LIGHT - REFLECTION

PRIORITY I

I. ACADEMIC SKILL, DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

1. State the two laws of reflection of light.
First law states that the angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
Second law states that incident ray, reflected ray and normal at the point of incidence all are
lie in the same plane.

2. List the characteristics of image formed by a plane mirror

If the object is real, the image formed by a plane mirror is
• Virtual and erect
• Same size of the object
• Image distance is equal to object distance
• Plane mirror produces lateral inversion

3. Name the phenomenon responsible for the following effect. When we sit infront of a plane
mirror and write it with our right hand, it appears in the mirror that we are writing with the
left hand.
Lateral inversion

4. A ray of light is incident normally on a plane mirror. What will be

i. Anle of incidence ii. Angle of reflection iii. Angle of deviation
i. Angle of incidence = 0
ii. Angle of reflection = 0
iii. Angle of deviation = 180.̊

5. Define the following terms in the case of spherical mirror.

a. Pole b. centre of curvature c. radius of curvature(CBSE 2020) d. principal axis e.
aperture f. Principal focus g. focal length
a. The point on the mirror at the middle of the surface is called pole
b. The centre of the sphere, of which the mirror is a part is called centre of curvature.
c. The radius of the sphere, of which the mirror is a part is called radios of curvature
d. The line joining the pole and centre of curvature is called principal axis
e. The diameter of the reflecting surface of spherical mirror is called aperture of the mirror.
f. When parallel beam of light rays is incident on a reflecting surface then the point from
which the reflected rays appear to be convergent or divergent is called principal focus(F).
g. The distance of the focus from the pole of the mirror is called the focal lengths of the mirror.
6. Name the mirror which can give i. erect and enlarged image of an object. Ii. An erect and
diminished image of an object iii. An erect and same size image of an object.
i. Concave mirror
ii. Convex mirror
iii. Plane mirror.
7. Distinguish between concave mirror and convex mirror.

8. Draw a ray diagram to show that path of the reflected ray in each of the following cases for
spherical mirrors ( convex and concave)
i.parallel to the principal axis ii. Passing through the focus iii. Passing through centre of
curvature.
i.

ii.
9. Draw the ray diagram for the formation of image by a concave mirror when the object is
placed i. at infinity ii. Beyond the centre of curvature iii. The centre of curvature. State the
characteristics of image formed in each case.

10. Draw the ray diagram for the formation of image by a concave mirror when the object is
placed. i. between centre of curvature and focus. Ii. At focus iii. Between poles and the
focus
11. Draw the ray diagram for the formation of image by a convex mirror when the object is
placed i. at infinity ii. Between infinity and pole of the mirror

12. a.Define the term magnification. Write the formula for magnification of mirror explaining the
symbols used in the formula.
b. “ The magnification of the mirror is +1”. Comment on the statement.

13. What type of image is formed

a. Plane mirror b. on a cinema screen
aA) Virtual and erect
bA) Real and inverted

14. One wants to see a magnified image of an object in a mirror. What type of mirror should one
use.
Concave mirror

15. A person uses concave mirror for shaving. Where should he position his face in front of it.
between focus and pole

16. List two possible ways in which a concave mirror can produce a magnifi3ed image of an
object placed in front of it. State the difference if any, between the two images.
i.When the object is placed between centre of curvature and focus, magnified, real and
inverted image is formed beyond centre of curvature,
 ii. When the object is placed between pole and focus, a magnified, virtual and erect
image formed behind the mirror.
The difference between in the above two cases is when the object is placed between
centre of curvature and focus is real image and object is placed between pole and
focus is virtual image.

17. A ray of light passing through centre of curvature of a concave mirror is incident on its
reflecting surface. What is the angle of incidence and angle of reflection of this ray of light?
The ray of light passes through centre of curvature of a concave mirror it strikes the mirror
along the normal. Hence the incident ray coincides with the normal and reflected ray retrace
it’s path therefore angle of incident and angle of reflection should be zero.

18. How can you distinguish between plane mirror, convex mirror and concave mirror by merely
looking at the image formed in each case?
By looking into mirror by going close to it
If the image is of same size and erect- plane mirror
If image is of bigger size and erect – concave mirror
If image is of smaller size ad erect- convex mirror

19. A students wants to project the image of a candle flame on a screen 48 cm infront of a
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,

20. A student wants to project the image of a candle flame on the walls of the school using a
mirror
a) Which type of mirror should he use and why ?
b) At what distance, in terms of focal length 'f of the mirror, should he place the candle flame
to get the magnified image on the wall?
c) Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of the image in this case
 d) Can he use this mirror to project a diminished image of the candle flame on the same
wall? State 'how' if your answer is 'yes' and 'why not if your answer is 'no

II. ACADEMIC SKILL-APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND CONCEPT

1. A ray of light is incident on a plane mirror at an angle of 30.̊ What is the angle of reflection?
30˚
It reflects back with same angle 30∘ because according to the law of reflection, incident
angle is equal to the angle of reflection.
2. What is the position of the image when an object is placed at distance of 20cm from a
concave mirror of focal length 20cm?

3. What is the nature of image formed by a concave mirror if the magnification produced by the
mirror is a) +4 b) -2 c) +1
a) If m = + 4 , then the image is virtual and erect, enlarged image
(b) If m = -2, then the image is real and inverted, enlarged image
(c) if m=+1, then the image is virtual and erect and of same size

4. What is the minimum distance between an object and its real image in case of
concave mirror.
0. Zero
5. An object is kept at a distance of 5cm Infront of a convex mirror of focal length
10cm. Calculate the position and nature of the image formed.
6. A ray of light AM is incident on a spherical mirror as shown in the diagram. Draw the
path of reflected ray

7. The radius of curvature of a concave mirror is 50cm. Where should an object be placed from
the mirror so as to form its image at infinity? Justify your answer.
8. An image 2/3rd the size of the object is formed by a concave mirror at a distance of 20cm
from it. Find the focal length of the mirror (CBSE 2019)
Concave mirror
Real and inverted image
Magnification will be negative
m=-ve
m=-v/u
-2/3 = -(-20)/u
-2/3 = 20/u
U=20/(-2/3) = -20x3/2 =- 30 cm
1/v+1/u = 1/f
1/-20+1/-30 = 1/f
-3-2/60 = 1/f
-5/60 = 1/f
-1/12 = 1/f
f= -12cm
focal length of the mirror = -12cm.

9. A 5cm tall object is placed at a distance of 20cm from a concave mirror of focal length 30cm.
Use mirror formula to determine position and size of the image formed.
10. A concave mirror is used for image formation for different positions of an object. What
inference can be drawn about the following when an object is placed at a distance of 10cm
from the pole of a concave mirror of focal length 15cm?
a. Position of the image b. size of the image c. nature of the image. Draw the labelled ray
diagram to justify your inferences
11. For an object placed at a distance of 20cm from the pole of the mirror, an image is formed
40cm farther from the object on the same size
a. What is the nature of the mirror? Give reason for your answer
b. Is the image formed real or virtual? Give reason for your answer?
c. Draw a ray diagram to show the image formed?
d. Calculate the focal length of the mirror used?

12. List the new cartesian sign convention for reflection of light by spherical mirror. Draw a
diagram and apply these conventions for calculating the focal length and nature of sphericalk
mirror and which forms a 1/3 times magnified virtual image of an object placed 18cm infront
of it
13. A convex mirror used as rear view mirror of an automobile has a radius of curvature of 3.00
m . If a bus is located at 5,m from this mirror, find the position and nature of the image.

14. a. A concave mirror of a focal length of 10cm can produce a magnified real as well as a 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.
15. a. Draw a ray diagram for showing the convergence of a parallel beam of light by a concave
mirror and mark the position of pole and the centre of curvature in it.
b. An object 4 cm in size is placed at 25cm in front of concave mirror of focal length 15cm.
At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed in orfer to obtain a sharp
image. Find the nature ad size of the image
c. List any two uses of a concave mirror.
 iii. Two uses of concave mirror: It is used as a shaving mirror. It is used as
reflector in torch, head light of automobiles etc
III. ACADEMIC SKILL- FORMULATE, ANALYZE, EVALUATE AND CREATE
1. If the image formed by a spherical mirror for all position of object placed Infront of it is
always erect and diminished. What type of mirror it is?. Draw the labelled diagram to
support your answer.

2. What does negative sign in the value of magnification of a mirror indicate?

The negative magnification of image formed by mirror indicates real and inverted image

3. Differentiate a real image from a virtual image by giving three points of difference?
The following are the differences between a real image and virtual image:
 1. A real image can be caught on a screen whereas a virtual image cannot
be caught on a screen.
2. A real image is always inverted whereas a virtual image is always erect.
3. A real image is formed when the rays of light after reflection or refraction
actually, meet at some point whereas a virtual image is formed when the
rays of light after reflection or refraction appear to meet at a point.
4. A real image is formed by the actual intersection of light rays whereas a
virtual image is formed by the imaginary intersection of light rays.
5. A real image can be formed in in a screen but a virtual image can be only
seen in the mirror.
6. A real image is formed by only concave mirror however a virtual image
can be formed by concave, convex and plane mirror also.

4. What is the difference between virtual images produced by concave, plan and convex
mirrors?
Concave mirror = Enlarged virtual image
Plane mirror: Virtual image of same size as object
Convex mirror : Diminished virtual image

5. A 5cm tall object is placed at a distance of 30cm from a convex mirror of focal length
15cm. Find the position, size and nature of the image formed.

6. The image formed by a concave mirror is observed to be virtual, erect and larger than
the object. What should the position of the object be relative to the mirror. Draw ray
diagram to justify your answer.
If the image formed by a concave mirror is virtual, erect and larger than the object,
the position of the object should be between the pole of the mirror and its principal
focus.
7. A. Complete the alongside ray diagram

b. Find the nature, position and size of the image formed

c. use mirror formula to determine the magnification in this case
8. An object 4.0 cm in size, is placed 25cm 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 (CBSE 2019)
9. (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.
 10. Hold a concave mirror in your hand and direct its reflecting surface towards the
sun. Direct the light reflected by the mirror on to a white card-board held close
to the mirror. Move the card-board back and forth gradually until you find a
bright, sharp spot of light on the board. This spot of light is the image of the sun
on the sheet of paper; which is also termed as "Principal Focus" of the concave
mirror. (a) List two applications of concave mirror. (b) If the distance between
the mirror and the principal focus is 15 cm, find the radius of curvature of the
mirror. (c) Draw a ray diagram to show the type of image formed when an object
is placed between pole and focus of a concave mirror.

Or

d. An object of 10 cm in size is placed at 100cm in front of a concave mirror, If its

image is formed at the same point where the object is located find: i. focal length
of the mirror and ii. Magnification of the mirror formed with sign as per cartesian
sign convention.

h. Image is formed at the same point of the object. So object and image position are at
c. So focal length = R/2 = 100/2 = 50. As it is concave mirror f= -50c

a. Two uses of concave mirror:

a. It is used as a shaving mirror.
b. It is used as reflector in torch, head light of automobiles etc
b. As, R=2f
R=2×15=30 cm
 c.

d.

i. Image is formed at the same point of the object. So object and image position are at
c. So focal length = R/2 = 100/2 = 50. As it is concave mirror f= -50cm

ii. m= -v/u = -u/u = -1.

11. Study the following diagram I – image o- object Identify mirror 1 and mirror 2
and state one use of each

Mirror-1 is Concave. Uses : By dentists/Shaving Mirror/Torch search light/Vehicle headlight

/solar furnace. Mirror- 2 is convex mirror. Uses : Rear view mirror in vehicles/ for security
purpose

12. A student has focussed the image of an object of height 3 cm on a white screen using a
concave mirror of focal length 12 cm. If the distance of the object from the mirror is 18cm,
find the value of the following. i. distance of the image from the mirror. ii. Height of the
image