Light Tutorial – 1

Spherical mirrors

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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?
4. 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.
5. 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 θ from the principal axis.
(b) is directed towards its principle focus.
(c) is parallel to its principal axis.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. A spherical mirror produces an image of magnification -1.0 on a screen placed at a distance

of 30 cm from the pole of the mirror.
(i) Write the type of mirror in this case.
(ii) What is the focal length of the mirror?
(iii) What is the nature of the images formed?
(iv) Draw the ray diagram to show the image formation in this case.

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9. A student wants to project the image of a candle flame on a screen 48 cm in front of a
mirror by keeping the flame at a distance of 12 cm from its pole.
(a) Suggest the type of mirror he should use.
(b) Find the linear magnification of the image produced.
(c) How far is the image from its object?
(d) Draw ray diagram to show the image formation in this case.

10. A student wants to obtain an erect image of an object using a concave mirror of 12 cm
focal length. What should be the range of distance of the candle flame from the mirror? State
the nature and size of the image he is likely to observe. Draw a ray diagram to show the image
formation in this case.

11. A student wants to obtain an erect image of a candle flame using a concave mirror of focal
length 15 cm. What should be the range of distance of the candle flame from the mirror?
State the nature and size of the image he is likely to observe. Draw a ray diagram to show the
image formation in this case.

12. A student has a concave mirror of 20 cm focal length and he wants to see an erect image
of his face in the mirror. What should be the range of distance of the mirror from his face?
State the nature and size of the image he is likely to observe. Draw a ray diagram to justify
your answer.

13. Mention the types of mirrors used as (i) rear view mirrors, (ii) shaving mirrors. List two
reasons to justify your answer in each case.

14. Calculate the magnification of the image of an object placed perpendicular to the principal
axis of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. The object is at a distance of 20 cm from the
mirror.

15. To construct ray diagram we use two light rays which are so chosen that it is easy to know
their directions after reflection from the mirror. List these two rays and state the path of these
rays after reflection. Use these rays to locate the image of an object placed between centre
of curvature and focus of a concave mirror.

16. State the types of mirrors used for (i) headlights and (ii) rear view mirrors, in motorcycles.
Give reason to justify your answer in each case.

17. An object is placed between infinity and the pole of a convex mirror. Draw a ray diagram
and also state the position, the relative size and the nature of the image formed.

18. With the help of a ray diagram explain why a convex mirror is preferred for rear view
mirrors in the motor cars.

19. An object 4.0 cm in size, is placed 25.0 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15.0
cm.
(i) At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed in order to obtain a sharp
image?
(ii) Find the size of the image.
(iii) Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image in this case.

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20. (a) A concave mirror of focal length 10 cm can produce a magnified real as well as virtual
image of an object placed in front of it. Draw ray diagrams to justify this statement.
(b) An object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis of a convex mirror of focal length
10 cm. The distance of the object from the pole of the mirror is 10 cm. Find the position of
the image formed.

21. (a) A security mirror used in a big showroom has radius of curvature 5 m. If a customer is
standing at a distance of 20 m from the cash counter, find the position, nature and size of the
image formed in the security mirror.
(b) Neha visited a dentist in his clinic. She observed that the dentist was holding an instrument
fitted with a mirror. State the nature of this mirror and reason for its use in the instrument
used by dentist.

22. (a) To construct a ray diagram we use two rays which are so chosen that it is easy to know
their directions after reflection from the mirror. Use these two rays and draw ray diagram to
locate the image of an object placed between pole and focus of a concave mirror.
(b) A concave mirror produces three times magnified image on a screen. If the object is placed
20 cm in front of the mirror, how far is the screen from the object?

23. (a) If the image formed by a mirror for all positions of the object placed in front of it is
always diminished, erect and virtual, state the type of the mirror and also draw a ray diagram
to justify your answer. Write one use such mirrors are put to and why?
(b) Define the radius of curvature of spherical mirrors. Find the nature and focal length of a
spherical mirror whose radius of curvature is +24 cm.

24.(a) Define the following terms in the context

of spherical mirrors:
(i) Pole
(ii) Centre of curvature
(iii) Principal axis
(iv) Principal focus

(b) Draw ray diagrams to show the principal focus of a

(i) Concave mirror
(ii) Convex mirror

(c) Consider the following diagram in which M is a mirror and P is an object and Q is its
magnified image formed by the mirror.

State the type of the mirror M and one characteristic property of the image Q.

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