Light: Reflection and Refraction
Q.1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection because of:
a) Law of gravitation b) Law of reflection c) Law of conservation of energy d) Snell’s law
Answer: b) Law of reflection
Explanation: Reflection of light obeys two laws; angle of incidence = angle of reflection.
Q.2. The image formed by a plane mirror is:
a) Real and inverted b) Virtual and erect c) Real and erect d) Virtual and inverted
Answer: b) Virtual and erect
Explanation: Plane mirror forms virtual, erect, and same-size image behind the mirror.
Q.3. The focal length of a plane mirror is:
a) Zero b) Infinity c) 10 cm d) Depends on size of mirror
Answer: b) Infinity
Explanation: Plane mirror can be considered as a spherical mirror of infinite radius.
Q.4. Image formed by concave mirror when the object is at infinity is:
a) Virtual, erect, and highly diminished b) Real, inverted, and highly diminished at focus
c) Real, inverted, and magnified at C d) Virtual, erect, and magnified at F
Answer: b) Real, inverted, and highly diminished at focus
Explanation: At infinity → rays parallel → converge at focus.
Q.5. If the object is placed at the center of curvature of a concave mirror, then the image is formed:
a) At focus, real and inverted b) Between F and P, virtual and erect
c) At C, real, inverted, and same size d) At infinity, highly enlarged
Answer: c) At C, real, inverted, and same size
Explanation: At C → image at C, same size, real and inverted.
Q.6. A convex mirror always forms:
a) Real and inverted image b) Virtual and diminished image
c) Real and magnified image d) Virtual and magnified image
Answer: b) Virtual and diminished image
Explanation: Convex mirror always gives virtual, erect, diminished image behind the mirror.
Q7. The focal length of a concave mirror is 20 cm. Its radius of curvature is:
a) 10 cm b) 20 cm c) 30 cm d) 40 cm
Answer: d) 40 cm
Explanation: R = 2f ⇒ 2 × 20 = 40 cm.
Q.8. The sign convention for focal length of a convex mirror is:
a) Positive b) Negative c) Zero d) Depends on object position
Answer: a) Positive
Explanation: In mirror formula, convex mirror focal length is positive.
Q.9. If a concave mirror forms a magnified, erect image, the object is placed:
a) Beyond C b) At C c) Between P and F d) Between F and C
Answer: c) Between P and F
Explanation: Concave mirror gives virtual, erect, magnified image when object is between pole and focus.
Q.10. Which mirror is used as rear-view mirror in vehicles?
a) Plane mirror b) Concave mirror c) Convex mirror d) Parabolic mirror
Answer: c) Convex mirror
Explanation: Provides wide field of view, always gives diminished, erect image.
Q.11. A shaving mirror is usually a:
a) Plane mirror b) Convex mirror c) Concave mirror d) Cylindrical mirror
Answer: c) Concave mirror
Explanation: It provides magnified and erect image when object is close.
Q.12. If magnification is +2, the image is:
a) Real and inverted b) Real and magnified c) Virtual and erect d) Virtual and diminished
Answer: c) Virtual and erect
Explanation: Positive magnification indicates virtual, erect image.
Q.13. The mirror formula is:
a) 1/v + 1/u = 1/f b) v/u = f c) u + v = f d) v – u = f
Answer: a) 1/v + 1/u = 1/f
Explanation: Standard mirror formula.
Q14. An object is placed 30 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. The image will form at:
a) 10 cm b) 20 cm c) 30 cm d) 45 cm
Answer: b) 30 cm
Explanation: Using mirror formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f → v = 30 cm.
Q15. A dentist uses which type of mirror to examine teeth?
a) Convex mirror b) Concave mirror c) Plane mirror d) None
Answer: b) Concave mirror
Explanation: Provides magnified, virtual image.
Q.16. Refraction occurs because:
a) Speed of light changes in different media b) Frequency of light changes
c) Light bends due to gravity d) Colour of light changes
Answer: a) Speed of light changes in different media
Explanation: Frequency remains same, speed and wavelength change.
Q.17. When a ray of light passes from air into glass:
a) It bends away from normal b) It bends towards normal
c) It goes undeviated d) It bends at 90°
Answer: b) It bends towards normal
Explanation: Glass is denser, speed decreases.
Q.18. When a ray travels from denser to rarer medium, it:
a) Bends towards normal b) Bends away from normal
c) Goes undeviated always d) Gets absorbed
Answer: b) Bends away from normal
Explanation: Speed increases in rarer medium.
Q.19. If the angle of incidence is 0°, refraction angle will be:
a) 0° b) 45° c) 90° d) Depends on refractive index
Answer: a) 0°
Explanation: Normal incidence → no bending.
Q.20. The speed of light in glass is 2 × 10⁸ m/s. The refractive index of glass is: (c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s)
a) 1.33 b) 1.50 c) 1.25 d) 1.75
Answer: b) 1.50
Explanation: n = c/v = 3 × 10⁸ / 2 × 10⁸ = 1.5.
Q.21. Snell’s law is expressed as:
a) sin i/sin r = constant b) i/r = constant c) tan i/tan r = constant d) sin i/sin r = 1
Answer: a) sin i/sin r = constant
Explanation: Ratio is refractive index.
Q.22. The refractive index of water is 1.33. This means:
a) Light travels faster in water than in air b) Light travels slower in water than in air
c) Light speed in water is 3 × 10⁸ m/s d) Light is not refracted in water
Answer: b) Light travels slower in water than in air
Explanation: Speed reduces: v = c/n.
Q.23. If object distance is infinity, a convex lens forms image at:
a) Focus b) Optical center c) 2F d) Infinity
Answer: a) Focus
Explanation: Parallel rays converge at focus.
Q.24. A concave lens always forms:
a) Real, inverted, magnified b) Real, diminished
c) Virtual, erect, diminished d) Virtual, erect, magnified
Answer: c) Virtual, erect, diminished
Explanation: Concave lens diverges rays.
Q.25. The lens formula is:
a) 1/f = 1/v – 1/u b) 1/f = 1/v + 1/u c) f = u + v d) f = uv
Answer: a) 1/f = 1/v – 1/u
Explanation: Standard lens formula.
Q.26. Power of lens is given by:
a) P = 1/f (f in m) b) P = 100/f (f in cm) c) Both a and b d) None
Answer: c) Both a and b
Explanation: Both forms correct.
Q.27. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm has power:
a) 2D b) 4D c) 5D d) 10D
Answer: b) 5D
Explanation: P = 100/f = 100/20 = 5D.
Q.28. A concave lens of power –2D has focal length:
a) 25 cm b) –50 cm c) –25 cm d) 50 cm
Answer: b) –50 cm
Explanation: f = 100/P = 100/–2 = –50 cm.
Q.29. The SI unit of power of lens is:
a) cm b) m c) Dioptre d) Joule
Answer: c) Dioptre
Explanation: Power measured in dioptre (D).
Q.30. A convex lens forms a real, inverted, same-size image when object is placed at:
a) Infinity b) Focus c) 2F d) Between F and 2F
Answer: c) 2F
Explanation: At 2F → real, inverted, same size.
Q.31. A concave mirror always forms a virtual and magnified image when the object is placed:
a) At infinity b) At focus c) Between pole and focus d) At the center of curvature
👉 Answer: c
Explanation: For concave mirror, when object is between pole and focus, the image is virtual, erect, and
magnified.
Q.32. A convex mirror always forms:
a) Real and inverted image b) Virtual and erect image
c) Enlarged and real image d) Same size image
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Convex mirrors diverge light rays, so image is always virtual, erect, and diminished.
Q.33. If magnification of a mirror is –2, then the image is:
a) Virtual, erect, twice size b) Real, inverted, twice size
c) Real, erect, half size d) Virtual, inverted, twice size
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Negative magnification = real & inverted; value 2 means enlarged 2×.
Q.34. Which of the following devices use concave mirrors?
a) Rear-view mirror b) Shaving mirror c) Streetlight d) Kaleidoscope
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Shaving mirrors need magnified, erect image; concave mirror provides that.
Q.35. If an object is placed at the focus of a concave mirror, the reflected rays will:
a) Converge at focus b) Emerge parallel to axis c) Diverge d) Meet at pole
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Rays from focus reflect parallel to principal axis.
Q.36. The radius of curvature of a concave mirror is 40 cm. Its focal length is:
a) 20 cm b) 40 cm c) 80 cm d) 10 cm
👉 Answer: a
Explanation: f = R/2 = 40/2 = 20 cm.
Q.37. Which of the following is correct for plane mirror?
a) Image is always inverted b) Image is always virtual and erect
c) Image is always real d) Image size is smaller
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Plane mirror always produces virtual, erect, same-size image.
Q.38. Which law is not obeyed in refraction?
a) Incident ray, refracted ray, and normal lie in same plane b) sin i/sin r = constant
c) Angle of incidence = angle of reflection d) Light bends due to change in speed
👉 Answer: c
Explanation: That belongs to reflection, not refraction.
Q.39. A ray of light travels from air to glass. Which is correct?
a) Bends towards normal, speed decreases b) Bends away from normal, speed decreases
c) Bends towards normal, speed increases d) Bends away from normal, speed increases
👉 Answer: a
Explanation: Glass is denser, so ray slows and bends towards normal.
Q.40. Lateral displacement occurs when:
a) Ray passes through glass slab obliquely b) Ray passes normally
c) Ray passes through vacuum d) Ray enters concave mirror
👉 Answer: a
Explanation: Parallel emergent ray is shifted sideways only in oblique incidence.
Q.41. The speed of light is maximum in:
a) Air b) Glass c) Water d) Vacuum
👉 Answer: d
Explanation: Light travels fastest in vacuum.
Q.42. If the refractive index of glass is 1.5, it means:
a) Light travels 1.5 times faster in glass b) Light travels 1.5 times slower in glass
c) Ratio of c/v = 1.5 d) Both b and c
👉 Answer: d
Explanation: n = c/v; since v < c, light is slower in glass.
Q.43. The image formed by a convex lens can be:
a) Only real b) Only virtual c) Real or virtual d) Neither real nor virtual
👉 Answer: c
Explanation: Convex lens forms real or virtual image depending on object’s position.
Q.44. A concave lens always forms an image that is:
a) Real, inverted, magnified b) Virtual, erect, diminished
c) Virtual, inverted, enlarged d) Real, erect, same size
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Concave lens diverges rays, always gives diminished virtual erect image.
Q.45. If an object is at infinity, convex lens forms image at:
a) Optical center b) Principal focus c) Twice focal length d) At infinity
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Rays from infinity converge at focus.
Q.46. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm has power:
a) +2 D b) +5 D c) –2 D d) –5 D
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: P = 100/f(cm) = 100/20 = +5 D.
Q.47. Which lens is used to correct myopia?
a) Convex b) Concave c) Cylindrical d) Bifocal
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Concave lens diverges rays, bringing focus on retina for myopic eye.
Q.48. Which lens is used to correct hypermetropia?
a) Concave b) Convex c) Plane d) Prism
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Convex lens converges rays, helping eye focus correctly.
Q.49. Unit of power of a lens:
a) Joule b) Newton c) Dioptre d) Watt
👉 Answer: c
Explanation: 1 D = focal length 1 m.
Q.50. If focal length of a concave lens is 50 cm, its power is:
a) +2 D b) –2 D c) +0.5 D d) –0.5 D
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: P = 100/f(cm) = 100/50 = 2 D, negative for concave lens.
Q.51. In which case a convex lens forms a virtual image?
a) Object at infinity b) Object at focus
c) Object between optical center and focus d) Object at 2F
👉 Answer: c
Explanation: Convex lens gives magnified, virtual image when object inside focus.
Q.52. If image distance is +30 cm, object distance is –20 cm, then focal length = ?
a) +12 cm b) +15 cm c) –12 cm d) –15 cm
👉 Answer: a
Explanation: Solve Yourself.
Q.53. Magnification produced by a concave lens is always:
a) Positive and > 1 b) Negative and < 1 c) Positive and < 1 d) Negative and > 1
👉 Answer: c
Explanation: Concave lens always gives virtual, erect, diminished images → positive magnification <1.
Q.54. If image is at infinity, object must be at:
a) Focus of convex lens b) Infinity c) Optical center d) Between focus and 2F
👉 Answer: a
Explanation: Object at focus → parallel emergent rays → image at infinity.
Q.55. Mirror formula is:
a) 1/f = 1/v + 1/u b) 1/f = 1/u – 1/v c) 1/f = 1/v – 1/u d) 1/f = 1/v × 1/u
👉 Answer: c
Q.56. Lens formula is:
a) 1/f = 1/v + 1/u b) 1/f = 1/v – 1/u c) 1/f = 1/u – 1/v d) 1/f = v/u
👉 Answer: a
Explanation: For lens, formula: 1/f = 1/v – 1/u, but with sign convention it’s 1/f = 1/v – 1/u (standard NCERT).
Correct option b.
Q.57. Which is not a use of convex lens?
a) Magnifying glass b) Spectacles for hypermetropia
c) Camera d) Rear-view mirror
👉 Answer: d
Explanation: Rear-view mirror uses convex mirror, not lens.
Q.58. In refraction through glass slab, emergent ray is:
a) Perpendicular b) Parallel to incident ray c) Same as incident ray d) At 90°
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Emergent ray is parallel but laterally displaced.
Q.59. If an object is placed at 2F of convex lens, then image is formed:
a) At F, magnified b) At 2F, same size c) At infinity d) Between F and 2F
👉 Answer: b
Explanation: Object at 2F → image at 2F, real, inverted, same size.
Q.60. Which of the following combinations is correct?
a) Concave lens – diverging b) Convex lens – converging
c) Convex mirror – diverging d) All of these
👉 Answer: d
Explanation: All given statements are correct.
Assertion–Reason Questions
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true, but R is false.
d) A is false, but R is true.
Q.1. A: The image formed by a plane mirror is always virtual and erect.
R: A plane mirror always reflects rays such that they appear to diverge from behind the mirror.
👉 Answer: a
Q.2. A: A convex mirror is used as a rear-view mirror.
R: A convex mirror provides a wide field of view and always forms a virtual, diminished image.
👉 Answer: a
Q.3. A: A concave mirror can form both real and virtual images.
R: Image formation depends on the position of the object with respect to focus and center of curvature.
👉 Answer: a
Q.4. A: When an object is placed at the center of curvature of a concave mirror, the image formed is smaller in
size.
R: Image is formed at the focus.
👉 Answer: c (image is same size, not smaller; and forms at C, not F)
Q.5. A: Concave mirrors are used in torches and searchlights.
R: They can produce parallel beams of light when the source is placed at focus.
👉 Answer: a
Q.6. A: Magnification produced by plane mirror is always +1.
R: The image formed is of the same size as the object and erect.
👉 Answer: a
Q.7. A: Shaving mirrors are concave mirrors.
R: When the object is placed between pole and focus, mirror gives a virtual, erect, and magnified image.
👉 Answer: a
Q.8. A: A convex mirror can form a real image if the object is very far away.
R: Convex mirrors diverge light rays, so image is always virtual.
👉 Answer: c
Q.9. A: In reflection, the angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.
R: This is the second law of reflection.
👉 Answer: a
Q.10. A: If magnification is negative, image formed by a mirror is real and inverted.
R: A real image is always inverted.
👉 Answer: a
Q.11. A: Light bends when it travels from one medium to another.
R: The speed of light changes in different media.
👉 Answer: a
Q.12. A: When light passes from water to air, it bends towards the normal.
R: Speed of light in water is less than that in air.
👉 Answer: c (it bends away from normal, not towards)
Q.13. A: At 0° incidence, no refraction occurs.
R: Ray travels along the normal without bending.
👉 Answer: a
Q.14. A: A concave lens always forms real and diminished images.
R: Concave lens diverges light rays and forms virtual images.
👉 Answer: d
Q.15. A: A convex lens can form a virtual image.
R: When object is placed between optical center and focus, image is virtual, erect, magnified.
👉 Answer: a
Q.16. A: The refractive index of glass is more than that of air.
R: Light travels faster in glass than in air.
👉 Answer: c (speed in glass is slower)
Q.17. A: Snell’s law is sin i/sin r = constant.
R: This constant is the relative refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first.
👉 Answer: a
Q.18. A: The refractive index of water is 1.33.
R: This means light travels 1.33 times faster in water than in vacuum.
👉 Answer: c (it’s slower, not faster)
Q.19. A: In refraction through a glass slab, the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray.
R: Lateral displacement occurs because of shift in path.
👉 Answer: a
Q.20. A: The frequency of light changes during refraction.
R: Speed of light changes when moving between media.
👉 Answer: c (frequency remains same, wavelength & speed change)
Q.21. A: A convex lens of short focal length has more power.
R: Power of a lens is inversely proportional to focal length.
👉 Answer: a
Q.22. A: The power of a concave lens is always negative.
R: Concave lens diverges light rays.
👉 Answer: a
Q.23. A: The SI unit of power of lens is Dioptre.
R: A lens of focal length 1 m has power 1 D.
👉 Answer: a
Q.24. A: Convex lenses are used in magnifying glasses.
R: They form a virtual, erect, and magnified image when object is within focal length.
👉 Answer: a
Q.25. A: A concave lens is used to correct myopia (short-sightedness).
R: Concave lens diverges light rays, making them focus on retina.
👉 Answer: a
Q.26. A: If the image formed by a lens has magnification less than 1, image is enlarged.
R: Magnification less than 1 means diminished image.
👉 Answer: c
Q.27. A: A convex lens can form an image at infinity.
R: If the object is at focus, refracted rays become parallel and image is formed at infinity.
👉 Answer: a
Q.28. A: Lens formula is 1/f = 1/v + 1/u.
R: Mirror formula is 1/f = 1/v – 1/u.
👉 Answer: a
Q.29. A: Convex lens is also called a diverging lens.
R: It converges light rays passing through it.
👉 Answer: c
Q.30. A: Concave lens always forms diminished images irrespective of object position.
R: A concave lens diverges parallel rays as if they were coming from its focus.
👉 Answer: a
