PHYSICS

Question Bank

Refraction at Plane Surfaces

JEE / NEET / Guj-CET / Board

REFRACTION AT PLANE SURFACES

LEVEL # 1
Questions Refractive Index & Laws of Q.7 Light travels through a glass of thickness t
based on Refraction and refractive index n. If c is the velocity of
light in vacuum, the time taken by light to
Q.1 The wavelength of monochromatic blue travel through the plate is
light in air is 420 nm. W hat will be its (A) t/nc (B) ntc
wavelength in water ? ( of water is 4/3) (C) nt/c (D) tc/n
(A) 280 nm (B) 560 nm . ..
r
Q.8 Y
Light of frequency 5 × 1014 Hz is travelling
(C) 315 nm (D) 400 nm
u IT
in a medium of refractive index 1.5. What is
L
Q.2 o Vs2 is
V1 is velocity of light in first medium,
Y EA
its wavelength ? (c = 3 × 108 ms–1)

S
velocity of light in second e (A) 9000 Å (B) 6000 Å
k a m
medium, then
refractive index of second
a medium
e with
U R (C) 4500 Å (D) 4000 Å

M isD r
respect to first medium
Y OQ.9 Ifdielectric
r r are the relative permeability and the

A
(A) V /V (B) V /V const. of a medium, its refractive
1 2 2 1
index is given by
(C) V1 / V2 (D) V2 / V1
(A) 1 / r r b Eg T
(B) 1/  r  r

Y
Q.3 The refractive index of glass and water with
(C)  r r (D)  r  r
respect to air are 3/2 and 4/3 respectively.
The refractive index of glass with respect to Q.10 N
When a ray of light enters a medium of
water is &
refractive index , it is observed that the angle

H
of refraction is half the angle of incidence is
(A) 8/9 (B) 9/8
(C) 2 (D) 1/2 E
than angle of incidence is

J
(A) 2 cos–1 (/2) (B) cos –1 ( /2)
Q.4 Velocity of light in water, glass and vacuum
R
(C) 2 cos–1 () (D) 2 sin–1 (/2)

B FO
have the values v w, v g and v c respectively.
Q.11 Monochromatic light is refracted from air into
Which of the following relations is true ? the glass of refractive index . The ratio of
(A) v w = v g = v c
L the wavelength of incident and refracted

A U
(B) v w > v g but v w < v c waves is
(C) v w = v g but v w < v c K (A) 1 :  (B) 1 : 2
(D) v c = v w and v w < v g
R U (C)  : 1 (D) 1 : 1

Q.5
U
A ray of light travels through a transparent
G
slab with a speed of 2 × 1010 cms–1. This
Q.12 The refractive index of water, glass and
diamond are 1.33, 1.50 and 2.40 respectively.
The relative index of refraction of diamond

material is A
implies that the refractive index of the slab relative to water and of glass relative to
diamond respectively are nearly
(A) 1.5 (B) 0.667 (A) 1.80, 0.625 (B) 0.554, 0.625
(C) 2.0 (D) 6.0 (C) 1.80, 1.6 (D) 0.554, 1.6
Q.6 The refractive index of water is (4/3) and that Q.13 An electromagnetic radiation of frequency n,
of glass is (3/2) .If the speed of light in glass wavelength , travelling with velocity v in air,
is 2x10 8 m/s. The speed of light in water enters a glass slab of refractive index . The
frequency, wavelength and velocity of light in
will be :
the glass slab will be respectively
(A) 1 x 108 m/s
n  v  v
(B) (9/4) x 108 m/s (A) , and (B) n, and
    
(C) (8/3) x108 m/s
v 2n 
(D) 4 x108 m/s (C) n, 2 and (D) , and v
  

2
 PHYSICS-STUDYMATERIAL

Questions
Refraction from plane surface Q.19 The wavelength of light in two liquids 'x' and
based on
'y' is 3500 Å and 7000 Å. Then the critical
Q.14 When a small lamp is held 1.5m above the angle of x relative to y will be
surface of water in a tank, its image formed (A) 60º (B) 45º (C) 30º (D) 15º
by reflection at the surface appears to Q.20 Which statement is correct
coincide with the image of the bottom of the (A) When light proceeds from denser to rare
tank. (µ of water = 4/3). The depth of the medium and the angle of incidence is
tank is
. ..
greater than critical angle total internal

TY
(A) 2 m (B) 1.5 m reflection of light takes place.
r
(C) 1 m (D) 4 m
o u
A LI (B) When light proceeds from rare to denser
medium internal reflection of light takes
Q.15 An air bubble in a glass slab (µY= 1.5) s is E place.
R

S
e m
k onee aface and
6 cm deep as viewed from
a U R (C) When light proceeds from denser to rare
medium , internal reflection always takes
4 cm deep as viewed from the
M r other face.
The thickness of the glassDslab is YO place

A
(D) None of the above
(A) 6.67 cm
(B) 10 cm Questions
Refraction from slabs E T
E

Y
based on
(C) 15 cm
(D) Data is incomplete
Q.21
N
An object is located at the bottom of a
tank containing two immissible liquids and
Questions &
is seen vertically from above. The lower

H
based on Total internal Reflection and upper liquids are of depth h 1 and h 2
Q.16 A ray of light travels in a medium whose E
respectively and of refractive indices  1

J
and  2 respectively. Locate the position
refractive index with respect to air is 2.
Rof the image of the object from the

B FO
surface.
W hen light is incident at an angle of 45º
to the surface then which of the following h1  h2 1h1   2h 2
(A)    (B)
L 1 2 1   2

A
is correct ?
(A) angle of refraction is 45º
K U
(B) total internal refleaction takes place
(C)
h1
1
h
+ 2
2
(D) None of these

R U
(C) angle of refraction is 90º Questions
based on Application of Refraction & TIR

Q.17 G U
(D) the path of ray is undeviated
If the critical angle for total internal reflection
Q.22 Just before the time of sun set or shine the
sun appears to be oval because
A
from a medium to vacuum is 30° the velocity
of light in the medium is
(A) The sun changes its shape at that time
(B) Of the scattering of light
(A) 3 × 108 m/s (B) 1.5 × 108 m/s (C) Of the effects of refraction
(C) 6 × 108 m/s (D) 8 (D) Of the effects of diffraction
3 × 10 m/s
Q.23 The twinkling of stars is due to
Q.18 A point source of light is placed 4 m below (A) the fact that star do not emit light
5 continuously
the surface of water of µ = . The minimum
3 (B) Frequent absorption of star light by
diameter of a disc, which should be placed their own atmosphere
over the source, on the surface of water to (C) The fact that refractive index of the
cut off all light coming out of water, is earth’s atmosphere fluctuates
(A) 1 m (B) 6 m (C) 4 m (D) 3 m (D) intermittent absorption of star light by
earth atmosphere

3
REFRACTION AT PLANE SURFACES
Q.24 A cut diamond (or air bubble in water ) shines Q.26 We see the sun a little before it rises on the
brilliantly due to horizon and a little after it sets below the
(A) Its molecular structure horizon .This is a consequence of the
(B) Absorption of light phenomenon of
(C) Total internal reflection (A) Total internal reflection
(D) Some inherent property
(B) Refraction
Q.25 Mirages are observed in deserts due to (C) Dispersion
phenomenon of
(A) Interference of light . ..
(D) Scattering of light

(B) Total internal reflection r T Y

u L I
Yo s
(C) Scattering of light
(D) Double reflection of light
R EA

S
k e am
a re U R
M D YO

Y E
A &
N
E E T

B H
L
FO
R
J E

A A
G U R U
K U

4
 PHYSICS-STUDYMATERIAL

LEVEL # 2
Q.1 A ray of light from a denser medium strikes Q.6 If ij represents refractive index when a light
a rarer medium at an angle of incidence i. If ray goes from medium i to medium j, then
the reflected and refracted rays are mutually the product 21 × 32 × 43 is equal to
perpendicular to each other, what is the value
(A) 31 (B) 32
of critical angle ?
(C) (14)–1 (D) 42
 1   1 
(A) tan–1  
 tan i 
(B) sin–1  
 tan i  Q.7 . ..
A plane glass slab is placed over various
r TY
coloured letters. The letter which appears to
LI
 1 
(C) sin–1  
 sin i 
(D) None of these
o u be raised the least is
Y below s it A
R(C)Ered
(A) violet (B) yellow

S
Q.2 e
A bird in air looks at a fish vertically m (D) green
and inside water. X is the k height ofathe bird R
above the surface ofM
a r eY the depth Q.8 U A vessel is half filled with a liquid of refractive
water and
D of water. If Y O

of the fish below the surface
refractive index of water with respect to air is
.The distance of the fish as observed by the
A
index µ. The other half of the vessel is filled
with an immiscible liquid of refractive index
E T
1.5 µ. The apparent depth of vessel is 50 %

Y
bird is of the actual depth. The value of µ is
(A) X + Y
(C) X + Y
(B) X + Y/
(D)  X +  Y
(A) 1.6
N
(B) 1.67 (C) 1.5 (D) 1.4

Q.3 In question no.1, the distance of the bird as

Q.9
&
A vessel of depth 2d cm is half filled with a
liquid of refractive index 1 and the upper half
E

H
observed by the fish is with a liquid of refractive index 2. The
(A) X + Y
(C)  X + Y
(B) X + Y/
(D)  X +  Y J E
apparent depth of the v essel seen
perpendicularly is
R

B FO
Q.4 A rectangular block of glass is placed on a  1 2   1 1 
mark made on the surface of the table and it (A)      d (B)      d
 1 2   1 2 

UL
is viewed from the vertical position of eye. If
 1 1   1 

A
the refractive index of glass be  and its (C)      2d (D)     2d
 1 2   1 2
K
thickness d, then the mark will appear to be
raised up by

(A)
(  1)d
(B) R U
(  1)d

(C)

(  1)
G
(D)
U 
(  1)

Q.5
d
A d
When a monochromatic ray of light travels
from a medium of refractive index n1 to a
medium of refractive index n2 (n2 > n1), its
n2
(A) speed increases by a factor n
1
n2
(B) speed decreases by a factor
n1
n2
(C) frequency decreases by a factor n
1
n2
(D) wavelength increases by a factor
n1

5
REFRACTION AT PLANE SURFACES

LEVEL # 3
Q.1 The refractive index of water and glass with Q.8 A point source S is placed at the bottom of
respect to air are 1.3 and 1.5 respectively. different layers as shown in figure. The
What will be the refractive index of glass with refractive index of bottommost layer is µ0. The
respect to water - refractive index of any other upper layer is
15 13 µ0
(A) (B) (C) 2 (D) 3 µ(n) = µ0 –
13 15 4n  18

Q.2 A man standing in a swimming pool looks at . ..

where n = 1, 2, ..........

r Y
a stone lying at the bottom. The depth of the
u
swimming pool is h. At what distance from L IT
Yo s
the surface of water is the image of the stone
R EA

S
formed -
k e am
(A) h/ (B) h a re
(C) /h (D) h U R
Q.3
M D in air and in Y O
Wavelength of given light waves
A ray of light starts from the source S as

A
shown. Total internal reflection
a medium is 6000 Å and 4000 Å respectively. takes place at the upper surface of a layer
The angle of total internal reflection is -
(A) cos–1(2/3) (B) tan–1(3/2)
having n equal to
E T
E

Y
(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 4 (D) 6
(C) sin–1(2/3) (D) sin–1(3/2)
N
Each of the questions given below consist

&
Q.4 An air bubble in a glass slab ( = 1.5) is 5
of Statement – I and Statement – II. Use
cm deep when viewed from one face and 2

E
the following Key to choose the

H
cm deep when viewed from the opposite face.

E
appropriate answer.
The thickness of the slab is -
(A) 7 cm (B) 10.5 cm
(A)
J
If both Statement- I and Statement- II are
true, and Statement - II is the correct
(C) 7.5 cm (D) 10 cm
R

B
explanation of Statement– I.

FO
Q.5 A fish lies at the bottom of 4 m deep water (B) If both Statement - I and Statement - II
lake. A bird flies 6 m above the water surface. are true but Statement - II is not the
L

A
Then distance between - correct explanation of Statement – I.
(A) bird and image of fish is 9 m
(B) fish and image of bird is 12 m K U (C) If Statement - I is true but Statement - II
is false.

RU
(C) fish and image of bird is 8 m (D) If Statement - I is false but Statement - II
is true.

Q.6
G U
(D) fish and image of bird is 10 m
The number of waves in a glass plate of
Q.9 Statement I : Diamond shines in dark.
Statement II: Diamond shines due to total
A
thickness 4 cm is same as in 5 cm of vertical
column of water of refractive index 4/3, then
refractive index of glass will be Q.10
internal reflection.
Statement I : Relative refractive index of a
(A) 5/3 (B) 5/4 (C) 16/15 (D) 1.5 medium can be less than unity.
Statement II: The angle of incidence is
Q.7 A ray of light enters a rectangular glass slab
always equal to angle of refraction.
of refractive index 3 at angle of incidence
60º. It travels a distance of 5 cm inside the Q.11 Statement I : A rod dipped in water appears
slab and emerges out of the slab. The to be bent.
perpendicular distance between the incident Statement II: It happens due to phenomenon
and the emergent rays is of total internal reflection.
5 Q.12 Statement I : When a ray of light enters in
(A) 53 cm (B) cm
2 glass from air its frequency decreases.
3 Statement II: The velocity of light in glass is
(C) 5 cm (D) 5 cm
2 less than that in air.

6
 PHYSICS-STUDYMATERIAL

In this section questions are based on passage. Q.15 For visible light, which graph best expresses
Read the passage carefully and give the correct the index of refraction of Cutson glass as a
answer of following questions. function of the frequency of light ?

Inside a substance such as glass or water,

light travels more slowly than it does in a
vacuum. If c denotes the speed of light in air
(A) (B)
and v denotes the speed through some other
substance then,
c . ..
v =
r TY
LI
n
u
where n is a constant called the index of
o
Y s A
RE
refraction. (C) (D)

S
e m
To good approximation, a substance’s index
ak r ea
of refraction does not depend on the U R
M D Y OTrue and False Type :
wavelength of light. For instance, when red

A
and blue light waves enter water, they both
slow down by about the same amount. More
precise measurements, however reveal that Q.16 For two given statements :
E T
n varies with wavelength. Following table
E
(1) Critical angle is greater for violet light

Y
presents some indices of refraction of Cutson than for red light.
glass for different wavelengths of visible light. N
(2) Dimonds shine in the dark.
A nanometre is 10–9 m. In a vacuum, light
travels at c = 3.0 × 108 m/sec. &
(A) 1 true, 2 false (B) 1 false, 2 true

EE
H
(C) both true (D) both false
Wavelength in
Colour n
vacuum (nm) Q.17
J
For two given statements :

Yellow 580 1.5 00

R
(1) Just before sunset, the sun appears to

B
be elliptical becasue of atmospheric

FO
Yellow-orange 600 1.498 refraction.
orange 620 1.496
L (2) Total internal reflection can take place

A U
orange-red 640 1.494 when light passes from a rarer to a denser

Q.13 Inside Cutson glass - K medium.

RU
(A) 1 true, 2 false (B) 1 false, 2 true
(A) orange light travels faster than yellow light
(C) both true (D) both false

GU
(B) yellow light travels faster than orange light
(C) orange and yellow light travels equally
fast
A
(D) we cannot determine which colour of light
travels faster
Q.14 For blue-green light of wavelength 520 nm,
the index of refraction of Cutson glass is
probably closest to -
(A) 1.49 (B) 1.50
(C) 1.51 (D) 1.52

7
REFRACTION AT PLANE SURFACES

LEVEL # 4
(Questions asked in previous AIEEE & IITJEE)

SECTION - A
Q.1 Which of the following is used in optical Q.2 A white light going from glass to air such
fibres – [AIEEE-2002] that green light just suffers total internal
(A) Total internal relection
reflection. Then light rays coming out in air
(B) Scattering
are - . .. [IIT - 2004]
(C) Difraction
r Y
(D) Refraction
u L IT
(A) Yellow, Orange, Red
(B) Violet, Indigo, Blue
Q.2 A light ray is incident perpendicularly o to sone
Yinternally EA
(C) All except green
face of a 90° prism and is totally
R
k e eIfathe

S
reflected at the glass-air interface. mangle (D) All
of reflexion is 45°, wea conclud that the U R
refractive index n – M r
D [AIEEE-2004] OQ.3 If O and O are, respectively , the electric
Y

A
permittivity and magnetic permeability of free
space ,  and  the corresponding and

E T
quantities in a medium, the index of refrac-

Y
tion of the medium in terms of the above
parameters is
N [IIT - 92]

(A)
µ
 0µ0 & (B)
 0µ0
µ
E

H
1
(A) n <

1
2
(B) n > 2
(C)
0

JE (D)
µ0
µ
(C) n > (D) n < 2 Q.4
R
A light of wavelength 6000 Å in air, enters a

B
2

FO
medium with refractive index 1.5. Inside the
Q.3 A fish looking up through the water sees the
outside world contained in a circular horizon. medium its frequency is ..................Hz and

L
If the refractive index of water is 4/3 and the its wavelength is .............. Å. [IIT - 97]

A U
fish is 12 cm below the surface, the radius 14
(A) 5 × 10 Hz, 4000 Å
of this circle in cm is
K
[AIEEE-2005]
(B) 3 × 1014 Hz, 4000 Å
(A) 367
(C) 365
R U(B) 36/7
(D) 45 (C) 5 × 1014 Hz, 2000 Å
(D) 3 × 1014 Hz, 3000 Å
SECTION U
G -B Q.5 A ray of light travelling in a transparent me-
Q.1
A
A concave mirror is placed on a horizontal
table, with its axis directed vertically upwards.
Let O be the pole of the mirror and C its
dium falls on a surface separating the me-
dium from air at an angle of incidence of 45°.
The ray undergoes total internal reflection. If
centre of curvature. A point object is placed
n is the refractive index of the medium with
at C. It has a real image, also located at C.
If the mirror is now filled with water, the image respect to air, select the possible value (s) of
will be [IIT - 98] n from the following : [IIT - 98]
(A) real, and will remain at C (A) 1.3 (B) 1.4 (C) 1.5 (D) 1.2
(B) real, and located at a point between C Q.6 The velocity of light in a medium is half its
and  velocity in air. If ray of light emerges from
(C) virtual, and located at a point between C such a medium into air, the minimum angle
and O
of incidence, at which it will be totally inter-
(D) real, and located at a point between C nally reflected, is [IIT - 99]
and O
(A) 15° (B) 30° (C) 45° (D) 60°

8
 PHYSICS-STUDYMATERIAL

Q.7 A diverging beam of light from a point source

S having divergence angle , falls symmetri-
cally on a glass slab as shown. The angles 15cm
of incidence of the two extreme rays
are equal. If the thickness of the glass
slab is t and the refractive index n, then
25m
the divergence angle of the emergent beam
33.25 cm
is [IIT 2000] I
=1.33
. ..
r TY
o u
A
(A) 15
L I (B)of20the mirror
Focal length
(C) 25
is [IIT - 2005]
(D) 30
Y s E
Q.11 RA ray of light traveling in water is incident on

S
k e am
a re U R its surface open to air. The angle of inci-
(A) zero
M
(B)  D Y O dence is , which is less than the critical

A
angle. Then there will be [IIT - 2007]
(C) sin-1 (1/n) (D) 2 sin-1 (1/n) (A) only a reflected ray and no refracted ray
Q.8 A ray of light passes through four transparent T
(B) only a refracted ray and no reflected ray
E
(C) a reflected ray and a refracted ray and
E

Y
media with refractive indices 1 , 2 , 3 and the angle between them would be less
4 as shown in the figure . The surfaces of than 180º - 2 
N
&
all media are parallel. If the emergent ray CD (D) a reflected ray and a refracted ray and
is parallel to the incident ray AB, We must the angle between them would be greater
E

H
have [IIT 2001] than 180º - 2 
Q.12
J E
A light beam is traveling from Region I to
Region IV (Refer Figure). The refractive index
R n0 n0

B FO
in Regions I, II, III and IV are n0, ,
2 6
n0
and respectively. The angle of incidence
8
L  for which the beam just misses entering

A U Region IV is – [IIT-2008]

K
(A) 1 = 2
(C) 3 = 4
R U
(B) 2 = 3
(D)4 = 1
Q.9 U
In the given figure, at water air interface,
G
light ray incident at critical angle then the

A
value of µg is - [IIT - 2003] 3
(A) sin–1  
4
 1
(B) sin–1  
8
 1  1
(C) sin–1   (D) sin–1  
4 3
Q.13 A ball is dropped from a height of 20 m above
the surface of water in a lake. The refractive
index of water is 4/3. A fish inside the lake, in
3 1 the line of fall of the ball, is looking at the ball.
(A) (B)
4 sin i sin i At an instant, when the ball is 12.8 m above the
4 water surface, the fish sees the speed of ball
(C) (D) none of these as- [IIT-2009]
3 sin i
(A) 9 m/s (B) 12 m/s
Q.10 Final image by mirror of a point source O
(C) 16 m/s (D) 21.33 m/s
placed at the bottom of the container filled
with water in it forms at I as shown in the fig.

9
REFRACTION AT PLANE SURFACES

ANSWER KEY

Level # 1
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. C A B B A B C D C A C A B A C C B B C A
Q.No. 21 22 23 24 25 26

..
Ans. C C C C B A

Y .
u r IT
L
Y o Level
s R EA

S
k e am # 2
a r e2 3 4 5UR 6 7 8
Q.No. 1 9
M DB B C BY OB C C B
Ans. B

Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Y
Level # 3
7 8 9 10 11
E
A
12 13 & 14
N
15
E
16
E T
17

H
Ans. A A C B A,B A B C D C C D A C A D A

J E
R

A B
Q.No. G
1
U 2
RU
3
K
4
L
F
Ans.
O
Level # 4
U Section- A
Q.No. 1

5
A
2
B

Section - B
6 7
3
B

8 9 10 11 12 13
A
Ans. D B A A C B B D B B C B C

10