Mandatory exercises

Set – I (Refraction and refractive index)

1. In which case will the angle of incidence be equal to angle of refraction?
Ans
In case of normal incidence.
2. H.G. Wells created the invisible man in his widely known story by the following trick: he made the
refractive index of the invisible man exactly the same as that of air. So, light rays simply passed through
him without reflection or refraction. Is the invisible man blind?
Ans
In order for the invisible man to see, images of external objects must form on the retina of his eyes. This
requires refraction of light at the outer surface of his eyes, which can not occur. Moreover, some light
energy must be absorbed by his retina in order for his brain to be triggered into interpreting the image.
But then, since his eyes would become visible to others, an invisible man must necessarily be a blind
man.
3. The refractive index of water and diamond are 1.33 and 2.42 respectively. Calculate the refractive index
of diamond with respect to water.
Ans
nw = 1.33
nd = 2.42
Refractive index of diamond with respect to
water wnd = ?
n 2.42
We have, w n d  d   1.82
n w 1.33

Set - II (Lateral and Normal shift)

4. A fish under water sees obliquely a fisher-man standing on the bank of a lake. How does he appear?
Ans
He appears taller than he is due to the lateral shift.
5. A parallel sided glass slab is introduced in the path of a converging beam. What happens to point of
convergence of the beam?
Ans

I1
I2

In the absence of glass slab the light converges at I1.

Due to the presence of glass slab, light converges at I2.
Point of convergence shifts away from the glass slab.

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6. If you are in a boat and aiming a spear at a fish you see in the water, should you point the spear pointer
above, below or directly at the fish to make a direct hit? (Assume the fish is stationary in the water).
If you instead used light from a laser as your spear, would you aim above, below or directly at the
observed fish?
Ans
When you aim a fish with a spear, you actually should aim below its apparent position. This is because,
the fish appears to be raised inside the water due to refraction of light from fish to your eye.
But if you use laser beam as your ‘spear’, you hit the fish directly at its apparent position because, laser
beam undergoes refraction the same way as the light from the fish reaching your eye.
7. What is the real depth of a swimming pool which appears to be 10 m for a swimmer? The refractive
index of water is 1.33.
Ans
nw = 1.33
Real depth = ?
Apparent depth = 10 m
Real depth
n
apparent depth
 Real depth = 13.3 m
8. A vessel is filled with two different liquids which do not mix. One liquid is 40 cm deep and has n1 = 1.6
and the other is 30 cm deep and has n2 = 1.5. What is the apparent depth of the vessel when viewed along
the normal?
Ans
n1 = 1.6, d1 = 40 cm
n2 = 1.5, d2 = 30 cm
Apparent depth d = ?
real depth  D 
n
apparent depth  d 
D d1 d 2
 d  
n n1 n 2
d = (25 + 20) cm = 45 cm.

Set  III (Total internal reflection)

9. The moon and the planets do not twinkle. Why? Can you see stars twinkling when observed from the
moon? Why?
Ans
Moon and planets are nearer to earth as compared to the stars and are considered to be large extended
sources. Hence, the slight deviations in the rays caused by the atmospheric fluctuations are not
noticeable. No, we cannot see stars twinkling when observed from the moon because there is no
atmosphere on moon to refract light.

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10. Why does the sun or the moon appear elliptical near the horizon?
Ans
When sun or moon is near the horizon, the rays from the lower edge are bent more than the rays from the
upper edge due to atmospheric refraction. This shortens the vertical diameter, causing sun or moon to
appear elliptical.
11. During hot days, at noon, trees and houses across open ground appear to be quivering. Why?
Ans
During hot days, the hot ground heats the air in contact. As a result, the density of air changes in an
irregular way. Now the refractive index of different layers of air changes. This causes a shift in the
direction of refracted rays, so the object sending these rays appears to be quivering.
12. Why does an air bubble in a jar of water shine brightly?
Ans
When the light rays go from water into the air bubble, they suffer total internal reflection and are
reflected as if from a mirror. Hence the air bubble shines.
13. A ray of light is incident on a boundary between two mediums of different refractive indices. Which
outgoing ray could not be produced from the incident ray?

Incident ray
Medium 1
Medium 2

P R
Q

Ans
P
14. Light travelling through three different mediums follow the path as shown in the following figure.
Arrange the indices of refraction in order from smallest to largest.

n1

n2

n3

Ans
n1 > n2 (as the ray of light goes away when the ray goes from medium 1 to 2)
n2 > n3 (as ray of light undergoes TIR as it tries to pass from medium 2 to 3)
 n3 < n2 < n1

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Set - IV (Prism and Lens)

15. A needle 10 cm long is placed along the axis of a convex lens of focal length 10 cm such that the
midpoint of the needle is at a distance of 20 cm from the lens. Find the length of the image of the needle.
Ans
u1 = 15 cm, u2 = 25 cm
f = 10 cm, v1 = ?, v2 = ?, v2  v1 = ?
O1 and O2 act as independent point objects producing the images at I1 and I2 respectively.
For the point object O1 u1 = 15 cm
1 1 1 1  1  1
  ;  
v u f v1  15  30
O1 O2 O I2 I1
 v1 = 30 cm
Similarly for u2 = 25 cm
1 1 1 1 1  1  u1 v2
       v 2  16.67 cm
f v u 10 v 2  25  u2 v1
Length of the image = 30  16.67 = 13.33 cm
16. An object held at 1.25 m from an equiconvex lens has its image at a distance of 5 m on the other side of
the lens. Calculate the focal length of the lens.
Ans
1 1 1
 
v u f
1  1  1
  
5  1.25  f
f=1m
17. The refractive index of a prism is 3 . If the angle of the prism is 60°, find the angle of minimum
deviation.
Ans
ng = 3
A = 60
AD
sin
n 2
A
sin
2
60  D
sin
3 2
60
sin
2
60  D 1
sin  3 sin 30  3 
2 2
60  D
  60
2
60 + D = 120
D = 60

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18. A small object is placed on the axis of a convex lens of focal length 0.2 m at a distance of 0.5 m from it.
Find the position and linear magnification of the image.
Ans
f = 0.2 m
u = 0.5 m
1 1 1
We have lens formula,  
f v u
1 1 1
 
v f u
fu (0.2)(0.5)
v 
f u 0.2  0.5
0.1
v
0.3
v = 0.33 m
v = 0.33 m
 v 0.33
Linear magnification    0.67
 u 0.5
 The image is 0.33 m away from the optical centre and is 2/3rd the size of the object. The image is real
and inverted.
19. A needle is placed vertically on the principal axis of a lens at a distance of 45 cm from its optic centre.
An image is formed on a screen placed 90 cm from the other side of lens. Find the focal length and type
of lens.
Ans
u = 45 cm, v = 90 cm
1 1 1
 
f v u
1 1
 
90 45
1 45  90 135 3 1
   
f 45  90 45  90 90 30
f = 30 cm
f is +ve. Hence the lens is convex.
20. The image obtained with a convex lens is erect and its length is four times the length of the object. If the
focal length of the lens is 20 cm, calculate the object and image distance.
Ans
h v
m i  4
ho u
v = 4u.
1 1 1 1 1 3u
    
f v u 4u u 4u 2
1 3

f 4u
3 3
u    f    20  15 cm
4 4

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v = 4  15 =  60 cm
21. The figure shows the object O1 that is placed in front of two thin symmetrical coaxial lenses 1 and 2,
with focal lengths f1 = + 24 cm and f2 = + 9 cm, respectively and with lens separation L = 10 cm. The
seed is 6 cm from lens 1. Where does the system of two lenses produce an image of the seed?

Ans
We could locate the image produced by the system of lenses by tracing light rays from the object through
the two lenses. However, we can calculate the location of that image by working through the system in
steps, lens by lens.
Lens 1
Ignoring lens 2, we locate the image I1 produced by lens 1 by applying the lens equation:
f1 = 24 cm, u1 =  6 cm, v1 = ?
1 1 1
 
f1 v1 u1
1 1 1
 
v1 f1 u1
fu (24cm)(6cm)
v1  1 1 
f1  u1 24cm  6cm
v1 =  8 cm
v 8cm
m1  1   1.33
u1 6cm
Since, the object is kept between F and O, the image formed is virtual and the answer supports the same.
This tells us that I1 is 8 cm from the lens 1 and virtual. (We could have guessed that it is virtual by noting
that the object is inside the focal point of lens 1).
Lens 2
Let us treat I1 to be the object O2 for the lens 2.

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 u2 =  10 cm  8 cm =  18 cm
f2 = 9 cm
1 1 1 1 1 1
    
v 2 f 2 u 2 9 cm 18 cm 18 cm
 v2 = 18 cm
v 18 cm
m2  2   1
u2 18 cm
Since, in this case the object is kept at 2 F (f2=9 cm), the image will be formed at v2=+18 cm (on the
other side)
 Final image I2 is at 2F2 and is real, inverted and has the same size as that of I1.

Multiple choice questions

22. If the refractive index of glycerine = 1.48, water = 1.33, flint glass = 1.6 and diamond = 2.1, then, the
speed of light is maximum in
(A) glycerine. (B) water. (C) flint glass. (D) diamond.
Ans (B)
1
Speed of light is inversely proportional to refractive index. n  .
v
23. A light of wavelength 6400 Å in air passes through glass of refractive index 1.6. Its wavelength in glass
is
(A) 6400 Å (B) 4000 Å (C) 3500 Å (D) 3200 Å
Ans (B)
1
n

n1  2

n 2 1
1 
 2 Å
1.6 6400
2 = 4000 Å.
24. The velocity of light in glass of refractive index 1.5 is 2  108 ms1. Its velocity in a certain liquid is
found to be 2.5  108 ms1. The refractive index of the liquid with respect to air is
(A) 1.44 (B) 1.64 (C) 1.2 (D) 0.8
Ans (C)
v1 = 2  108 ms1
n1 = 1.5
v2 = 2.5  108 ms1
n2 = ?
n1 v 2

n 2 v1
v1n1 2  108  1.5
n2   = 1.2
v2 2.5  108
25. An observer in air at a distance of 0.8 m from the surface of water, looks at a fish inside water at a
distance of 1.4 m. The actual distance of the fish from the observer is

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(A) 186.2 m (B) 1.862 m (C) 2.662 m (D) 2.2 m

Ans (C)
d = 0.8 m, apparent depth = 1.4 m.
Real depth = ?
Re al depth
n , R.D  n  A.D  1.33  1.4
Apparent depth
= 1.862 m
But we need to determine the distance between the observer and fish D = d + R.D = 0.8 m + 1.862
= 2.662 m
26. The critical angle for total internal reflection is ____________, when a ray of light travels from glass to
water than when it travels from glass to air.
(A) equal (B) lesser (C) greater (D) none of these
Ans (C)
Critical angle is inversely proportional to the relative refractive index.
Relative refractive index of glass-water system is less than that of glass-sir system.
Therefore, the critical angle for glass-water system is greater than that of glass-sir system
27. For a ray of light to pass symmetrically through a prism of refracting angle 60° and n = 3 , the angle of
incidence is
(A) 36° (B) 38° (C) 35.5° (D) 60°
Ans (D)
A = 60
n 3
i=?
A 60
r 
2 2
= 30
sin i
n
sin r
sin i = n sin r
3
= 3 sin 30 =
2
 3
i = sin–1  2 
 
i = 60.

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28. A ray of light is incident normally on one of the equal faces of a right isosceles prism of refractive index
1.5. The angle between incident and emergent rays is
(A) 45° (B) 90° (C) 180° (D) 0°
Ans (B)
n = 1.5, AB = BC
On the surface AC A
i = 45 45
45
1.5 sin 45 = 1.sin r
D
3 1
  sin r
2 2
3
sin r   1.06  1
B C
2 2
r = 90
D = 45
29. Rays of light passes through an equilateral prism such that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of
th
3
emergence and the latter is equal to   the angle of the prism. The angle of deviation is
4
(A) 45° (B) 39° (C) 20° (D) 30°
Ans (D)
A = 60
3
i=e= A
4
 A  D
i 
 2 
3 60  D
 60 
4 2
60° + D = 90°
D = 30.
30. Rays of light fall perpendicularly on a glass slab (n > 1) as shown in figure. If n at A is maximum and n
at B is minimum, then the rays will
(A) tilt towards A.
(B) tilt towards B.
(C) not deviate.
(D) undergo total internal reflection.
Ans (C)
As all the rays are normal to the surface.
31. Check the wrong statement.
(A) The virtual image produced in a convex lens is enlarged.
(B) The virtual image produced in a concave lens is diminished.
(C) Virtual image produced by a lens is always erect.
(D) A real image produced by a convex lens is always enlarged.
Ans (D)

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32. When light of colour P and Q are sent through a prism, colour P is bent more than colour Q. The colour
that travels more rapidly in the prism is
(A) P (B) Q
(C) both P and Q travel at the same speed (D) data insufficient
Ans (B)
According to the given data, the refractive index of P is greater than that of Q. Hence the speed of P in
the prism is less than that of Q.
33. Two identical containers are filled with different transparent liquids. The container with liquid A appears
to have a greater depth than the container with liquid B. Then
(A) liquid A has a greater refractive index than that of B.
(B) both the liquids, A and B have the same refractive index.
(C) liquid B has a greater refractive index than that of A.
(D) speed of light in liquid A is lesser than that in liquid B.
Ans (C)
From the given data, the apparent depth of the container filled with liquid A is greater than that of the
container filled with liquid B. Hence the refractive index of liquid B is greater than that of liquid A.
34. A ray of light is incident normally on one of the faces of a prism of angle 30 and refractive index of
2 . The angle of deviation of the ray is
(A) 30 (B) 45 (C) 15 (D) 60
Ans (C)
A
A = 30 30
n 2 60 r
2 sin 30  1.sin r 30 D
1
2   sin r
2
r = 45 B C
D = 45 – 30
= 15

Questions from competitive exams

 4
35. A coin is placed at the bottom of a beaker containing water  n   upto a height of 0.08 m. When
 3
viewed from the top, it appears to be nearer by
(A) 0.03 m (B) 0.01 m (C) 0.06 m (D) 0.02 m
Ans (D)
R.D
n
A.D
4
n  , R.D  0.08 m
3
4 0.08

3 A.D
0.08  3
A.D   0.06 m
4

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It appears to be nearer by 0.02 m.

36. A ray of light passes from denser medium to rarer medium. If the thickness of the denser medium is
doubled, then the emerging angle is
(A) also doubled. (B) reduced by it half.
(C) not affected. (D) its critical angle.
Ans (C)
37. When light is incident on the interface of glass and air as shown. If green light is just totally internally
reflected, then the emerging ray in air contains
(A) yellow, orange, red.
(B) violet, indigo, blue. Air Green
(C) all colours. Glass
(D) all colours except green.
Ans (A)
Ray of light goes from glass to air (ng > na)
1
w.k.t n 
sin C
nV > nI > nB > nG > nY > nO > nR
CV < CI < CB < CG < CY < CO < CR
For a certain angle of incidence, green does grazer the interface.
 It suggests that the rays Y, O and R emerge out into air.
This is because the critical angle w.r.t. V, O and R is greater than that of G.
Since, critical angle w.r.t. V, I, B are less than that of G, they undergo TIR.
38. A ray of light passes through 4 transparent media with refractive index n1, n2, n3, n4 as shown.
The surface of all the medias are parallel. If the emergent ray CD is parallel to the incident ray AB, we
must have
n1 n2 n3 n4
D

C
B
A

(A) n1 = n2 (B) n2 = n3 (C) n3 = n4 (D) n4 = n1

Ans (D)

Challenging exercise
39. The real image formed by a convex lens is three times the object in size, when the object is 0.12 m from
the lens. What is the focal length of the lens? Where must the object be placed to obtain a real image
magnified four times?
Ans
u =  0.12 m
v
m1 = – 3, m1  3  1
u1
v1 = – 3u1

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v = – 3u
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
        1
f v1 u1 3u1 u1 u1  3 
1  4
  
u1  3 
3u 3
f  1   (0.12 m)  0.09 m
4 4
v
m2 = – 4 = 2  v2 = – 4u2
u2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1  1 
         1
f v2 u 2 0.09 4u 2 u 2 u 2  4 
1 1  5 1 5
   , 
f v 2  4  0.09 4u 2
5  0.09
 4u2 = – 5  0.09, u 2   0.1125 m
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40. A ray of light falls on a transparent glass slab of refractive index 3 . If the reflected ray and refracted
ray are mutually perpendicular, what is the angle of incidence?

Ans
Given, n = ˆ  90
3 , BOC
To find: i
Since N is a straight line,
ˆ  r  180
i  BOC
 i + r = 180 – 90 = 90
or r = 90 – i … (1)
Now, by Snell’s law,
sin i sin i
n  from (1)
sin r sin(90  i)
sin i
  tan i
cosi
 tan i = 3  i = tan–1( 3 ) = 60

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41. A ray of light is incident at an angle of 60° on one face of a 30° prism. The emergent ray from the prism
makes an angle of 30° with the incident ray. Show that the emergent ray is normal to the surface from
which it emerges. Calculate the refractive index of the material of the prism.

Ans
i 1 + i2 = A + 
 60° + i2 = 30° + 30°
i2 = 0
 Emergent ray is normal to the surface
As i2 = 0, r2 = 0
 A = r1 + r2 = r1
 30 = r1
3
sin i1 2
Now, n    3.
sin r1 1
2
42. A small fish, 0.4 m below the surface of a lake, is viewed through a simple converging lens of focal
length 3 m. The lens is kept at 0.2 m above the water surface such that the fish lies on the optical axis of
the lens. Find the position of the image of the fish as seen by the observer. The refractive index of water
4
is .
3
Ans
R.D = 0.4 m, f = + 3 m d = 0.2 m position of fish = ?
R.D
n
A.D
4 0.4 3
  A.D  0.4 
3 AD 4
= 0.3 m
 x = – 0.5 m
1 1 1 1 1 1
    
f v u v f u
fu (3)(0.5)
v   0.6m
f u 3  0.5
The image coincides with the real position of the fish.

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43. A cubical vessel with opaque walls, is so placed that the eye of an observer cannot see its bottom but can
see the entire wall CD as shown in given figure. A small object is placed at O at a distance b = 10 cm
 
from the corner D. What minimum depth of water n  2 should be poured into the vessel which will

enable the observer to see the object?

B i C
P

r
x

A
Q D
b

Ans
Let the minimum depth of water be x
Since the vessel is cubical (AB = CD)
 angle of incidence i = 45
sin i
From snell’s law, n 
sin r
sin i sin 45
  0.5
n 2
r = 30
QPD = 45
QDP = 45
 PQ = x = QD
OQ = x  b
Consider, PQO,
OQ = x tanr
x  b = a tanr
b 10cm 10  102
x  
1  tan r 1  tan 30 1  1
3
3  101 0.17
x   0.24 m
3 1 0.17

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