Light Reflection and Refraction

Class 10 Important Questions

with Answers Science Chapter 9
Important Questions of Light Reflection
and Refraction Class 10 Science
Chapter 10
Question 1.
The laws of reflection hold true for
(a) plane mirrors only
(b) concave mirrors only
(c) convex mirrors only
(d) all reflecting surface
Answer:
(d) The laws of reflection holds true for all reflecting surface.

Question 2.
List four characteristics of the images formed by plane mirrors. (Delhi
2015, AI2011)
Answer:
Characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror are
(i) imagedistanceissameasthatofobjectdistance
(ii) image formed is virtual and erect
(iii) image formed is of the same size as that of the object
(iv) image formed is laterally inverted (left appears right and right appears
left).

Question 3.
State the two laws of reflection of light. (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Laws of reflection of light states that
(i) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
(ii) The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the mirror at the
point of incidence all lie in the same plane.

Question 4.
When an object is kept within the focus of a concave mirror, an enlarged
image is formed behind the mirror. This image is
(a) real
(b) inverted
(c) virtual and inverted
(d) virtual and erect (2020)
Answer:
(d) When an object is placed between the principal focus and pole of a
concave mirror, an enlarged virtual and erect image is formed behind the
mirror.

Question 5.
What is the magnification of the images formed by plane mirrors and
why? (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Magnification of images formed by plane mirrors is unity because for
plane mirrors, the size of the image formed is equal to that of the object.

Question 6.
Draw a labelled ray diagram to show the path of the reflected ray
corresponding to an incident ray of light parallel to the principal axis of a
convex mirror. Mark the angle of incidence and angle of reflection on it.
(AI 2019)
Answer:

Question 7.
If the image formed by a spherical mirror for all positions of the object
placed in front of it is always erect and diminished , what type of mirror is
it? Draw a labelled ray diagram to support your answer. (2018)
Answer:
If the image formed by a spherical mirror is always erect and diminished
then it is convex mirror.

Question 8.
An object is placed at a distance of 30 cm in front of a convex mirror of
focal length 15 cm. Write four characteristics of the image formed by the
mirror. (Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Four characteristics of the image formed by the given convex mirror are :
(i) Virtual
(ii) Erect
(iii) Diminished
(iv) Image is always formed behind the mirror between pole and focus.

Question 9.
An object is placed at a distance of 12 cm in front of a concave mirror of
radius of curvature 30 cm. List four characteristics of the image formed by
the mirror. (Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Radius of curvature (R) = 30 cm, object distance is 12 cm in front of the
mirror. Thus we can say that object is placed between focus and pole.
Four characteristics of the image formed by die given concave mirror
when object is placed between pole and focus are:
(i) Virtual
(ii) Erect
(iii) Enlarged
(iv) Image is formed behind the mirror

Question 10.
A ray of light is incident on a convex mirror as shown. Redraw the diagram
and complete the path of this ray after reflection from the mirror. Mark
angle of incidence and angle of reflection on it. (Delhi 2016)
Answer:

Question 11.
Name the type of mirrors used in the design of solar furnaces. Explain how
high temperature is achieved by this device. (AI 2016)
Answer:
Concave mirrors are used in the designing of solar furnaces.
When a solar furnace is placed at the focus of a large concave mirror, it
focuses a parallel beam of light on the furnace. Therefore, a high
temperature is attained at the point after some time.

Question 12.
“The magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -3”. List four
informations you obtain from this statement about the mirror/ image. (AI
2016)
Answer:
Negative sign of magnification indicates that the image is real and
inverted. Since the image is real and inverted, the mirror is concave and
magnification of -3 indicates that the image is magnified.

Question 13.
AB and CD, two spherical mirrors, from parts of a hollow spherical ball
with its centre at O as shown in the diagram. If arc AB = 12 arc CD, what is
the ratio of their focal lengths? State which of the two mirrors will always
form virtual image of an object placed in front of it and why? (Foreign
2016)

Answer:
Focal length of a mirror is given by
Focal length = Radiusofcurvature2
Since both the mirrors have same radius of curvature, therefore focal
length of the two mirrors will be same, i.e.,
f1f2 = 11
Since virtual image is always formed by convex mirror. The mirror AB will
always form virtual image.
Question 14.
List two properties of the images formed by convex mirrors. Draw ray
diagram in support of your answer. (Foreign 2016)
Answer:
Convex mirrors always form diminished, virtual and erect images.

Question 15.
The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is +3. Analyse this
value and state the (i) type of mirror and (ii) position of the object with
respect to the pole of the mirror. Draw a ray diagram to show the
formation of image in this case. (Foreign 2016)
Answer:
Positive value of the magnification indicates that image is virtual and
erect.
(i) Since the image is magnified, the mirror is concave.
(ii) The object is between pole and focus of the mirror as shown

The image produced in second case will be real and inverted.

Question 16.
List four specific characteristics of the images of the objects formed by
convex mirrors. (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Refer to answer 8
Question 17.
Draw a ray diagram to show the path of the reflected ray corresponding to
an incident ray which is directed towards the principal focus of a convex
mirror. Mark on it the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection. (Delhi
2014)
Answer:

Question 18.
Draw a ray diagram to show the path of the reflected ray corresponding to
an incident ray which is directed parallel to the principal axis of a convex
mirror, Mark on it the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection. (Delhi
2014)
Answer:
Refer to answer 6

Question 19.
Draw a ray diagram to show the path of the reflected ray corresponding to
an incident ray of light parallel to the principal axis of a concave mirror.
Mark the angle of incidence and angle of reflection on it. (Delhi 2014)
Answer:

Question 20.
List two possible ways in which a concave mirror can produce a magnified
image of an object placed in front of it. State the difference if any between
these two images. (AI2014)
Answer:
A concave mirror can produce a magnified image of an object when object
is placed:
(1) In between its pole and its focus
(2) In between its focus and its centre of curvature.
Difference,between these two images:
The image produced in first case will be virtual and erect.
The image produced in second case will be real and inverted.

Question 21.
The image formed by a concave mirror is observed to be virtual, erect and
larger than the object. Where should the position of the object be relative
to the mirror? Draw ray diagram to justify your answer. (AI 2014)
Answer:
The position of the object should be between P and F

Question 22.
The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is +1/3. Analysing
this value state the (i) type of mirror and (ii) position of the object with
respect to the pole of the mirror. Draw any diagram to justify your answer.
(AI 2014, Foreign 2014)
Answer:
(i) Convex mirror
(ii) Between infinity and the pole of the mirror.

Question 23.
The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -1. Analysing
this value state the (i) type of mirror and (ii) position of the object with
respect to the pole of the mirror. Draw any diagram to justify your answer.
(Foreign 2014)
Answer:
(i) Concave mirror because the image is real, inverted.
(ii) Object is placed at C.

Question 24.
The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -1/5. Analysing
this value state the (i) type of spherical mirror and (ii) the position of the
object with respect to the pole of the mirror. Draw ray diagram to justify
your answer. (Foreign 2014)
Answer:
(i) Concave mirror
(ii) Object is placed beyond C.

Question 25.
Draw ray diagrams for the following cases when a ray of light:
(i) passing through centre of curvature of a concave mirror is incident on
it.
(ii) parallel to principal axis is incident on convex mirror.
(iii) is passing through focus of a concave mirror incident on it. (2020)
Answer:
(i) Ray of light passing through centre of curvature of concave mirror,
after reflection

(ii) Ray of light parallel to the principal axis is incident on a convex mirror
after reflection appear to diverge from the principal focus of a convex
mirror.

(iii) Ray of light passing through focus of a concave mirror after reflection
will emerge parallel

Question 26.
A concave mirror is used for image formation for different positions of an
object. What inferences can be drawn about the following when an object
is placed at a distance of 10 cm from the pole of a concave mirror of focal
length 15 cm?
(a) Position of the image
(b) Size of the image
(c) Nature of the image
Draw a labelled ray diagram to justify your inferences. (2020)
Answer:
Given, f = -15 cm, u = -10 cm.
Thus the object is placed between the principal focus and pole of the
mirror.
(a) The position of the image will be behind the mirror.
(b) The size of the image will be highly enlarged.
(c) The nature of the image will be virtual and erect.

Question 27.
A concave mirror has a focal length of 20 cm. At what distance from the
mirror should a 4 cm tall object be placed so that it forms an image at a
distance of 30 cm from the mirror? Also calculate the size of the image
formed. (AI 2019)
Answer:
Given f = -20 cm v = -30 cm u = ?
Using 1/v + 1/u = 1/f

⇒ u = -60 cm
1/u = 1/f – 1/v = 1/-20 – 1/-30 = −3+2/60

∴ Object placed at 60 cm from the mirror.

⇒ h’ = −(−30) × 4 /-60= -2 cm
Also magnification, m = h′/h = −v/u

∴ The size of the image is 2 cm.

Question 28.
The image of a candle flame placed at a distance of 30 cm from a mirror is
formed on a screen placed in front of the mirror at a distance of 60 cm
from its pole. What is the nature of the mirror? Find its focal length. If the
height of the flame is 2.4 cm, find the height of its image. State whether
the image formed is erect or inverted. (Delhi 2017)
Given:
Object distance, u = – 30 cm, image size, h’ = ?
Image distance, v = – 60 cm,
Object size ,h = 2.4 cm,
Focal length, f = ?
Using mirror formula,
1/f=1/v+1/u , 1/f=−1−2/60=−3/60=- 1/20
or f = – 20 cm
Hence, focal length is 20 cm
Also, magnification, m = h′h = −vu
or, m = (−60)/(-30) = -2 or h′/h= -2
h’ = – 2 × 2.4 = – 4.8 cm
As the image formed is real, therefore the mirror is concave.
The height of the image is 4.8 cm.
The image formed is enlarged and inverted.

Question 29.
An object 4 cm in height, is placed at 15 cm in front of a concave mirror of
focal length 10 cm. At what distance from the mirror should a screen be
placed to obtain a sharp image of the object. Calculate the height of the
image. (Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Given : object distance, u = -15 cm,
object height, h = 4 cm, focal length f = -10 cm;
Image distance, v = ?
Using mirror formula,
1/v+1/u=1/f⇒1/v+1/(−15)=1/−10⇒1/v=1/15−1/10
or 1/v=10−15/150=−5/150=−1/30 or v = -30cm

In order to obtain a sharp image of the object on the screen, screen

should be placed at a distance of 30 cm in front of the mirror.
Also, magnification, m = h′/h=−v/u
or h′/4=−(−30)/(-15) or h’ = −(30)×4/(15) = -2 × 4
or h’ = -8 cm
Thus, the height of the image is 8 cm.
Question 30.
Draw the following diagram in which a ray of light is incident on a
concave/convex mirror, on your answer sheet. Show the path of this ray,
after reflection, in each case.

Answer:
The path of the rays are shown in figure.

Question 31.
The image of an object formed by a mirror is real, inverted and is of
magnification -1. If the image is at a distance of 40 cm from the mirror,
where is the object placed? Where would the image be if the object is
moved 20 cm towards the mirror? State reason and also draw ray diagram
for the new position of the object to justify your answer. (AI 2016)
Answer:
Since the image formed by the mirror is real and inverted, therefore the

m = –v/u⇒ -1 = –v/u ⇒ v = u
mirror is concave and magnification of the mirror will be

i.e., object and image both are formed at the centre of curvature, i.e., 40
cm from the mirror.
Now, if the object is moved 20 cm towards the mirror, the object will be at
the focus of the mirror and therefore the image will be formed at infinity.

Question 32.
The image formed by a spherical mirror is real, inverted and its
magnification is -2. If the image is at a distance of 30 cm from the mirror,
where is the object placed? Find the focal length of the mirror. List two
characteristics of the image formed if the object is moved 10 cm towards
the mirror. (AI 2016)
Answer:

Magnification, m = −v/u ⇒ -2 = −v/u⇒ v = 2u

Since the image formed is real and inverted, the mirror is concave.

Now, if v = – 30 cm then u = – 15 cm
As focal length of the mirror is
f = uv/u+v=−15×−30/−15−30=f=450/-45 = -10 cm

If the object is shifted 10 cm towards the mirror, then the object is

between principal focus and the optical centre and the image formed will
be virtual and erect.

Question 33.
If the image formed by mirror for all positions of the object placed in front
of it is always virtual and diminished, state the type of the mirror. Draw a
ray diagram in support of your answer. Where are such mirrors commonly
used and why? (Foreign 2016, AI 2015)
Answer:
Refer to answer 7.
Convex mirrors are widely used as rear view mirrors in cars, motorcycles
etc. It produces an erect image that is smaller in size than the object
hence giving a wide view.

Question 34.
To construct a ray diagram we use two rays of light which are so chosen
that it is easy to determine their directions after reflection from the
mirror. Choose these two rays and state the path of these rays after
reflection from a concave mirror. Use these two rays to find the nature
and position of the image of an object placed at a distance of 15 cm from
a concave mirror of focal length 10 cm. (Delhi 2015, AI 2012)
Answer:
We use two rays of light, one passing through the centre of curvature of a
concave mirror, and another is parallel to the principal axis. After
reflection, the ray passing through the centre of a concave mirror is
reflected back along the same path and the ray parallel to the principal
axis will pass through the principal focus.
u = -15 cm, f= -10 cm

From ray diagram, v = -30 cm, i.e., beyond C Nature of image is real,
inverted and magnified.

Question 35.
Draw a ray diagram to show the path of the reflected ray in each of the
following cases. A ray of light incident on a convex mirror :
(a) strikes at its pole making an angle 0 from the principal axis.
(b) is directed towards its principle focus.
(c) is pardllel to its principal axis. (Foreign 2015)
Answer:

(b) Refer to answer 17.

(c) Refer to answer 6.

Question 36.
A spherical mirror produces an image of magnification -1 on a screen
placed at a distance of 50 cm from the mirror.
(a) Write the type of mirror.
(b) Find the distance of the image from the object.
(c) What is the focal length of the mirror?
(d) Draw the ray diagram to show the image formation in this case. (Delhi
2014, AI 2014)
Answer:
(a) Concave mirror

∴ Distance of the image from the object is, v – u = 0

(b) Magnification, m = –v/u or v = u

∴ focal length of the mirror, f = −50/2 = -25 cm

(c) As the image is formed at centre of curvature i.e., v = R.

(d) Refer to answer 23(ii).

Question 37.
A spherical mirror produces an image of magnification -1 on a screen
placed at a distance of 40 cm from the mirror.
(i) Write type of mirror.
(ii) What is the nature of the image formed?
(iii) How far is the object located from the mirror?
(iv) Draw the ray diagram to show the image formation in this case. (Delhi
2014)
Answer:
(i) This is a concave mirror.
(ii) The image is real and inverted and of same size.

∴ m = –v/u⇒ -1 = −v/u⇒ u = v
(iii) As m = – 1

Hence, object is located at centre of curvature i.e., at distance of 40 cm

from the pole of the mirror,
(iv) Refer to answer 23(ii).