CHAPTER NO.

13
GEOMETRIC OPTICS
QUESTION & ANSWERS
1. Define reflection of light. What are the two types of the reflection of light?

Ans: Reflection of light:

When light traveling through a medium strikes the surface of an opaque
object, a part of it is sent back in the same medium, the phenomenon is called reflection of
light.

Regular Reflection:
When the light incident in a smooth surface gets reflected in a specific direction then
it is called regular reflection of light.

Note: reflected rays are parallel in regular reflection.

Irregular Reflection:
When the light incident on a rough surface and gets reflected in a different
direction then it is called irregular reflection of light.

Note: reflected rays are not parallel in irregular reflection.

2. Define incident ray, reflected ray, normal, angle of incidence, and angle of reflection.

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Ans: Incident Ray:
The ray of light that strikes the surface is known as an incident ray.

Reflected Ray:
The ray of light that is reflected by the surface is known as a reflected ray.

Normal:
A line drawn perpendicular to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence is known as
normal.

The angle of incidence:

The angle between the incident ray and the normal is known as the angle of incidence
denoted by i.

The angle of reflection:

The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is known as the angle of
reflection denoted by r.

3. What are the two laws of reflection?

Ans: First Law of reflection:

The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection (i.e., <I = <r.) this is
the first law of reflection.

Second Law of reflection:

The incident ray reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane. This is the
second law of reflection.
4. Define spherical mirror and its two types?

Ans: Spherical Mirror:

A mirror whose reflecting surface is a section of a sphere is called a spherical
mirror.

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Types of a spherical Mirror.
There are two types of spherical mirrors.

 Concave Mirror/converging Mirror:

A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved inward i.e. away from the
light source is called a concave or converging mirror.

Note: reflected rays from concave mirrors are converged to a single point.

 Convex Mirror/Diverging Mirror:

A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved outward i.e. towards
the light source is called a convex or diverting mirror.

 Note: reflected rays from convex mirrors appeared to diverge from a single point.

5. Define the following terms related to spherical mirrors.

Ans: Pole:
The center of the curved reflecting surface is known as the pole .it is denoted by P.

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 Centre of Curvature:
The center of the sphere from which the mirror is obtained is known as the center of
curvature. It is denoted by C.

Radius or curvature:
The distance between the center of curvature and the pole of the mirror is known as the
radius of curvature. It is denoted by R.

Aperture:
The diameter of the reflecting surface is called the aperture.

Principal Axis:
The straight line passes through the pole of a spherical mirror and the center of curvature.

Principle Focus:
It is a point on the principal axis where the light rays parallel to the principal axis converge
or appear to diverge .it is denoted by F.

Focal length:
The distance between the pole and the principal focus of the m mirror is known as the
focal length. It is denoted by f.

Concave Mirror.

6. What are the four rules for image formation by spherical mirrors?
Ans: Rule 1:
A ray parallel to the principal axis will converge or diverge through the focus after
reflection

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 Rule 2:
A ray passing through the focus will become parallel to the principal axis after
reflection.

Rule 3:
A ray passing through the center of curvature will take the same path after reflection.

Rule 4:
A ray striking the pole at an angle Փwill be reflected back at the same angle.

7. When an object is placed in front of a concave mirror at the following positions .find
the position, nature, and size of the image formed.

Ans: When the object is at infinity:

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 Position of the image: at the focus F,
Size of the image: Highly diminished.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted.

 When the object is beyond C:

Position of the image: between F and C,
Size of the image: Diminished.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted.

 When the object is at C:

Position of the image: At C,
Size of the image: same size.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted.

 When the object between C and F:

Position of the image: beyond C
Size of the image: Enlarged.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted.

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  When the object is at F:
Position of the image: at infinity.
Size of the image: Highly Enlarged.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted.

 When the object is between P and F:

Position of the image: behind the mirror.
Size of the image: Enlarged.
Nature of the image: virtual and erect.

8. Write the spherical mirror equation. What point must be kept in mind while applying
the mirror equation?

Ans: Spherical mirror equation:

Object distance, image distance, and focal length of a spherical mirror are related
by an equation known as the spherical mirror equation.
1= 1+ 1
f p q

Where f is focal length, p is object and q is image distance.

When applying the mirror equation, the following points must be observed.
 All distances are measured from the pole of the mirror.

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  All real distances are taken positively.
 All virtual distances are taken negatively.
 A concave mirror has a positive focal length.
 A convex mirror has a negative focal length.

9. Derive the spherical mirror equation.

Ans: Derivation:

Consider an object AB placed p cm in front of a spherical mirror of focal length f cm. the
image is formed q cm from the mirror as shown in the figure.

As ∆A1PB1 and ∆APB are similar:

Therefore,

AB = PB
A1B1 PB1

Ho = p ……………………… (i)
Hi q

As ∆ABF and ∆FPD are similar:

Therefore,

AB = BF
DP FP

:. AB = hO, DP = A1B1 = hi, FP = F, BF = P – f

Ho = p – f ……………………. (ii)
hi f

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 Comparing eq … (i) and eq … (ii)

p=p-f
q f

p=p–f
q f f

P= p–f
Pq pf pf

1= 1–1
q f p

1+ 1=1
p q f

1= 1+1
f p q

10. Write the uses of the convex and Concave mirror.

Ans: Uses of the convex mirror:

 They are used as a side–view or rear-view mirrors to see behind the traffic.
 They are also used to see the blind turns on the road to avoid accidents and
collisions of vehicles.
 They are placed on the top of the ATM which allows the withdrawer to see the area
behind them.
Uses of a concave mirror:
 They are used by doctors for the examination of teeth, nose, ears, etc. to diagnose
any infection.
 They are used in spotlights, searchlights, or automobile headlights. The ray coming
from the light source becomes parallel after reflection and covers large distances.
 They are used in microscopes to focus the light on the specimen.
They are also used in reflecting telescopes

11. Why convex mirrors are preferred over plane mirrors in driving?

Ans: Convex mirrors are curved outward allowing the drivers to see a much larger area of
the field behind them which is not possible by using plane mirrors. That’s why convex
mirrors are preferred over plane mirrors to see the behind traffic.

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12. Define the refraction of light.

Ans: Refraction of light:

The bending effect of light as it passes from one transparent medium to another is known
as the refraction of light.
Note: In Refraction wavelength, speed, and path of light change but the frequency remains
the same.

13. What are the two Laws of Refraction?

Ans: First Law of Refraction:

The incident ray refracted ray and normal, all lie in the same plane. This is the first law of
refraction.

Second Law of Refraction:

For two particular refracting mediums, the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the
sine of the angle of refraction is constant. This is Snell’s law of or the second law of
refraction.

14. Define the refractive index.

Ans: Refractive index:

For two particular refracting mediums, the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to
the sine of the angle of refraction is constant. This Constant is known as the refractive index.
n= Sin <i
Sin <r
It is also defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in a
particular medium.
Refractive index = speed of light in vacuum
Speed of light in a medium.

n=c
v

15. What is meant by the critical angle and total internal reflection? Write conditions of
total internal reflection?

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Ans: Critical angle:
The angle of incidence for which angle of refraction is 90◦ is called the critical angle.

Total internal reflection:

When a ray passes from a denser medium to a rare medium and its angle of
incidence is greater than the critical angle, the incident ray is reflected back into the denser
medium. This phenomenon is known as total internal reflection.
Conditions necessary for total internal reflection:
There are two conditions necessary for total internal reflection.
 Ray of light passes from a denser medium to a rare medium.
 Angle of incidence must be greater than the critical angle.

16. What is optical fiber? Give the application of total internal reflection.

Ans: Conditions necessary for total internal reflection:

Optical fiber consists of hair-size threads made of flexible glass or plastic fibers that
transmit light signals over long distances with minimum energy loss.

Application of total internal/reflection/telecommunication through optical fibers:

An optical fiber comprises two parts:
 Optical core is the inner part of optical fiber with a high refractive index.
 Cladding is a material of comparatively lower refractive index that covers the optical
core.

When a light ray enters the fiber and hits the cladding, total internal reflection occurs as
the angle of incidence is greater than the angle of refraction. Light rays in the fiber are
continuously reflected and information is transferred over long distances without energy
loss.

17. Define lens. How many types of spherical lenses are there? Define them.

Ans: Lens:
A lens is a piece of transparent curved glass that converges or diverges light rays by
refraction.

 Types of spherical lenses:

There are two types of spherical lenses:

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 Concave lens/Diverging lens:
The type of spherical lens which is thin at the center and thick at the edges is known as a
concave lens. They are further classified into Biconcave, Plano-concave and convexo-
concave lens.

Note: concave lens diverges the incident ray of light .it has negative focal length.

 Convex lens/converging lens:

The type of spherical lens which is thick at the center and thin at the edge is known as
convex kens. They are further classified into Biconvex, Plano-convex and Concavo-
convex lens.

Note: convex lens converges the incident ray of light .it has positive focal length.

18. When an object is placed in front of a convex lens at the following positions. Find the
position, nature, and size of the image formed.

Ans: When the object is at infinity:

Position of the image: F2,
Size of the image: extremely small.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted

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 When the object is behind 2F1 :
Position of the image: between F2 and 2F2
Size of the image: small.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted

 When the object is at 2F1 :

Position of the image: at 2F2
Size of the image: Same size
Nature of the image: Real and inverted

 When the object is between 2F1 and F1:

Position of the image: beyond 2F2
Size of the image: Enlarged.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted

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 When the object is at F1:
Position of the image: beyond 2F2
Size of the image: Highly Enlarged.
Nature of the image: Real and inverted

 When the between at F1 and O:

Position of the image: same side of the lens
Size of the image: Enlarged.
Nature of the image: Virtual and Erect.

19. Define the power of a lens, magnifying power, resolving power and microscopy?

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Ans: Power of lens:
The reciprocal of the focal length of a lens is known as its power. It is measured in m -1
or diopter. (1D =1m-1)
Power = 1
Focal length

P=1
f

Note: Power of a convex lens is positive and that of concave lens is negative.

Magnifying power:
Magnifying power is defined as the ratio of the size of the image to the size of an
object.
Magnification = height of image
height of an object

M = hi
ho
Resolving power:
The smallest distance at which any two points can be seen distinctly when viewed
through the optical instrument is known as the resolving power of that instrument.
Microscopy:
Microscopy is a field that uses a microscope to view objects that cannot be seen with
the unaided eye.

20. Write the working of the simple Microscope.

Ans: Simple Microscope:

A simple microscope uses a convex lens to produce magnified images of small
objects.

 Magnification by simple microscope.

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 Let ϴo be the angle subtended at the eye by a tiny object when placed at the near point
of the eye. If the object is brought closer to the eye, the angle will increase and become
ϴ2 but the eye cannot see it. To see the object we place a convex lens between the
object and the eye within the focal length so that the lens makes a magnified virtual
image of the object at the near point of the yes. The magnifying power in this case will
be.

M = ϴ1
ϴ0
Also, magnifying power is
M =1+ d = 1 – 25(cm)
F f

This relation shows that a lens of a shorter focal length will have greater magnifying power.

21. Draw the ray diagram of the compound microscope and also write its construction and
working.

Ans: Compound microscope:

A compound microscope is a device that is used to observe small objects like
bacteria, viruses, smoke particles, etc.

Construction:
It consists of two complex lenses one is objective and the other is eyes piece. Objective I s
near the object and has a shorter focal length fo and the eyepiece is near the eye and has a
larger focal length fe.

When a ray of light from a point on a nearby object passes through an objective lens. The
objective forms it real inverted and magnified image within the focal length of the eyepiece.
This image behaves as an object for the eyepiece and the eyepiece forms a virtual, erect,
and highly magnified image at the near; point of the normal human eye.
The magnification of the compound microscope is given by:

M=L =1+25 cm
fo f
Where L is the length of the microscope.
22. Explain the construction and working of Refracting telescope with its rat diagram.

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Ans: Refracting Telescope:
The telescope is an optical instrument that uses two convex lenses, to give a clear and
sharp image of very far objects.

Construction:
It consists of two convex lenses one is an object and the other is an eyepiece. The lens
toward the object is called objective and it has a large focal length fo and the lens near the
eye is called the eyepiece and it has a comparatively shorter focal length fe.

Working:
When parallel rays of light coming from a point on a distant object pass through the
objective lens, a real image “I” is formed at a focal point of the object lens. This image
behaves as an object for the eyepiece and the eyepiece forms a magnified virtual image “I”
at infinity.
The magnification of telescope is given by:
M = fo
fe.

23. Define Human Eye and describe how it makes things visible to us?

Ans: Human Eye:

The human eye is an optical instrument that converts light energy into electrical
signals and gives us the sensation of visibility.

Functions of the Human Eye:

The Human Eye uses a convex lens of variable focal length to refract light rays from the
object in such a way that the real inverted and small image of an object always forms on a
light-sensitive screen called a retina.

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24. Define briefly how we see both near and far objects clearly.

Ans: When we need to see a near object clearly then the ray coming from the object needs
to be bent more so the ciliary muscles compress the eye lens to some extent and increase
its curvature and shorter it is focal length so that the image forms at the retina. When we
need to see distant objects clearly then the ray coming from that object needs to be bent a
little, so the ciliary muscles stretch the eye lens to some extent and decrease its curvature,
and increase its focal length so that the image forms at the retina.

25. Define briefly how we see both near and far objects clearly.

Ans: The two main defects of the image are given:

 Short sight OR Myopia:

A person with short sight can see nearby objects clearly but cannot see a distant object
clearly.

 Reason for this defect:

In this defect, either the focal length of the eye lens has become too short or the
eyeball has become too long. As a result, the image of a distant object is formed in front
of the retina and not at the retina.

 Correction:
This defect can be corrected by placing a convex lens of the suitable focal lens in front of
the eye so the image will bring back onto the retina.

 Long sight OR Hyperopia:

A person with long sight can see distant objects clearly but cannot see nearby objects
clearly.

 Reason for this defect:

In this defect, either the focal length of the eye lens has become too long or the eyeball
has become too short. As a result, the image of nearby objects is formed behind the
retina and not at the retina.

 Correction
This defect can be corrected by placing a convex lens of suitable focal length in front of
the eye so the image will bring back onto the retina.

THE END.

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