So, the properties of image formed

Light-Reflection and Refraction 5

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 5 17-01-2025 13:24:37

 will be: 1 1 1
Nature of image = Real and inverted − =
v u f

Size of object = equal to that of the object
1 1 1
(iii) (A) Given: Focal length = 30 cm, =
+
v f u
Object distance = 20 cm
This means that the position of the object is 1 1 1
= +
between pole and principal focus. v 20 −30
Hence, nature of image = virtual and erect 1 1
=
Size of the image = Enlarged v 60
OR v = 60 cm
1 1 1 Real, inverted and magnified
+ =
16.
v u f v
m=
1 1 1 u
= −
v f u 60
m= = −2
1 1 1 −30

= + h′ = m × h
u 20 30

u = –60 cm h′ = –2 × 5 = –10 cm
M
−v
m= A
u
 −30  O 2F2 B
m= − F1 O F2
 −60  (b)
2F2
1
m= −
2 A′
h2 N
=m
h1

h2 = h1 × m
Long Answer Type Questions
19. (a)
 −1 

h2 = 4 ×   (i) Based on observation 3, where image is formed
2
at the same distance from the optical centre as

h2 = –2 cm
the object, we can deduce that the lens's radius
v of curvature is 50 cm. When BYOU'S an object
17. m =
u is positioned at 2F, the image is formed at an
2 equal distance from the lens but on the opposite

m= −
3 side. Since we know that the focal length is half
2 v of the radius of curvature, the focal length of
− =

3 −12 the lens is +25 cm.

v = 8 cm (ii) Observation 6 is incorrect. In this case, the
1 1 1 1 1 1 object is at a distance of –15 cm, i.e., it is
= − , = −
f v u f 8 −12 placed between F and O. When the object
1 1 1 is positioned between F and O, the resulting
= + image forms on the same side as the object, and
f 8 12
its nature is virtual. However, it is given that
1 5 24
= f
⇒= = 4.8cm the image distance is +37.5 cm which shows
f 24 5 that the image is real and is formed on the other
18. (a) f = 20 cm, u = –30 cm side of the lens which is incorrect.

6 Class-X PHYSICS PW

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 6 17-01-2025 13:24:37

 Ray diagram:
Now that we have the object distance u, we can
A′ use the magnification formula to find the image
height,
A O F2 2F2 h2 v
Magnification (m) = =
B′ 2F1 F1 B C2 h1 u
Image h1v 5 × (−15) 5
h2 = =
− = 1.25cm
=
(iii) Given, u = –30 cm, v = +150 cm u −60 4
We know that A′
M
v 150
Magnification, m = =− =−5
u 30 A O F2 2F2
20. (i)
OR B′ 2F1 F1 B C2
(b) C1
(i) An imaginary straight line passing through N
the two centres of curvature of the spherical M
surfaces a lens is called principal axis.
(ii)
Ray diagram for a ray of light parallel to the 2F1 F1 O 2F1
principal axis in a convex lens:
N
Refracted ray M
A
Incident ray
2F1 B F1 B′ O

Principal axis N
F O M
Focus
O F2
Concave lens O 2F2
(iii)
2F1 F1 C2 B′

Hence, when a ray of light is parallel to the C1

A′
principal axis of the concave lens, the refracted
ray passes through the focus when extended N
In case (i) sign is positive and m > 1
backwards.
(ii) sign is positive and m < 1
(ii) Given,
Focal length, f = –20 cm (negative for concave 21. Given h = +4.0 cm, u = –25.0 cm, f = –15.0 cm
lens) (i) image distance v = ?;
Image distance, v = –15 cm 1 1 1
mirror formula : + =
Object height, h = 5 cm v u f
Object distance, u = ? 1 1 1 1  1
1 1 1 or = − ; =− −  − 
Using the lens formula, = − v f u 15  25 
f v u
−1 1 −5 + 3 −2
1 1 1 1 1 1 −1 = + = =
= − ⇒ = + = 15 25 75 75
−20 −15 u u −15 20 60
⇒ u = –60 cm
v = –37.5 cm
So, the object should be placed at a distance of The screen should be placed 37.5 cm in front
60 cm from the concave lens. of the mirror.

Light-Reflection and Refraction 7

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 7 17-01-2025 13:24:38

 h1 v M
(ii) m = = − E
h u
v (−37.5 × 4) A
h1 =− ⋅ h =−
D
u −25 (iii) B' C P
h1 = –6.0 cm (size of the image)
B F


A' N

8 Class-X PHYSICS PW

01_Light Reflection and [Link] 8 17-01-2025 13:24:38