OPTICS

OPTICS

Unit – VI Optics (Marks: 14)

Chapter-9 Chapter-10

Ray Optics & Optical Instruments Wave Optics

 SYLLABUS
Chapter–9: Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Ray Optics: Refraction of light, total internal reflection and its
applications, optical fibres, refraction at spherical surfaces,
lenses, thin lens formula, lensmaker's formula, magnification,
power of a lens, combination of thin lenses in contact,
refraction of light through a prism.
Optical instruments: Microscopes and astronomical telescopes
(reflecting and refracting) and their magnifying powers.
 NOTE

Dear Student,
Please refer the video lecture for
Solution of all Unsolved question
given in PDF.
 RAY OPTICS
LIGHT :-
It is that form of energy which makes object visible to our eyes.
Wavelength of light  4000Å to 7500Å
Optics :-
Optics is that branch of science which deals with the study of
energy of light and phenomenon associated with it.
 RAY OPTICS
Ray optics :-
It is that branch of optics which deals with the optical
phenomenon (Reflection, refraction dispersion).
 For validity of ray optics  a >> l
a  size of obstacle
l  wavelength of light

Propagation of light :-
Light travels along straight line path in a certain medium or in
vacuum. The path of light changes only where the medium
changes. We call this rectilinear (Straight line) propagation of
light. A bundle of light rays is called a beam of light.
 Refraction of light
Refraction of light :-
The phenomenon of change in path of light ray at interface
when light travels from one medium to another medium, is
called refraction of light.
 Refraction of light
Laws of Refraction :-
(i) The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal to the
interface at the point of incidence all lie in the same plane.

(ii) The ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of
the angle of refraction is always a constant. This is known
as Snell's law.

1μ2 Relative refractive index of the second medium with

respect to the first medium.
μ2  Absolute refractive index of medium (2)
μ1  Absolute refractive index of medium (1)
 Refraction of light
Absolute refractive index :-
It is the ratio of velocity of light in vacuum or air to the velocity
of light in medium.

μ is dimensionless, scalar quantity.

 Refraction of light
Relative refractive index :-
When light passes through one medium to other, then
refractive index of medium (2) relative to (1) is written as 1μ2
and is defined as
Refraction of light
 Refraction of light
Note :
When light propagates from one medium to another medium
frequency, color and phase do not change while velocity,
wavelength and intensity of light are changed.

Condition for no refraction :-

(i) At normal incidence,
 Refraction of light
(ii) If the refractive indices of two media are equal (μ1 = μ2)-

Optical density :-
It is the sluggish tendency of the atoms of a material to
maintain the absorbed energy of an electromagnetic wave in
the form of vibrating electrons before re-emitting it as a new
electromagnetic disturbance.

 Mass density of turpentine is less than that of water but its

optical density is higher.
 Refraction of light
Q. For same value of angle of incidence the angle of refraction
in three media are 15°, 20° and 25° respectively. In which
medium, the velocity of light will be minimum ?

Hence velocity will be minimum for media having angle of

refraction (r = 15°).
 Refraction of light
Principle of reversibility of light:-
It states that rays retrace their path when their direction is
reversed.
Applying Snell's law when light ray travels from air to glass
 Refraction of light
Refraction of light through several parallel media :-
When light ray passes through several parallel media and if first
and last medium is same, then incident and emergent ray will
be parallel to each other, but they will be laterally displaced.
 Refraction of light

When light passes through different parallel media and first

and last medium is same, then angle of incidence (i) and angle
of emergence (e) will be equal.
Refraction of light
 Lateral shift
Lateral shift (or lateral displacement) of a ray refracted through
a parallel sided slab:-
Lateral shift :- The perpendicular distance between incident and
emergent ray is known as lateral shift.
Lateral shift
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
If an object is placed in a denser medium and when seen from
a rarer medium then the apparent depth is μ times less than the
actual depth.

If an object is placed in a rarer medium and seen from a

denser medium then the apparent depth is μ times greater than
actual depth.
d'= md
 The apparent depth (for normal incidence) when seen from top
of the first liquid will be given by-
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
Q. An air bubble inside a cubical block of glass of a side 4.5 cm
seems to be at 2 cm from one face and 1 cm from the other
face opposite to the first when viewed normally. What is the
real distance of bubble from first face?
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
Examples :-
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
Q. A tank is filled with water to a height of 12.5 cm. The
apparent depth of a needle lying at the bottom of the tank is
measured by a microscope to be 9.4 cm. What is the
refractive index of water? If water is replaced by a liquid of
refractive index 1.63 up to the same height then what will be
the apparent depth ?
Solution:
Relation between real depth and apparent depth
Q. A mark at the bottom of liquid appears to rise by 0.2 m. The
depth of the liquid is 2 m. Find out the refractive index of the
liquid.
Solution
 Examples of refraction
Examples of refraction :-
1. Advance sunrise and delayed sunset due to atmospheric
refraction :-
The sun is visible before actual sunrise and after actual sunset
due to atmospheric refraction.
 Examples of refraction
2. Bending of an object :-
When pencil in a denser medium is seen from a rarer medium
it appears to be bent.

3. Twinkling of stars in Night :-

Due to fluctuations in the refractive index of different layers of
atmosphere, the refraction becomes irregular so that the light
sometimes reaches the eye and sometimes it does not. This
gives the effect of twinkling of stars.
 Examples of refraction
4. The apparent altitude of the sun and the stars appear to the
greater than real altitude.

5. Oval shape of the sun in the morning and evening.

6. A water drop or glass sphere in air behaves as a convergent

lens, while an air bubble in water or spherical cavity in glass
behave as a divergent lens due to refraction.
 Total Internal reflection
Total Internal reflection (TIR) :
When light ray travels from denser to rarer medium, it bends
away from the normal. If the angle of incidence is increased,
the angle of refraction also increases. At a particular value of
angle, the refracted ray subtends 900 angle with the normal,
this angle of incidence is known as critical angle (Ic). If angle of
incidence increases further, the ray comes back to the same
medium. This phenomenon is known as total internal reflection.
 Total Internal reflection
Condition for TIR :
(1) Light is travelling from denser to rarer medium.
(2) The angle of incidence at the surface is greater than the
critical angle.
Critical Angle : It is that angle for the pair of media at which the
angle of refraction becomes 90°.
Relation between critical angle and refractive index:
Total Internal reflection
Examples of TIR:
(1) Mirage: It is an optical illusion in which travellers in
desert get the impression of water at a little far off distance.
In this case light from a distant object may reach an
observer's eye by the two paths. Due to this the object is
seen in its true position and also as inverted image below it.
This inverted image is virtual and is called a mirage. It is also
called inferior mirage because it appears below the light
source.
 Total Internal reflection
(2) Action of porro prism: Inventor  Ignazio porro.
A right angled isosceles glass prism is called porro prism. It is
used in periscopes and prism binoculars either for bending the
rays or erecting the images through total internal reflection.
Total Internal reflection
(3) Sparkling of diamond:
The sparkling of diamond is due to total internal reflection
inside it. As refractive index for diamond is 2.42 so ic = 24°.
Diamond is cut in such a manner that, once the light enters
into it, when it tends come out then i > ic. So, TIR will take
place repeatedly inside it. The light which beams out from a
few places entering into the eyes of the observer makes it
sparkle.
 Total Internal reflection
(4) Optical Fibre:
In optical fibre light propagates through multiple total internal
reflections along the axis of a glass fibre of few microns radius
in which index of refraction of core is greater than that of
surroundings (cladding).
Optical fibres are fabricated by high quality composite glass/
quartz. It is used to transmitting Audio and video signal by TIR.
It is also used in endoscopy, Laser angioplasty and computer
networking.
Total Internal reflection
Q. A small bulb is placed at the bottom of tank containing
water to a depth of 80 cm. What is the area of the surface of
water through which light from the bulb can emerge out?
Refractive index of water is 1.33. (Consider the bulb to be a
point source.)
 Total Internal reflection
Q. (a) Find the value of refractive index of the liquid so that the
ray grazes along the face BC after refraction through the prism.
(b) Trace the path of the rays if it were incident normally on the
face AC. Given : aμg= 1.5
Spherical refracting surface
Spherical refracting surface :-
Spherical refracting surfaces are of two types-
Refraction of spherical surface
Refraction of spherical surface :-
Assumptions :

 Aperture of the spherical refracting surface is small.

 Object is a point object & lies on the principal axis.

Incident ray, refracted ray and normal to the spherical surface

make small angles with the principal axis.
Refraction of spherical surface
Refraction of spherical surface
Refraction of spherical surface

Use for convex and concave surface.

Refraction of spherical surface

Conditions for real and virtual images :

(i) When refraction takes place from rarer to denser medium,
Refraction of spherical surface

As for a real object u is negative,

Refraction of spherical surface
(ii) When refraction occurs from denser to rarer medium.

For the image formed to be real, v is positive, i.e., μ1 is

v
positive  i.e., μ1  0 As for a real object, u is negative.
 v 
Refraction of spherical surface
Q. A convex refracting surface of radius of curvature 20 cm
separates two media of refractive indices 4/3 and 1.60. An object
is placed in the first medium(m1=4/3) at a distance of 200 cm
from the refracting surface. Find the position of the image
formed.
Refraction of spherical surface
Q. A concave spherical surface of refractive index 3/2 is immersed
in water of refractive index 4/3. If a point object lies in water at a
distance of 10 cm from the pole of the refracting surface, calculate
the position of the image. Given that the radius of curvature of
the spherical surface is 18 cm.
Refraction by a thin lens
Refraction by a thin lens or (Lens maker's formula) :
Lens maker's formula gives the relation between focal length of
lens, refractive index of it's material (m) and radii of curvature of
it's two surfaces.
 Refraction by a thin lens
(i) Refraction through spherical surface ABC :-
Applying refraction formula –
Refraction by a thin lens
(ii) Refraction through spherical surface ADC :-
Refraction by a thin lens
Refraction by a thin lens
Refraction by a thin lens
Refraction by a thin lens

The nature of lens will remains the same.

The nature of lens will be change.

The lens which behave as convex in air will behave as
concave in liquid.
Refraction by a thin lens

The lens will behave as glass plate.

Refraction by a thin lens
Q. Double-convex lenses are to be manufactured from a
glass of refractive index 1.55, with both faces of the same
radius of curvature. What is the radius of curvature required
if the focal length is to be 20 cm ?
 Lens
Lens :-
A portion of a transparent refracting medium bound by two
spherical surface or one spherical surface and the other plane
surface is called lens.
(1) Convex or converging lens
 Lens
(2) Concave or Diverging lens
Lens
Lens Formula
Lens Formula
 Lens Formula

If lens formed virtual and erected image then m will be

obtained positive.
If lens formed real and inverted image then m will be
obtained negative.
Lens
 Lens
Intensity or brightness of the image is proportional to the
square of the aperture of the lens.
Intensity of image  (Aperture)2.

The brightness of the image produced by a lens which is

half painted black reduces to half. However, size of image
remains the same because every part of a lens forms a
complete image of an object.
 Lens
Lens is cut horizontally into two equal half, then intensity of
transmitted light becomes 1/2 and aperture of lens becomes 1
2
of its initial value. However, focal length of each part is equal
to the focal length of the lens.
 Lens
If a lens is cut vertically into two equal halves, then intensity
of transmitted light and aperture of the lens remains the same
but focal length of each part is different from the focal length
of the lens.
Focal length of a lens is given by
 Lens
When lens is cut vertically, then R1 = R and R2 = ∞ because
second surface is plane. Let f' be the focal length of each half
of the lens, then

Thus, focal length of each half of the lens is 2 times the focal
length of the lens.
 Power of lens
Power of lens : – It is a measure of its ability to converge or
diverge a beam of light falling on it.
Power of Lens given by,

Power of convex lens is positive and of concave lens is

negative.
Focal length of combination of thin lenses in contact
Focal length of Combination of thin lenses in contact :
Image I1 made up by lens A is work as a object for lens B which
made up final image I.
Focal length of combination of thin lenses in contact

Image I of object O is formed by combination of lens. If the

focal length of combination be F, then
Focal length of combination of thin lenses in contact
If several thin lenses of focal length f1,f2,f3. …….. are in contact,
then effective focal length of their combination is given by-

Total magnification of combination

m = m1 × m2 × m3 …………
Where, m1, m2, m3 ……….. are the magnification of individual
lenses.
Combination of thin lenses in contact
Q. Find the position of the image formed by the lens
combination given in the fig.
 Prism
Prism –It is a homogeneous transparent refracting medium
bounded by at least two non –parallel plane surfaces inclined
at some angle.
Refraction through prism
Refraction through prism :
Angle of prism (refracting angle) : It is the angle between the
faces on which light is incident and from which it emerges.

Angle of deviation: The angle between emergent ray (RS) and

the direction of the incident ray (PQ) is called the angle of
deviation(d).
Refraction through prism

Thus, the angle of deviation depends on the angle of incidence.

Refraction through prism
Angle of minimum deviation(dm) :
It is a least value of angle of deviation.
It depends on: (1) Color of light
(2) Material of prism
(3) Prism angle
Refraction through prism
At minimum deviation, the refracted ray inside the prism
become parallel to its base.
At minimum deviation. i = e, r1 = r2 = r and d = dm

from equation (3)

Refraction through prism
Dispersion of light by a prism
Dispersion of light by a prism:
The phenomenon of splitting of white light in to it's component
colors is called dispersion of light.

Red light travels faster than violet light in a glass prism.

Dispersion of light by a prism
Angular dispersion: The angle between the extreme rays is
called angular dispersion.
Dispersion of light by a prism
Dispersive power: Ratio of angular dispersion between the
violet and red rays and the deviation of mean rays (yellow rays).
Refraction through prism
Q. A ray PQ incident on the refracting face BA is refracted in
the prism BAC as shown in the figure and emerges from the
refracting face AC as RS such that AQ = AR. If the angle of
prism A = 60° and refractive index of material of prism is 3 ,
calculate angle q.
 Visual Angle
Visual Angle :-
It is the angle subtended by the extremities of an object.
Visual angle  apparent size of an object 

object  AB and Image  A'B'

object  A1B1 and Image  A1'B1'
 Magnification power
Magnification power (angular magnification) :-
It is the ratio of visual angle () subtended by the final image
formed by the instrument to the visual angle () subtended by
the object at the unaided eye.
Optical Instruments
 Simple Microscope
Simple Microscope :
It is an optical instrument which forms magnified image of
small object. It consists of a convex lens of small focal length.
A magnifying glass is an example of a simple microscope.

Principle :
A simple microscope is based upon the fact that an object
placed between the optical centre and the focus of a convex
lens, forms a virtual, erect and magnified image on the
same side of the lens.
 Simple Microscope

Magnifying power :
The magnifying power of a lens (microscope) is defined as
the ratio of the angle subtended at the eye by the virtual
image to the angle subtended by the object at the eye
when both are placed at the least distance of distinct
vision (25 cm).
 Simple Microscope
 = angle subtended by the object at the eye when the object
is supposed to be kept at the least distance of distinct vision.

 = angle subtended by the image at the eye, when image is at

the distance equal to the least distance of distinct vision.
Simple Microscope
 Simple Microscope

maximum magnifying power and eye is under maximum strained.

Case-II : When image is formed at infinity (for normal vision) :
 Simple Microscope

Uses of simple microscope :

(i) It is used by jewellers and watch makers for precision work.

(ii) It is used by students in the laboratory for reading the

Vernier scales of Vernier callipers, travelling microscopes,
spectrometers and other instruments.
 Simple Microscope
Q. A man with normal near point (25 cm) reads a book with small
print using a magnifying glass : a thin convex lens of focal length 5 cm.
(a) What is the closest and the farthest distance at which he should
keep the lens from the page so that he can read the book when
viewing through the magnifying glass ?
(b) What is the maximum and the minimum angular magnification
(magnifying power) possible using the above simple microscope ?
 Compound microscope
Compound microscope :-
Compound microscope
Compound microscope

 ve   D

ue  O2 B '
Compound microscope
Compound microscope
Compound microscope
Compound microscope
Q. A compound microscope consists of an objective lens of
focal length 2.0 cm and an eyepiece of focal length 6.25 cm
separated by a distance of 15 cm. How far from the objective
should an object be placed in order to obtain the final image
at (a) the least distance of distinct vision (25 cm), and (b) at
infinity ? What is the magnifying power of the microscope in
each case ?
Sol.
 Telescope
Telescope :-
It is used to visualize distant object.
(1) Refracting type telescope
(a) Astronomical  used to visualize heavily bodies .

(b) Terrestrial  Used to visualize distant object on the earth.

[use three convex lens  image  erect ]

(c) Galilean telescope  Use one convex lens (Objective lens)

and other concave lens (eye piece)

(2) Reflecting type telescope (Cassegrain telescope)

 Telescope
Astronomical telescope :-

It consist of a convex objective lens of large focal length(ƒ0) and

large aperture and a convex eyepiece of short focal length(ƒe)
and small aperture.
 Telescope
Magnifying power :-
It is the ratio of the visual angle subtended by the final image
at the eye to the angle subtended by the distant object at the
unaided eye.
Telescope
 Telescope
When image is formed at infinity (normal adjustment) :-
A telescope is said to be in normal adjustment if the final
image is formed at infinity.
 Telescope
Reflecting telescope (Cassegrain telescope) :-
 Telescope
Advantage of reflecting type telescope over refracting type
telescope :-
(i) Reflecting type telescope using mirrors are free from
chromatic and spherical aberrations. Hence, sharp
image of the object is formed.
(ii) Mirror weighs much less then a lens of similar quality.
(iii) Mirrors of large aperture can be easily manufactured.
 Telescope
Q. Using the data given below, state which two of the given
lenses will you prefer to construct a best possible :
(a) telescope (b) microscope. Also indicate which of the
selected lenses is to be used as an eyepiece in each case.
 Lens
Q. A symmetric biconvex lens of radius of curvature R and
made of glass of refractive index 1.5, is placed on a layer of
liquid placed on top of a plane mirror as shown in the figure.
An optical needle with it's tip on the principal axis of the lens is
moved along the axis until it's real, inverted image coincides
with the needle itself. The distance of the needle itself. The
distance of the needle from the lens is measured to be x. On
removing the liquid layer and repeating the experiment, the
distance is found to be y. Obtain the expression for the
refractive index of the liquid in terms of x and y.
 Lens
Sol. Let m1 denote the refractive index of the liquid. When
the image of the needle coincides with the needle itself; its
distance from the lens, equals the relevant focal length.
With liquid layer present, the given set up, is equivalent to a
combination of the given (convex) lens and a concavo plane
/ plano concave ' liquid 'lens'.
Lens
NCERT IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Q.1 The focal lengths of an objective lens and eyepiece are
192 cm and 8 cm respectively in a small telescope. Calculate
it’s magnifying power and the separation between the two
lenses.

Q.2 A double convex lens is made of a glass of refractive index

1·55, with both faces of the same radius of curvature. Find the
radius of curvature required, if the focal length is 20 cm.

Q.3 A magician during a show makes a glass lens with m = 1.47

disappear in a trough of liquid. What is the refractive index of
the liquid ? Could the liquid be water ?
NCERT IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Q.4 Find the position of the image formed by the lens
combination given in the fig.

Q.5 A ray PQ incident on the refracting face BA is refracted in

the prism BAC as shown in the figure and emerges from the
refracting face AC as RS such that AQ = AR. If the angle of
prism A = 60° and refractive index of material of prism is 3 ,
calculate angle q.
NCERT IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Q.6 Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation by a
combination of two thin convex lenses in contact. Obtain the
expression for the power of this combination in terms of the
focal lengths of the lenses.

Q.7 Draw a labelled ray diagram of a refractive telescope.

Deduce an expression of magnifying power of it. Write two
main limitations of a refracting type telescope over a
reflecting type telescope.

Q.8 Describe the construction of a compound microscope.

Derive an expression for its total magnification. Draw a ray
diagram for the formation of image by a compound
microscope.
NCERT IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Q.9 Derive the mathematical relation between refractive
indices n1 and n2 of two medium and radius of curvature R1
and R2 for refraction at a convex spherical surface. Consider
the object to be a point source lying on the principle axis in
rarer medium of refractive index n1 and a real image formed in
the denser medium of refractive index n2. Hence derive lens
maker’s formula.

Q.10 Plot a graph to show variation of the angle of deviation

as a function of angle of incidence for light passing through a
prism. Derive an expression for refractive index of the prism in
terms of angle of minimum deviation and angle of prism.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
YEAR- 2016
Q.1 A ray PQ incident normally on the
refracting face BA is refracted in the
prism BCA made of material of
refractive index 1.5. Complete the
path of ray through the prism. From
which face will the ray emerge ?
Justify your answer.

Q.2 (a) Draw a schematic diagram of a reflecting telescope

(b) State the advantages of reflecting telescope over refracting
telescope.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
Q.3 (i) A screen is placed at a distance of 100 cm from an object.
The image of the object is formed on the screen by a convex lens
for two different locations of the lens separated by 20 cm.
Calculate the focal length of the lens used.
(ii) A converging lens is kept coaxially in contact with a diverging
lens both the lenses being of equal focal length. What is the focal
length of the combination ?

Q.4 (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 which is based on total internal
reflection.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
YEAR- 2017
Q.1 (a) Draw a ray diagram depicting the formation of the
image by an astronomical telescope in normal adjustment.
(b) You are given the following three lenses. Which two lenses
will you use as an eyepiece and as an objective to construct an
astronomical telescope ? Give reason.

Q.2 (a) Monochromatic light of wavelength 589 nm is incident

from air on a water surface. If m for water is 1·33, find the
wavelength, frequency and speed of the refracted light.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
(b) A double convex lens is made of a glass of refractive index
1·55, with both faces of the same radius of curvature. Find
the radius of curvature required, if the focal length is 20 cm.

Q.3 (a) Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation by a

combination of two thin convex lenses in contact. Obtain the
expression for the power of this combination in terms of the
focal lengths of the lenses.

(b) A ray of light passing from air through an equilateral glass

prism undergoes minimum deviation when the angle of
incidence is (¾)th of the angle of prism. Calculate the speed of
light in the prism.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
YEAR- 2018
Q.1 A symmetric biconvex lens of radius of curvature R and
made of glass of refractive index 1.5, is placed on a layer of
liquid placed on top of a plane mirror as shown in the figure. An
optical needle with it's tip on the principal axis of the lens is
moved along the axis until it's real, inverted image coincides
with the needle itself.
The distance of the needle itself. The distance
of the needle from the lens is measured to be
x. On removing the liquid layer and repeating
the experiment, the distance is found to be y.
Obtain the expression for the refractive index
of the liquid in terms of x and y.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
Q.2 (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 magnification.
(c) Explain two advantages of a reflecting telescope over a
refracting telescope.

Q.3 The figure shows a ray of light falling

normally on the face AB of an equilateral
glass prism having refractive index 3/2 ,
placed in water of refractive index 4/3. Will
this ray suffer total internal reflection on
striking the face AC ? Justify your answer.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
YEAR- 2019
Q.1 Draw the ray diagram of an astronomical telescope
showing image formation in the normal adjustment position.
Write the expression for its magnifying power.
OR
Draw a labelled ray diagram to show image formation by a
compound microscope and write the expression for its
resolving power.
Q.2 State, with the help of a ray diagram, the working principle
of optical fibres. Write one important use of optical fibres.
Q.3 Under what conditions does the phenomenon of total
internal reflection take place ? Draw a ray diagram showing
how a ray of light deviates by 90° after passing through a right-
angled isosceles prism.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
Q.4 A beam of light converges at a point P. Draw ray diagrams to
show where the beam will converge if (i) a convex lens, and (ii) a
concave lens is kept in the path of the beam.
Q.5 A triangular prism of refracting angle 60° is made of a
transparent material of refractive index 2 3 . A ray of light is
incident normally on the face KL as shown in the figure. Trace
the path of the ray as it passes through the prism and calculate
the angle of emergence and angle of deviation.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
YEAR- 2020
Q.1 Larger aperture of objective lens in an astronomical telescope
(A) increases the resolving power of telescope.
(B) decreases the brightness of the image.
(C) increases the size of the image.
(D) decreases the length of the telescope.
Q.2 A biconvex lens of glass having refractive index 1.47 is
immersed in a liquid. It becomes invisible and behaves as a plane
glass plate. The refractive index of the liquid is
(A) 1.47 (B) 1.62 (C) 1.33 (D) 1.51
Q.3 For a glass prism, the angle of minimum deviation will be
smallest for the light of
(A) red colour (B) blue colour
(C) yellow colour (D) green colour
 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
Q.4 A ray of light on passing through an equilateral glass prism, suffers
a minimum deviation equal to the angle of the prism. The value of
refractive index of the material of the prism is ______.

Q.5(a) Draw the ray diagram of an astronomical telescope when the

final image is formed at infinity. Write the expression for the
resolving power of the telescope.
(b) An astronomical telescope has an objective lens of focal length 20
m and eyepiece of focal length 1 cm.
(i) Find the angular magnification of the telescope.
(ii) If this telescope is used to view the Moon, find the diameter of
the image formed by the objective lens. Given the diameter of the
Moon is 3. 5  106 m and radius of lunar orbit is 3.8 108 m.
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
(OR)
(a) An object is placed in front of a concave mirror. It is observed
that a virtual image is formed. Draw the ray
diagram to show the image formation and hence derive the mirror
1 1 1
equation  
f v u

(b) An object is placed 30 cm in front of a plano-convex lens with its

spherical surface of radius of curvature 20 cm. If the refractive
index of the material of the lens is 1.5, find the position and nature
of the image formed.

Q.6Using lens maker's formula, derive the thin lens formula

1 1 1
  for a biconvex lens.
f v u
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Q.1 A converging lens is used to form an image on a screen. When
the upper half of the lens is covered by an opaque screen.
(a) half the image will disappear.
(b) incomplete image will be formed.
(c) intensity of image will decrease but complete image is formed.
(d) intensity of image will increase but image is not distinct.

Q.2 In optical fibres, the refractive index of the core is

(a) greater than that of the cladding.
(b) equal to that of the cladding.
(c) smaller than that of the cladding.
(d) independent of that of cladding.
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Q.3 Air bubble in water behaves as
(a) sometimes concave, sometimes convex lens
(b) concave lens
(c) convex lens
(d) always refracting surface

Q.4 We combine two lenses, one is convex and other is concave

having focal lengths f1, and f2 and their combined focal length is F.
Combination of the lenses will behave like concave lens, if
(a) f1 > f2
(b) f1 = f2
(c) f1 < f2
(d) f1 ≤ f2
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Q.5 The focal length of a biconvex lens of radii of each surface
50 cm and refractive index 1.5, is
(a) 40.4 cm (b) 75 cm (c) 50 cm (d) 80 cm

Q.6 A metal coin is at bottom of a beaker filled with a liquid of

refractive index = 4/3 to height of 6 cm. To an observer looking
from above the surface of liquid, coin will appear at a depth
(a) 1.5 cm (b) 6.75 cm (c) 4.5 cm (d) 7.5 cm

Q.7 A double convex lens of refractive index µ1 is immersed in

a liquid of refractive index µ2. The lens will act as transparent
plane sheet when
(a) µ1 = µ2 (b) µ1 > µ2 (c) µ1 < µ2 (d) µ1 ≤ μ2
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Q.8 The refractive index of the material of an equilateral prism
is √3. What is the angle of minimum deviation?
(a) 45° (b) 60°
(c) 37° (d) 30°
Q.9 A convex lens and a concave lens, each having the same
focal length of 25 cm, are put in contact to form a combination
of lenses. The power of the combination (in dioptres) is
(a) zero (b) 25
(c) 50 (d) infinity
Q.10 The length of an astronomical telescope for normal vision
(relaxed eye) will be
(a) fo - fe (b) fo / fe
(c) fo  fe (d) fo + fe
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Q.11 When a ray of light enters from one medium to another,
then _________ of the following does not change?
Q.12 Mirage is a phenomenon due to_____________.
Q.13 A convex lens is dipped in a liquid whose refractive index
is equal to the refractive index of the lens. Then its focal length
will be_____________.
Q.14 Two beams of red and violet color are made to pass
separately through a prism (angle of the prism is 600). In the
position of minimum deviation, the angle of refraction will
be______.
Q.15 The astronomical telescope consists of objective and
eyepiece. The focal length of the objective is __________than
that of eyepiece.
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Q.16 What happens to the focal length of convex lens, when
it is immersed in water?

Q.17 Out of red and blue lights, for which colour is the
refractive index of glass greater?
Q.18 How does magnifying power of a telescope change on
decreasing the aperture of its objective lens?
Q.19 How does the focal length of a convex lens change if
monochromatic red light is used instead of monochromatic
blue light?

Q.20 Two thin lenses of power +7D and -3D are in contact .
What is the focal length of the combination?