Short/Long Answer Questions

Question 1
State the speed of light in:
(a) air
(b) water and
(c) glass.
Answer
(a) The speed of light in air is 3 x 10 8 m s-1.
(b) The speed of light in water is 2.25 x 10 8 m s-1.
(c) The speed of light in glass is 2 x 10 8 m s-1.

Question 2
How does the speed of light determine the optical density of
a medium?
Answer
A medium is said to be denser if the speed of light in it
decreases, while it is said to be rarer if the speed of light in
it increases.

Question 3
Which is optically denser: water or air? Give reason.
Answer
Water is optically denser than air because speed of light in
water (2.25 x 108 m s-1) is less than speed of light in air (3 x
108 m s-1).
Question 4
Out of air and glass, which is optically rarer? Give reason.
Answer
Air is optically rarer than glass as speed of light is more in
air (3 x 108 m s-1) than the speed of light in glass (2 x 10 8 m
s-1).

Question 5
What do you understand by refraction of light?
Answer
The change in direction of path of light when it passes from
one optically transparent medium to another is called
refraction of light.

Question 6
Describe an experiment to show that a light ray bends when
it passes from one transparent medium into another
transparent medium.
Answer
Experiment to show that a light ray bends when it passes
from one transparent medium into another transparent
medium.
1. Take an empty beaker and a pencil. Place the pencil
ABC obliquely in the beaker.
2. Look at the pencil from side. It appears straight as
shown in figure (a).
3. Now pour water into the beaker up to its brim.
Pencil appears to be bent as ABD at the surface of water as
shown in the figure (b).
The light ray coming from the tip C of the pencil bends at the
surface of water as it enters in air and it appears to be
coming from point D. Due to refraction of light from water to
air, the pencil ABC appears as ABD.
This shows that when a ray of light passes from one
transparent medium into another transparent medium it
bends.

Question 7
Draw a ray diagram to show that the depth of a vessel
containing water when seen from above appears to be less
than its real depth.
Answer
The ray diagram showing the apparent depth of a vessel full
of water is given below:

The real depth of water is AO but when viewed obliquely

from above, its depth appears to be AI due to refraction of
light from water to air.

Question 8
Define the following terms:
(a) Incident ray
(b) Refracted ray
(c) Angle of incidence
(d) Angle of refraction
Answer
(a) Incident ray — The ray of light falling on the surface
separating the two media is called the incident ray.
(b) Refracted ray — The ray of light traveling in the other
medium in the changed direction is called the refracted ray.
(c) Angle of incidence — The angle between the incident
ray and the normal is called the angle of incidence (i).
(d) Angle of refraction — The angle between the refracted
ray and the normal is called the angle of refraction (r).

Question 9
A ray of light falls normally on a glass slab. What is the angle
of incidence?
Answer
When a ray of light falls normally on a glass slab the angle
between incident ray and normal is 0°. So, the angle of
incidence is 0°.

Question 10
A ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser
medium. How will it bend?
Answer
When a ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser
medium, it bends towards the normal because the speed of
light decreases in denser medium.
Question 11
A ray of light travels from a denser medium to a rarer
medium. How will it bend?
Answer
When a ray of light travels from a denser medium to a rarer
medium, it bends away from the normal because the speed
of light increases in the rarer medium.
Question 12
The diagram given below in Fig. 5.38 shows a ray of light AO
falling on a surface separating two media. Draw the
refracted ray in each, case.
(a)
(b)

(c)
Answer
(a) When light ray AO passes from air (rarer medium) to
water (denser medium), it bends towards the normal as
shown below.
(b) When light ray AO travels from water (denser medium) to
air (rarer medium), it bends away from the normal as shown
in the diagram below.

(c) When light ray AO is incident normally to the surface, it

passes undeviated as shown in the figure below.
Question 13
Draw a diagram showing the refraction of a light ray from
water to glass. Label on it the incident ray, the angle of
incidence (i), and the angle of refraction (r).
Answer
Below figure shows the refraction of a light ray from water to
glass:
AO — incident ray
i — angle of incidence
r — angle of refraction

Question 14
The diagram in the Fig. 5.39 shows a ray of light AO falling
on a rectangular glass slab PQRS. Complete the diagram till
the ray of light emerges out of the slab. Label on the
diagram the incident ray, the refracted ray and the
emergent ray.
Answer
The completed diagram showing the ray of light till it
emerges out of the slab is given below :
AO — incident ray
OB — refracted ray
BC — emergent ray

Question 15(a)
Explain the following:
A coin placed at the bottom of a vessel appears to be raised
when water is poured in the vessel.
Answer
The below ray diagram shows why a coin appears raised
when placed in a vessel filled with water:
When water is poured in the vessel, the ray of light from
point A of the coin, travelling in a straight line changes its
direction (i.e. it bends) at the surface of water and reaches
the eye. The ray now appears to come from point B instead
of point A to our eye. So, the coin appears to be raised from
position A to position B.

Question 15(b)
Explain the following:
A straight stick partly dipped in water obliquely, appears to
be bent at the surface of water.
Answer
A straight stick partly dipped in water obliquely, appears to
be bent at the surface of water due to refraction of light. The
light rays coming from the tip C of the stick, at the surface of
water undergoes refraction and bends away from the normal
and appears to us as coming from point D (as shown in
figure). Due to refraction of light from water to air the pencil
ABC appears to be bent as ABD at the surface of water.
Question 15(c)
Explain the following:
The sun is seen before the sunrise and after the sunset.
Answer
The upper atmospheric layers are warmer than the layers
near the surface of the earth before sunrise and after
sunset, so the layers near the earth's surface are more
denser than upper layers. When sun is below horizon the
rays of sun passes from rarer to denser medium and suffers
refraction by bending towards the normal. Due to continuous
bending of light rays the sun appears to be above horizon.
So the sun is seen before the sunrise and after the sunset.
Question 16
What is a mirage? Give a reason for its formation.
Answer
Sometimes, in deserts, an inverted image of a tree is seen
which gives a false impression of water under the tree. This
is called a mirage.
Mirage is formed due to the refraction of light. In a desert,
during the day-time, the hot sand rapidly heats the layers of
air in contact with it. As a result, the layers of air near the
ground are rarer and the successive upper layers are denser
than those below them.
The light rays from sun after reflection from the top of a tree
travel from denser (cold upper layers of air) to rarer medium
(warmer lower layer of air) and undergo refraction bending
away from the normal. On successive refraction, the angle of
refraction increases and the angle of incidence of ray going
from denser to rarer medium also increases till a stage is
reached when the angle of refraction becomes 90°. On
further increase in angle of incidence the light ray is not
refracted but is reflected. This reflected ray now travels from
rarer to denser layer and bends towards the normal at each
refraction. On reaching the eye of the observer, an inverted
image of the tree is seen. Thus, it gives a false impression of
a pool of water in front of the tree.

Question 17
What is a prism? Draw a ray diagram to show the refraction
of a light ray through a prism.
Answer
A prism is a transparent medium bounded by five plane
surfaces with a triangular cross section.
In symbol form it is represented by the triangle ABC :

The refraction of a light ray through a prism is shown below.

The light ray PQ of a single colour is incident obliquely on
the surface AB of the prism. As the ray PQ moves from air
(rarer) to glass (denser), it bends towards normal and travels
as refracted ray QR. The refracted ray QR at the face AC of
the prism again undergoes refraction (bends away from the
normal) as it moves from glass (denser) to air (rarer) and
emerges out as ray RS (emergent ray) from the prism.

Question 18
What do you mean by the term dispersion?
Answer
The splitting of white light into its constituent colours while
passing through a prism is called dispersion of light.

Question 19
A ray of white light falls on a prism. Draw a ray diagram to
show that the prism disperses the white light.
Answer
Dispersion of a white light into its constituent colours by a
prism is shown in the below figure.
Question 20
In figure, AO is the ray of white light falling on a prism PQR.
Complete the diagram till the light emerges out from the
prism and falls on the screen.

Answer
White light splits up into seven constituent colours after
passing through a prism. These seven colours VIBGYOR
arranged from bottom to top are seen on the screen.

Question 21
What do you understand by the term spectrum? Name the
various colours present in the spectrum of sunlight.
Answer
Spectrum is the coloured band obtained on a screen on
passing the white light through a prism. The various colours
present in the spectrum of sunlight are violet, indigo, blue,
green, yellow, orange and red.

Question 22
You are given a disc divided into seven sectors with colours
violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red in them.
What would be its color when it is rotated rapidly?
Answer
The disc appears white when rotated rapidly. The reason is
that seven colours violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange
and red are the constituent colours of white light. When
these colours are combined they produce the white colour
effect.

Question 23
State the two laws of reflection of light.
Answer
The two laws of reflection of light are:

1. The angle of incidence i is equal to the angle of

reflection r.
2. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal, all lie
in the same plane.

Question 24
What is a spherical mirror?
Answer
A spherical mirror is made by silvering a part of a hollow
glass sphere. The surface on which silvering is done is called
the silvered surface and the reflection of light takes place
from the other surface known as the reflecting surface.

Question 25
State the two kinds of spherical mirrors and distinguish them
with the aid of proper diagrams.
Answer
The two kinds of spherical mirrors are:

1. Concave mirror
2. Convex mirror
 Sl.
No Concave mirror Convex mirror
.

It is made by silvering the It is made by silvering the

1. outer surface of the hollow inner surface of the hollow
sphere. sphere.

The reflection takes place The reflection takes place

2. from the inner concave from the outer bulged
surface. surface.

Figure of concave and convex mirror is shown below:

Question 26
Explain the following terms:
(a) Pole
(b) Centre of curvature
(c) Radius of curvature
(d) Principal axis
Show them on separate diagrams for each of the concave
and convex mirrors.
Answer
(a) Pole — The geometric centre of the spherical surface of
the mirror is called the pole of the mirror. It is represented
by the symbol P.
(b) Centre of curvature — The centre of curvature of a mirror
is the centre of the sphere of which the mirror is a part. It is
represented by the symbol C.
(c) Radius of curvature — The radius of curvature of a mirror
is the radius of the sphere of which the mirror is a part. It is
represented by symbol R.
(d) Principal axis — It is a straight line joining the pole of the
mirror to its centre of curvature.
Question 27
What do you understand by the focus and focal length of a
spherical mirror? Show them on separate diagrams for each
of a concave mirror and a convex mirror.
Answer
The focus (F) of a concave mirror is a point on the principal
axis at which the light rays incident parallel to the principal
axis, meet (converge) after reflection from the mirror.
The focus (F) of a convex mirror is a point on the principal
axis at which the light rays incident parallel to the principal
axis, appear to meet after reflection from the mirror.
The distance of the focus from the pole of the mirror is called
the focal length of the mirror.
Question 28
Draw suitable diagrams to illustrate how a beam of light
incident parallel to the principal axis is reflected by:
(a) a concave mirror and
(b) a convex mirror.
Answer
(a) A beam of light incident parallel to the principal axis of a
concave mirror, after reflection meets at a point called focus
of the mirror.

(b) A beam of light incident parallel to the principal axis of a

convex mirror, after reflection appears to meet at a point
called focus of the convex mirror.
Question 29
How is a spherical mirror used to converge a beam of light at
a point? Name the type of mirror used.
Answer
The mirror used is a concave mirror. The beam of light is
incident parallel to the principal axis of the concave mirror.
After reflection, the beam converges to a point called the
focus of the concave mirror.
Question 30
How is a spherical mirror used to diverge a beam of light
from a point? Name the type of mirror used.
Answer
The mirror used is a convex mirror. The beam of light is
incident parallel to the principal axis of the convex mirror.
After reflection, the beam of light diverges and appear to
meet at a point called the focus of the convex mirror.
Question 31
State the direction of incident ray which after reflection from
a spherical mirror gets reflected along its own path. Give a
reason.
Answer
A ray passing through the centre of curvature of a spherical
mirror is reflected along its own path.
A line joining the centre of curvature to any point on the
surface of mirror is always normal to it. Thus, a ray passing
through the centre of curvature is incident normally on the
spherical mirror. Its angle of incidence is zero, therefore, the
angle of reflection is also zero. It means that the ray gets
reflected along its own path.
Question 32
How is the focal length of a spherical mirror related to its
radius of curvature?
Answer
The focal length of a spherical mirror is half of its radius of
curvature.

Focal length = 1221 x Radius of curvature

Question 33
The diagrams (Fig. 5.41) given below show two parallel rays
1 and 2 incident on:
(a) a concave mirror,
(b) a convex mirror.
Draw the reflected rays and mark the focus by the symbol F.
Answer
The completed diagrams with focus marked are shown below
:
C — Centre of curvature,
F — Focus,
P — Pole

Question 34
Complete the following diagrams in Fig. 5.42 by drawing the
reflected rays for the incident rays 1 and 2 if F is the focus
and C is the centre of curvature.
Answer
Ray 1 passing through the focus of a concave mirror gets
reflected parallel to the principal axis.
Ray 2 passing through the centre of curvature of a concave
mirror is reflected along its own path.

Ray 1 appearing to pass through the focus of a convex

mirror gets reflected parallel to the principal axis.
Ray 2 directed in the direction of centre of curvature of a
convex mirror is reflected along its own path.
Question 35
Which are the two convenient rays that are chosen to
construct the image formed by a spherical mirror for a given
object? Explain with the help of suitable ray diagrams.
Answer
The two convenient rays that are chosen to construct the
image formed by a spherical mirror for a given object are:
(i) A ray that passes through the center of
curvature — A line joining the centre of curvature to any
point on the surface of mirror is normal to the mirror at that
point, therefore a ray AD passing through the center of
curvature C (or appearing to pass through through the
centre of curvature C) is incident normally on the spherical
mirror.
Since it's angle of incidence is zero, therefore the angle of
reflection will also be zero and the ray AD gets reflected
along it's own path DA as shown below:
(ii) A ray parallel to the principal axis — A ray of light AD
incident parallel to the principal axis, after reflection passes
either through the focus F(in a concave mirror) or will appear
to come from the focus F (in a convex mirror) along DB as
shown below:

Question 36
Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of the image of
an object placed beyond the centre of curvature of a
concave mirror. State the position, size and nature of the
image.
Answer
Nature — Image is real and inverted.
Position — The image is formed between the centre of
curvature and focus of the concave mirror.
Size — The size of the image is smaller than that of the
object.

Question 37
Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of the image of
an object placed at the centre of curvature of a concave
mirror. State the position, size and nature of the image.
Answer
Nature — Image is real and inverted.
Position — The image is formed at the centre of curvature of
the concave mirror.
Size — The size of image and object is the same.

Question 38
Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an
object placed between the focus and centre of curvature of a
concave mirror. State the position, size and nature of the
image.
Answer
Nature — Image is real and inverted.
Position — The image is formed beyond centre of curvature
of the mirror.
Size — The size of image is bigger than that of object.
Question 39
Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an
object placed between the pole and focus of a concave
mirror. State the position, size and nature of the image.
Answer
Nature — The image is virtual and erect.
Position — The image is formed behind the mirror.
Size — The size of image is bigger than that of object.

Question 40
Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of the image of
an object placed on the principal axis of a convex mirror.
State the position, size and nature of the image. What
happens to the image as the object is moved away from the
mirror?
Answer
Nature — Image is virtual and erect.
Position — The image is formed behind the mirror between
focus and pole of the convex mirror.
Size — Image is diminished in size.

As the object is moved away from the mirror, the image

moves towards the focus and the size decreases to a point.

Question 41
Draw separate diagrams for the formation of virtual image of
an object by
(a) a concave mirror and
(b) a convex mirror.
State the difference of the two images.
Answer
(a) When an object is placed between the pole and focus of a
concave mirror, the image is formed behind the mirror. A
virtual, erect and enlarged image of the object is formed.

(b) In convex mirror for the object placed at finite distance,

the image formed is always virtual, erect, diminished and it
is formed between pole and focus of the mirror.

Sl. Virtual Image of Virtual Image of

No. Concave mirror Convex mirror

Image is diminished and if the object

1. Image is enlarged. is at infinity then image is diminished
to a point.

2. Image is formed Image is formed between pole and

behind the mirror focus. But if the object is at infinity
Sl. Virtual Image of Virtual Image of
No. Concave mirror Convex mirror

between the pole and then image is formed at the focus of

focus. the mirror.

Question 42
Name the mirror which always forms an erect and virtual
image. What is the size of the image as compared to that of
the object?
Answer
Convex mirror always forms an erect and virtual image. The
image size is always smaller as compared to that of the
object.

Question 43
Name the mirror which forms an erect, virtual and enlarged
image of an object. What is the position of object relative to
the mirror?
Answer
Concave mirror forms an erect, virtual and enlarged image
of an object. The object should be placed between the pole
and focus of the concave mirror.

Question 44
What is a real image? Name the mirror which can be used to
obtain the real image of an object. What should be the
position of the object relative to the mirror?
Answer
A real image is formed when the reflected rays actually meet
at a point. It can be obtained on a screen.
Concave mirror is used to obtain the real image of an object.
If the object is located at any position except between pole
and focus of the concave mirror than the image formed is
real.

Question 45
How can a concave mirror be used to obtain a virtual image
of an object? Draw a diagram to illustrate your answer.
Answer
The object should be placed between the pole and focus of
the concave mirror to obtain a virtual image of the object.

Question 46
State two uses of a concave mirror.
Answer
The two uses of a concave mirror are:
 1. It is used as a shaving mirror.
2. It is used as a doctor's head mirror.

Question 47
State two uses of a convex mirror.
Answer
The two uses of a convex mirror are:

1. It is used as a rear view mirror.

2. It is used as a reflector in street lamps.

Question 48
A driver uses a convex mirror as a rear view mirror. Explain
the reason with the help of a ray diagram.
Answer
A convex mirror diverges the incident light rays and always
form a small, erect image between its pole and focus. This
enables the driver to use it as a rear view mirror so that he
could able to see all the traffic behind him approaching the
mirror. It has wider field of view than a plane mirror.
Question 49
State the kind of mirror used:
(a) by a dentist, and
(b) as a street light reflector.
Answer
(a) Concave mirror is used by a dentist because if a parallel
beam of light is incident on a concave mirror, it converges
the beam to the focus. This enables the dentist to
concentrate light on small area to be examined like teeth.
(b) A convex mirror is used as a street light reflector
because it diverges the light rays incident on it.

Question 50
Name the kind of mirror used to obtain:
(a) a real and enlarged image,
(b) a virtual and enlarged image,
(c) a real and diminished image, and
(d) a virtual and diminished image.
Answer
(a) Concave mirror is used to obtain a real and enlarged
image when object is placed between its centre of curvature
and focus.
(b) Concave mirror is used to obtain a virtual and enlarged
image when object is placed between its focus and pole.
(c) Concave mirror is used to obtain a real and diminished
image when object is placed beyond its centre of curvature.
(d) Convex mirror produces a virtual and diminished image.