Ray Optics Question Bank

SECTION A
1-Mark Questions
1. Which of the following does not change during the refraction of light?
(frequency, velocity, or wavelength of light)
2. State Snell’s law of refraction.
3. Define refractive index of the material.
4. Which mirror is used as a driver’s mirror?
5. Define principal focus of a mirror.
6. Show the variation of u and v in the case of a concave mirror.
7. Write the relation between the object distance (u), image distance (v),
and focal length (f ) of a concave mirror.
8. If the wavelength (color) of incident light on a concave mirror is changed,
how will the focal length of the mirror change?
9. State the laws of reflection of light.
10. Light traveling in a medium with a velocity of 3 × 108 m/s is refracted into
a second medium where it travels with a velocity of 2 × 108 m/s. What is
the refractive index of the second medium?
11. Light with a wavelength of 5000 Å in air enters a medium with a refractive
index of 1.4. What will be its frequency in the medium?
12. What is the ratio of velocity of two light waves traveling in a vacuum with
wavelengths 4000 Å and 8000 Å?
13. Can the absolute refractive index of any material be less than one? Why?
14. State the principle of an optical fiber.
15. What do you mean by critical angle?
16. Write the relation between critical angle and refractive index.

1
 17. What is the main use of optical fibers?
18. Calculate the speed of light in a medium with a critical angle of 30◦ .
19. State the thin lens formula.
20. Define the power of a lens and write its SI unit.

Multiple Choice Questions

21. Which of the following is not due to total internal reflection?
• (a) Brilliance of diamond
• (b) Working of optical fiber
• (c) Difference between apparent and real depth of a pond
• (d) Mirage on hot summer days
22. An object is placed at the focus of a convex mirror. If its focal length is
20 cm, the distance of the image from the mirror is:
• (a) 10 cm
• (b) 20 cm
• (c) 40 cm
• (d) None of the above
23. An object is placed at the focus of a concave mirror. If the focal length of
the mirror is 20 cm, then the distance of the image from the pole is:
• (a) 10 cm
• (b) 20 cm
• (c) 40 cm
• (d) Infinity
24. The relation between angle of incidence (i), angle of prism (A), and angle
of minimum deviation (dm ) for a triangular prism is:
• (a) A + dm = i
• (b) A + dm = 2i
• (c) A+dm
2 =i
• (d) 2A + dm = i
25. The critical angle for total internal reflection from a medium to vacuum
is 30◦ . The velocity of light in the medium is:
• (a) 3 × 108 m/s
• (b) 1.5 × 108 m/s

2
 • (c) 6 × 108 m/s
√
• (d) 3 × 108 m/s
26. A beam of light passes from air to glass. How does the speed of light vary?
• (a) Decreases
• (b) Increases
• (c) Remains unchanged
• (d) It may decrease or increase, depending on the color
27. A convex lens of focal length f is put in contact with a concave lens of
the same focal length. The equivalent focal length of the combination is:
• (a) Zero
• (b) f
• (c) 2f
• (d) Infinity
28. Half of the lens is wrapped in black paper. How will it change the image?
• (a) Size of the image is halved
• (b) Intensity of the image is halved
• (c) There is no change in the size of the image or intensity
• (d) Both size and intensity of the image are changed.
29. Which of the following produces virtual as well as real image?
• (a) Concave lens and Convex mirror
• (b) Convex mirror and Convex lens
• (c) Convex lens and Concave mirror
• (d) Concave mirror and Concave lens
30. What is the nature of the graph between u1 and v1 for a convex lens where
u is the distance of the object and v is that of the image?
• (a) Straight line
• (b) Parabola
• (c) Ellipse
• (d) Hyperbola
31. A ray of light passes through a plane glass slab of thickness t and refractive
index µ = 1.5. The angle between the incident ray and the emergent ray
will be:
• (a) 0◦

3
 • (b) 30◦
• (c) 45◦
• (d) 60◦

32. A convex lens of power 4D and a concave lens of power 3D are placed in
contact. What is the equivalent power of the combination?
• (a) 7D
• (b) 43 D
• (c) 1D
• (d) 34 D
33. A lens behaves as a diverging lens in air (n = 1) and a converging lens in
water (n = 1.3). The refractive index µ of the material of the lens is:
• (a) 1 < n < 1.3
• (b) n > 1.3
• (c) n < 1.0
• (d) n = 1+1.3
2

34. For using a convex lens as a magnifying glass, where should we place the
object?
• (a) At the principal focus
• (b) Nearer to the lens
• (c) At f
2, where f is the focal length
• (d) Anywhere
35. A lens of power 3.5D is placed in contact with a lens of power -2.5D. The
combination will behave like:
• (a) A convergent lens of focal length 100 cm
• (b) A divergent lens of focal length 100 cm
• (c) A convergent lens of focal length 200 cm
• (d) A divergent lens of focal length 200 cm

Assertion and Reason

Directions: These questions consist of two statements, each printed as Asser-
tion and Reason. Choose the correct response:

• (a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and the Reason is a correct
explanation of the Assertion.

4
 • (b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not a correct
explanation of the Assertion.
• (c) If the Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.

• (d) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.

36. Assertion: Plane mirror may form real image

Reason: Plane mirror forms a virtual image if the object is real.
37. Assertion: The focal length of the convex mirror will increase if the
mirror is placed in water.
Reason: The focal length of a convex mirror of radius R is equal to
f = R2 .

38. Assertion: The image formed by a concave mirror is certainly real if the
object is virtual.
Reason: The image formed by a concave mirror is certainly virtual if the
object is real.
39. Assertion: If the rays are diverging after emerging from a lens; the lens
must be concave.
Reason: The convex lens can give diverging rays.
40. Assertion: The optical instruments are used to increase the size of the
image of the object.
Reason: The optical instruments are used to increase the visual angle.

41. Assertion: The resolving power of a telescope is more if the diameter of

the objective lens is more.
Reason: Objective lens of large diameter collects more light.
42. Assertion: The focal length of an equiconvex lens of radius of curvature
R made of material with refractive index n = 1.5, is R.
Reason: The focal length of the lens will be R/2.
43. Assertion (A): The maximum intensity in an interference pattern is four
times the intensity due to each slit.
Reason (R): Intensity is directly proportional to the square of amplitude.

44. Assertion (A): Diffraction is common in sound but not in light waves.
Reason (R): Wavelength of light is more than the wavelength of sound.
45. Assertion (A): Interference obeys the law of conservation of energy.
Reason (R): The energy is redistributed in case of interference.

5
2 Marks Questions
46. A concave mirror is placed in water. Will there be any change in its focal
length? Give reason.

47. An object under water appears to be at a lesser depth than in reality,

why?
48. The refractive index of the material of a concave lens is n. It is immersed
in a medium of refractive index n1 . A parallel beam of light is incident on
the lens. Trace the path of emergent rays in each of the following cases:

• (i) n1 > n
• (ii) n1 < n
• (iii) n1 = n
49. An air bubble is formed inside water. Does it act as a converging lens or
a diverging lens? Explain.
50. An equi-convex lens of radius of curvature R is cut into two equal parts
by a vertical plane, so it becomes a plano-convex lens. If f is the focal
length of the equi-convex lens, then what will be the focal length of the
plano-convex lens?

3 Marks Questions
56. State the condition for total internal reflection of light to take place at an
interface separating two transparent media. Hence derive the expression
for the critical angle in terms of the speeds of light in two media. *(CBSE
D 2000)*
57. (i) What is total internal reflection? Under what conditions does it occur?
(ii) Find a relation between critical angle and refractive index.
(iii) Name one phenomenon based on total internal reflection.

58. (i) Name the phenomenon on which the working of an optical fiber is
based.
(ii) What are the necessary conditions for this phenomenon to occur?
(iii) Draw a labeled diagram of an optical fiber and show how light prop-
agates through it using this phenomenon.

59. What are optical fibers? Mention one practical application.

60. Write the basic assumptions in the derivation of the lens maker’s formula.
Hence derive this expression. *(CBSE OD 20)*

6
 61. Using the ray diagram for a system of two lenses of focal lengths f1 and f2
in contact with each other, show that the two-lens system can be regarded
as equivalent to a single lens of focal length f , where
1 1 1
= +
f f1 f2
Also, write the relation for the equivalent power of the lens combination.
*(CBSE 17, 19, 20)*
62. Draw a graph to show the variation of the angle of deviation δ with that of
the angle of incidence i for a monochromatic ray of light passing through
a glass prism of refracting angle A. Hence deduce the relation:
sin δm2+A


n=
sin A2

*(CBSE D 17C)*
63. A concave lens made of material of refractive index n2 is held in a reference
medium of refractive index n1 . Trace the path of a parallel beam of light
passing through the lens when:
• (i) n1 = n2
• (ii) n1 < n2
• (iii) n1 > n2
*(CBSE OD 2000, 03C)*

5 Marks Questions
64. (a) Draw a ray diagram to show image formation when the concave mirror
produces a real, inverted, and magnified image of the object.
(b) Obtain the mirror formula and write the expression for the linear mag-
nification.
(c) Explain two advantages of a reflecting telescope over a refracting tele-
scope. *(CBSE 18)*
65. (a) A spherical surface of radius of curvature R separates a rarer and a
denser medium, as shown in the figure. Complete the path of the incident
ray of light, showing the formation of a real image. Hence derive the
relation connecting object distance u, image distance v, radius of curvature
R, and the refractive indices n1 and n2 of the two media.
(b) Briefly explain how the focal length of a convex lens changes with an
increase in the wavelength of incident light. *(CBSE OD 04; D 16C)*
66. Derive the expression for the Lens Maker’s formula
 
1 1 1
= (n − 1) −
f R1 R2

7
 where the symbols have their usual meanings. State the assumptions used
and the convention of signs.
67. Trace the path of a monochromatic ray of light through a prism of refract-
ing angle A. Draw a graph to show the variation of the angle of deviation
δ with the variation of the angle of incidence i. Deduce the relation

sin δm2+A


n=
sin A2