Ch.

9 (A) Reflection of Light

What is Light?

Thus, light is a form of energy that enables us to see

How we See objects?

Nature of light:

By observing some common optical phenomena around us, we may say that light seems to
travel in straight lines, usually indicated as a ray of light.

But if an opaque object on the path of light is placed, light shows a tendency to bend around
it and not walk in a straight line – this effect is known as the diffraction of light. Then the
straight-line treatment of optics using rays fails. To explain phenomena such as diffraction,
light is thought of as a wave, according to Maxwell’s theory, light is an electromagnetic
wave.

Again, the wave theory of light was failed to explain the phenomena of the interaction of light
with matter, and light often behaves somewhat like a stream of particles.

This confusion about the true nature of light continued for some years till a modern quantum
theory of light emerged in which light is neither a ‘wave’ nor a ‘particle’, it has dual nature
according to which, “Light shows particle nature with its wave nature.”
Characteristics of Light:

• Light travels in a straight line (for common optical phenomena)

• Speed of light ray in vacuum or in free space is 3 × 108 𝑚/𝑠.
• The speed of light changes when it travels from one medium to another.
• Frequency of light waves does not change when it travels from one medium to another
• The light gets reflected when it falls on polished surface like mirror.
• The light undergoes refraction when it travels from one transparent medium to another.

Reflection of Light:

The phenomenon of bouncing back of light into the same medium by the smooth surface is
called reflection.

Incident light: Light which falls on the surface is

called incident light.

Reflected light: Light which goes back after reflection

is called reflected light.

The angle of incidence: The angle between the

incident ray and the normal.

An angle of reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.

Mirror: The surface which can reflect the light is a mirror.

Laws of Reflection:
• First law: The incident ray, the normal to the surface at the point of incidence and the
reflected ray, all lie in the same plane.
• Second law: The angle of reflection (r) is always equal to the angle of incidence
∠𝑖 = ∠𝑟

Plane Mirror: If the reflecting surface is a plane then

the mirror is plane.

• The image formed by a plane mirror is always

➢ Virtual and erect
➢ of the same size as the object
➢ as far behind the mirror as the object
is in front of it
➢ laterally inverted
➢ If an object is placed symmetrically between two mirrors tilted mutually at an
360
angle 𝜃, can be determined by, 𝑛 = 𝜃 − 1
Spherical Mirror: If the reflecting surface is part of the hollow sphere then the mirror is a
spherical mirror. The spherical mirrors are of two types:

• Convex mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is curved outward. It diverges the light
so it is also called a diverging mirror.
 • Concave mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is curved inward. It converges the
light so it is also called converging mirror.

Parameters of Mirror:

• Center of Curvature: The centre of hollow sphere of which mirror is a part. C is the
centre of curvature.

• Pole: The centre of mirror (middle point) is pole. P is the pole of the mirror.

• The radius of curvature: The radius of hollow sphere of which mirror is a part. R=PC

• Principal axis: The line joining the pole and center of curvature is called principal axis.

• Aperture: Size of mirror is called aperture of mirror. MM’ is the aperture.

• Principal Focus: The point on the principal axis, where all the incident rays parallel to
principal axis converge or diverge after reflection through mirror.

• Focal Length: The distance between pole and focus point is focal length it is denoted
by f,
 𝑹
• Relation between radius of curvature and focal length is 𝒇 = 𝟐 , or 𝑹 = 𝟐𝒇

• Radius of curvature and focal length both are infinity for a plane mirror.

Sign Conventions of Spherical Mirror:

• All the distances are measured from the pole of the mirror as the origin.

• Distances measured in the direction of incident rays are taken as positive.

• Distances measured opposite to the direction of incident rays are taken as negative.

• Distances measured upward and perpendicular to the principal axis are taken as
positive.

• Distances measured downward and perpendicular to the principal axis are taken as
negative.

Special Rays for Formation of Image:

• Rules for tracing images formed by spherical mirrors

Rule 1: A ray which is parallel to the principal axis after reflection passes through the
principal focus in case of a concave mirror or appears to diverge from the principal focus
in case of a convex mirror.

Rule 2: A ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror or a ray
which is directed towards the principal focus of a convex mirror emerges parallel to the
principal axis after reflection.
 Rule 3: A ray passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror or directed
towards the centre of curvature of a convex mirror is reflected back along the same path.

Rule 4: A ray incident obliquely towards the pole of a concave mirror or a convex mirror
is reflected obliquely as per the laws of reflection.

Image formation by a concave mirror:

Ray Diagrams:
Characteristics of images formed

Position of Position of
Size of image Nature of
object image
image
At infinity At focus F Highly diminished Real and
inverted
Between F and
Beyond C Diminished Real and
C inverted
Equal to size of
At C At C Real and
object inverted
Between C and Beyond C Enlarged Real and
F inverted
At F At infinity Highly enlarged Real and
inverted
Between F and Behind the Enlarged Virtual and
P mirror erect

Image formation by a convex mirror:

Ray Diagrams:

Characteristics of images formed:

Position of Position of Size of image Nature of

object image image
At infinity At focus F Highly Virtual and
behind diminished, erect
the mirror point sized
Anywhere Between P and F Diminished Virtual and
between infinity behind the erect
and the pole mirror
of the mirror

Mirror formula: For a spherical mirror, object distance (u), image distance (v) and focal
length (f) are related by the relation,
 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝒇 𝒗 𝒖
Linear Magnification of spherical mirror: This is the ratio of the height of the image to the
height of the object.
𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 ℎ′ 𝑣
𝑚= = =−
𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 ℎ 𝑢

Where: 𝑚 = 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, ℎ = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒, ℎ’ = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡, 𝑣 = 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑢 =

𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒.

Magnification m is negative when image is real and inverted.

Magnification m is positive when image is virtual and erect.

Uses of spherical Mirrors:

Uses of Concave Mirror: It is used as

• a makeup mirror
• the reflector in torches
• in headlights of cars and searchlights,
• doctor’s head-mirrors
• solar furnace, etc.

Use of Convex Mirror: It is used as

• rear view mirror in vehicles

• as shop security mirrors
• decorative mirrors
• in road lights to spread light on wide region of road, etc.

Questions for practice

MCQs:

1. The laws of reflection hold true for

(a) plane mirrors only (b) concave mirrors only
(c) convex mirrors only (d) all reflecting surface

2. 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

3. When a plane mirror is rotated through a certain angle, the reflected ray turns through
twice as much and the size of the image:
(a) is doubled (b) is halved
(c) becomes infinite (d) remains the same
4. If an object is placed symmetrically between two plane mirrors, inclined at an angle of
72 degrees, then the total no. of images formed is:
(a) 5 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) infinite

5. Which statement is true for the reflection of light?

(a) The angle of incidence and reflection are equal.
(b) The reflected light is less bright than the incident light.
(c) The sum of the angle of incidence and reflection is always greater than 900.
(d) The beams of the incident light, after reflection, diverge at unequal angles.

6. The focal length of a plane mirror is:

(a) 0 (b) infinite (c) 25 cm (d) -25 cm

7. The image shows the path of incident rays to a

concave mirror. Where would the reflected rays meet
for the image formation to take place?
(a) Behind the mirror (b) Between F and O
(c) Between C and F (d) Beyond C

8. A beam of light incident on a plane mirror forms a real image on reflection. The incident
beam is:
(a) parallel (b) convergent (c) divergent (d) not certain

9. An object is placed at a distance of 40 cm in front of a concave mirror of a focal length

of 20 cm. The image produced is:
(a) virtual and inverted (b) real and erect
(c) real, inverted and of the opposite size as that of the object
(d) real, inverted and of the same size as that of the object

10. Image formed by a convex spherical mirror is:

(a) virtual (b) real (c) enlarged (d) inverted

11. A student studies that a convex lens always forms a virtual image irrespective of its
position. What causes the convex mirror to always form a virtual image?
(a) Because the reflected ray never intersects
(b) Because the reflected ray converges at a single point
(c) Because the incident ray traces its path back along the principal axis
(d) Because the incident ray of a convex mirror gets absorbed in the mirror

12. A 10 mm long awl pin is placed vertically in front of a concave mirror. A 5 mm long
image of the awl pin is formed at 30 cm in front of the mirror. What is the focal length
of the concave mirror?
(a) -30 cm (b) -20 cm (c) -40 cm (d) -60 cm

13. Magnification produced by a rearview mirror fitted in vehicles:

(a) is less than one
(b) is more than one
(c) is equal to one
(d) can be more than or less than one, depending upon the position of the object in
front of it
14. A student conducts an activity using a concave mirror with a focal length of 10 cm. He
placed the object 15 cm from the mirror. Where is the image likely to form?
(a) At 6 cm behind the mirror (b) At 30 cm behind the mirror
(c) At 6 cm in front of the mirror (d) At 30 cm in front of the mirror

15. The image of an object placed in front of a convex mirror is formed at:
(a) the object itself (b) twice the distance of the object in front of the mirror
(c) behind the mirror (d) half the distance of the object in front of the mirror

16. A full length of the image of a distant tall building can definitely be seen using:
(a) a concave mirror (b) a convex mirror
(c) a plane mirror (d) both concave as well as plane mirrors

17. A student conducts an activity using a flask of height 15 cm and a concave mirror. He
finds that the image formed is 45 cm in height. What is the magnification of the image?
(a) -3 times (b) -1/ 3 times (c) 1/ 3 times (d) 3 times

18. Which of the following can make a parallel beam of light from a point source incident
on it?
(a) Concave mirror as well as convex lens
(b) Convex mirror as well as concave lens
(c) Two plane mirrors placed at 90degree to each other
(d) Concave mirror as well as concave lens

19. An object is placed 20 cm in front of a plane mirror. The mirror is moved 2 cm towards
the object. The distance between the positions of the original and final images seen in
the mirror is:
(a) 2 cm (b) 4 cm (c) 10 cm (d) 22 cm

20. In order to obtain a magnification of, −0.6 with a concave mirror, the object must be
placed:
(a) At the focus (b) Between pole and focus
(c) Between focus and center of curvature (d) Beyond the center of curvature

21. A ray of light that strikes a plane mirror PQ at an angle of incidence of 30o, is reflected
from the plane mirror and then strikes a second plane mirror QR placed at right angles
to the first mirror. The angle of reflection at the second mirror is:
(a) 30o (b) 45o (c) 60o (d) 90o

22. Image formed by plane mirror is

(a) Real and erect (b) Real and inverted
(c) Virtual and erect (d) Virtual and inverted

23. A man runs towards the plane mirror at 2 m/s. The relative speed of his image
with respect to him will be:
(a) 4 ms⁻¹ (b) 2 ms⁻¹ (c) 8 ms⁻¹ (d) 10 ms⁻¹

24. An object is placed at 100 mm in front of a concave mirror which produces an upright
image (erect image). The radius of curvature of the mirror is:
 (a) Less than 100 mm (b) Between 100 mm and 200 mm
(c) Exactly 200 mm (d) More than 200 mm

25. A concave mirror gives real, inverted and same size image if the object is placed
(a) At F (b) At infinity (c) At C (d) Beyond C

26. Under which of the following conditions a concave mirror can form an image larger than
the actual object?
(a) When the object is kept at a distance equal to its radius of curvature
(b) When object is kept at a distance less than its focal length
(c) When object is placed between the focus and centre of curvature
(d) When object is kept at a distance greater than its radius of curvature

27. Which position of the object will produce a magnified virtual image, if a concave mirror
of focal length 15 cm is being used?
(a) 10 cm (b) 20 cm (c) 30 cm (d) 35 cm

28. A concave mirror produces a magnification of +4. The object is placed:

(a) At the focus (b) Between focus and centre of curvature
(c) Between focus and pole (d) Beyond the centre of curvature

29. An object is approaching a plane mirror at 5 cm/s. A stationary observer sees the
image. At what speed will the image appear to approach the stationary observer?
(a) 20 cm/s (b) 10 cm/s (c) 15 cm/s (d) 5 cm/s

30. Two big mirrors A and B are fitted side by side on a wall. A man is standing at such a
distance from the wall that he can see the erect image of his face in both the mirrors.
When the man starts walking towards the mirrors, he finds that the size of his face in
mirror A goes on increasing but that in mirror B remains the same:
(a) Mirror A is concave and mirror B is convex
(b) Mirror A is plane and mirror B is concave
(c) Mirror A is concave and mirror B is plane
(d) Mirror A is convex and mirror B is concave

31. Magnification produced by a rear view mirror fitted in vehicles

(a) is less than one (b) is more than one (c) is equal to one
(d) can be more than or less than one depending upon the position of the object in front
of it.

32. Rays from Sun converge at a point 15 cm in front of a concave mirror. Where should an
object be placed so that size of its image is equal to the size of the object?
(a) 15 cm in front of the mirror
(b) 30 cm in front of the mirror
(c) between 15 cm and and 30 cm in front of the mirror
(d) more than 30 cm in front of the mirror

33. A full length image of a distant tall building can definitely be seen by using
(a) a concave mirror (b) a convex mirror
(c) a plane mirror (d) both concave as well as plane mirror
34. In torches, search lights and headlights of vehicles the bulb is placed
(a) between the pole and the focus of the reflector
(b) very near to the focus of the reflector
(c) between the focus and centre of curvature of the reflector
(d) at the centre of curvature of the reflector

35. The image which is formed behind the mirror

(a) real image (b) virtual image
(c) blue image (d) partial image

36. Four students A, B, C and D performed the experiment to determine the focal length of
a concave mirror by obtaining the image of a distant tree on a screen. They measured
the distances between the screen and the mirror as shown in the diagrams given below:

The correct way to measure accurate focal length of the mirror is:
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D

37. A child is standing in front of a magic mirror. She finds the image of her head bigger,
the middle portion of her body of the same size and that of the legs smaller. The
following is the order of combinations for the magic mirror from the top.
(a) Plane, convex and concave
(b) Convex, concave and plane
(c) Concave, plane and convex
(d) Convex, plane and concave

Short Answer Type Questions:

1. Which mirror can form a real image of an object?

2. State the two laws of reflection of light.

3. What is the magnification of the images formed by plane mirrors and why?

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.
8. 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.

9. Name the type of mirrors used in the design of solar furnaces. Explain how, high
temperature is achieved by this device.

10. “The magnification produced by a spherical mirror is −3”. List four informations you
obtain from this statement about the mirror/ image.

11. AB and CD, two spherical mirrors, from parts of a hollow spherical ball
1
with its centre at O as shown in the diagram. If arc AB = 2 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?

12. List two properties of the images formed by convex mirrors. Draw ray diagram in
support of your answer.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is +1/3. Analyze 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.

20. The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -1/5. Analyze 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.
21. The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -1. Analyze 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.

22. The linear magnification produced by a spherical mirror is -1/3. Analyze 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.

23. 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.
(A) (B) (C)

24. List four characteristics of the images formed by plane mirrors.

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.

26. State the types of mirrors used for (i) headlights, (ii) rear view mirrors in motorcycles
and (iii) shaving mirrors. Give reason to justify your answer in each case. Also draw ray
diagrams supporting to your answer.

27. (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.

28. A student wants to project the image of a candle flame on the walls of school laboratory
by 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 so as to get the magnified image on the wall?
(c) Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of 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’

29. Define the following terms in case of a concave mirror:

(a) Pole (b) Radius of curvature (c) Principal axis (d) Principal focus
 Suppose you want to observe an erect image of a candle flame using a concave mirror
of focal length 20 cm. State the range of distance of the candle flame from the mirror.
List two other characteristics of the observed image. Draw a ray diagram to show the
formation of image in this case.

Numericals:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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. 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.

16. (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.

17. (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.

18. (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 objects
placed 20 cm in front of the mirror, how far is the screen from the object?

19. (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.

20. It is desired to obtain an erect image of an object, using concave mirror of focal length
of 12 cm.
(i) What should be the range of distance of an object placed in front of the mirror?
(ii) Will the image be smaller or larger than the object? Draw ray diagram to show the
formation of image in this case.
(iii) Where will the image of this object be, if it is placed 24 cm in front of the mirror?
Draw ray diagram for this situation also to justify your answer.
Show the positions of pole, principal focus and the centre of curvature in the above ray
diagrams.

21. Suppose you have three concave mirrors A, B and C of focal lengths 10 cm, 15 cm and
20 cm. For each concave mirror you perform the experiment of image formation for
three values of object distances of 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm. By giving reason, answer
the following:
(a) For the three object distances, identify the mirror/mirrors which will form an image
of magnification -1.
(b) Out of the three mirrors, identify the mirror which would be preferred to be used for
shaving purposes/make up.
(c) For the mirror B draw ray diagram for image formation for object distances 10 cm
and 20 cm.

22. A student has focused the image of a candle flame on a white screen using a concave
mirror. The situation is a given below:
Length of the flame = 1.5 cm, Focal length of the mirror = 12 cm
Distance of flame from the mirror = 18 cm
 If the flame is perpendicular to the principal axis of the mirror, then calculate the
following:
(a) Distance of the image from the mirror
(b) Length of the image
If the distance between the mirror and the flame is reduced to 10 cm, then what would
be observed on the screen? Draw ray diagram to justify your answer from this
situation.

23. Draw a diagram and apply these conventions in the determination of focal length of a
spherical mirror which forms a three times magnified real image of an object placed 16
cm in front of it.

24. Draw a diagram and apply these conventions for calculating the focal length and nature
of a spherical mirror which forms a 1/3 times magnified virtual image of an object
placed 18 cm in front of it.