CBSE · NCERT · Class 10 Science · Chapter 9

NCERT Solutions: Class 10 Science Chapter 9 - Light – Reflection and Refraction

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Light – Reflection and Refraction, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
Sections in this chapter
Intext Questions (Page 142) 4Intext Questions (Page 145) 2Intext Questions (Page 150) 5Intext Questions (Page 158) 3Exercises 17
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1Intext Questions (Page 142)4 questions
Q.1Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.v
Answer:

The principal focus of a concave mirror is the point on its principal axis where rays parallel to the principal axis meet after reflection from the mirror.

Q.2The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20 cm. What is its focal length?v
Solution

For a spherical mirror, f = R/2. Given R = 20 cm, f = 20/2 = 10 cm.

Answer:

The focal length is 10 cm.

Q.3Name a mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object.v
Answer:

A concave mirror can give an erect and enlarged image when the object is placed between the pole and the principal focus.

Q.4Why do we prefer a convex mirror as a rear-view mirror in vehicles?v
Answer:

A convex mirror always forms a virtual, erect and diminished image, and it has a wider field of view than a plane mirror. Therefore a driver can see a larger area behind the vehicle.

2Intext Questions (Page 145)2 questions
Q.1Find the focal length of a convex mirror whose radius of curvature is 32 cm.v
Solution

For a spherical mirror, f = R/2 = 32/2 = 16 cm. For a convex mirror this focal length is positive by the Cartesian sign convention.

Answer:

The focal length is 16 cm.

Q.2A concave mirror produces three times magnified (enlarged) real image of an object placed at 10 cm in front of it. Where is the image located?v
Solution

For a real image formed by a concave mirror, magnification is negative. Given m = -3 and u = -10 cm. Since m = -v/u, -3 = -v/(-10) = v/10, so v = -30 cm. Negative v means the image is in front of the mirror.

Answer:

The image is located 30 cm in front of the mirror.

3Intext Questions (Page 150)5 questions
Q.1A ray of light travelling in air enters obliquely into water. Does the light ray bend towards the normal or away from the normal? Why?v
Answer:

The ray bends towards the normal. Water is optically denser than air, so light slows down when it enters water from air and refracts towards the normal.

Q.2Light enters from air to glass having refractive index 1.50. What is the speed of light in the glass? The speed of light in vacuum is 3 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹.v
Solution

Refractive index n = c/v. Therefore v = c/n = (3 × 10⁸)/(1.50) = 2.0 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹.

Answer:

The speed of light in glass is 2.0 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹.

Q.3Find out, from Table 9.3, the medium having highest optical density. Also find the medium with lowest optical density.v
Answer:

From Table 9.3, diamond has the highest optical density because it has the highest refractive index, 2.42. Air has the lowest optical density because its refractive index is about 1.0003, the lowest in the table.

Q.4You are given kerosene, turpentine and water. In which of these does the light travel fastest? Use the information given in Table 9.3.v
Answer:

Light travels fastest in water. Water has the lowest refractive index among water, kerosene and turpentine, and lower refractive index means higher speed of light in that medium.

Q.5The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the meaning of this statement?v
Answer:

It means that light travels 2.42 times faster in vacuum/air than in diamond. Equivalently, speed of light in diamond = (speed of light in vacuum)/2.42.

4Intext Questions (Page 158)3 questions
Q.1Define 1 dioptre of power of a lens.v
Answer:

One dioptre is the power of a lens whose focal length is 1 metre. Since P = 1/f (in metres), 1 D = 1 m⁻¹.

Q.2A convex lens forms a real and inverted image of a needle at a distance of 50 cm from it. Where is the needle placed in front of the convex lens if the image is equal to the size of the object? Also, find the power of the lens.v
Solution

For a convex lens, a real inverted image equal to the object is formed when the object is at 2F and the image is at 2F on the other side. Given image distance = 50 cm = 2f, so f = 25 cm = 0.25 m. Power P = 1/f = 1/0.25 = +4 D.

Answer:

The needle is placed 50 cm in front of the lens. The focal length is 25 cm and the power is +4 D.

Q.3Find the power of a concave lens of focal length 2 m.v
Solution

For a concave lens, f = -2 m. Power P = 1/f = 1/(-2) = -0.5 D.

Answer:

The power is -0.5 D.

5Exercises17 questions
Q.1Which one of the following materials cannot be used to make a lens?v
  1. a. Water
  2. b. Glass
  3. c. Plastic
  4. d. Clay
Solution

A lens must be transparent. Clay is opaque, so it cannot be used to make a lens.

Answer:

(d) Clay

Q.2The image formed by a concave mirror is observed to be virtual, erect and larger than the object. Where should be the position of the object?v
  1. a. Between the principal focus and the centre of curvature
  2. b. At the centre of curvature
  3. c. Beyond the centre of curvature
  4. d. Between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus.
Solution

A concave mirror forms a virtual, erect and enlarged image only when the object is between P and F.

Answer:

(d) Between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus.

Q.3Where should an object be placed in front of a convex lens to get a real image of the size of the object?v
  1. a. At the principal focus of the lens
  2. b. At twice the focal length
  3. c. At infinity
  4. d. Between the optical centre of the lens and its principal focus.
Solution

A convex lens forms a real image of the same size when the object is at 2F.

Answer:

(b) At twice the focal length

Q.4A spherical mirror and a thin spherical lens have each a focal length of -15 cm. The mirror and the lens are likely to bev
  1. a. both concave.
  2. b. both convex.
  3. c. the mirror is concave and the lens is convex.
  4. d. the mirror is convex, but the lens is concave.
Solution

A concave mirror has negative focal length, and a concave lens also has negative focal length under the Cartesian sign convention.

Answer:

(a) both concave.

Q.5No matter how far you stand from a mirror, your image appears erect. The mirror is likely to bev
  1. a. only plane.
  2. b. only concave.
  3. c. only convex.
  4. d. either plane or convex.
Solution

Plane and convex mirrors always form erect images; a concave mirror can form inverted images for many object positions.

Answer:

(d) either plane or convex.

Q.6Which of the following lenses would you prefer to use while reading small letters found in a dictionary?v
  1. a. A convex lens of focal length 50 cm.
  2. b. A concave lens of focal length 50 cm.
  3. c. A convex lens of focal length 5 cm.
  4. d. A concave lens of focal length 5 cm.
Solution

A magnifying glass is a convex lens. A smaller focal length gives higher power and greater magnification.

Answer:

(c) A convex lens of focal length 5 cm.

Q.7We wish to obtain an erect image of an object, using a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm. What should be the range of distance of the object from the mirror? What is the nature of the image? Is the image larger or smaller than the object? Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation in this case.v
Answer:

The object should be placed between the pole and the principal focus, so its distance from the mirror should be less than 15 cm. The image formed is virtual, erect and larger than the object, and it is formed behind the mirror. In the ray diagram, one ray parallel to the principal axis reflects as if it comes from F, and another ray directed towards the centre of curvature reflects back along the same path; their backward extensions meet behind the mirror.

Q.8Name the type of mirror used in the following situations. (a) Headlights of a car. (b) Side/rear-view mirror of a vehicle. (c) Solar furnace. Support your answer with reason.v
Answer:

(a) Headlights of a car: concave mirror, because it can produce a strong parallel beam when the bulb is placed at its focus.
(b) Side/rear-view mirror: convex mirror, because it gives an erect diminished image with a wide field of view.
(c) Solar furnace: concave mirror, because it concentrates parallel sunlight at its focus to produce high temperature.

Q.9One-half of a convex lens is covered with a black paper. Will this lens produce a complete image of the object? Verify your answer experimentally. Explain your observations.v
Answer:

Yes, it will produce a complete image, but the image will be less bright. Each part of a convex lens receives light from every point of the object and can form the whole image. Covering half the lens reduces the amount of light passing through it.

Q.10An object 5 cm in length is held 25 cm away from a converging lens of focal length 10 cm. Draw the ray diagram and find the position, size and the nature of the image formed.v
Solution

For a convex lens, f = +10 cm, u = -25 cm, h = +5 cm. Lens formula: 1/v - 1/u = 1/f. So 1/v + 1/25 = 1/10, hence 1/v = 1/10 - 1/25 = 3/50 and v = 50/3 = 16.7 cm. Magnification m = v/u = 16.7/(-25) = -0.667. Image height h′ = mh = -0.667 × 5 = -3.3 cm.

Answer:

The image is formed 16.7 cm on the other side of the lens. Its size is about 3.3 cm, and it is real, inverted and diminished.

Q.11A concave lens of focal length 15 cm forms an image 10 cm from the lens. How far is the object placed from the lens? Draw the ray diagram.v
Solution

For a concave lens, f = -15 cm and the virtual image is on the same side, so v = -10 cm. Lens formula: 1/v - 1/u = 1/f. Therefore -1/10 - 1/u = -1/15, so -1/u = 1/30 and u = -30 cm.

Answer:

The object is placed 30 cm in front of the lens.

Q.12An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find the position and nature of the image.v
Solution

For a convex mirror, f = +15 cm and u = -10 cm. Mirror formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f. So 1/v - 1/10 = 1/15, hence 1/v = 1/15 + 1/10 = 1/6 and v = +6 cm. Positive v means the image is behind the mirror.

Answer:

The image is formed 6 cm behind the mirror. It is virtual, erect and diminished.

Q.13The magnification produced by a plane mirror is +1. What does this mean?v
Answer:

The positive sign means the image is virtual and erect. The value 1 means the image is the same size as the object. In a plane mirror, the image is also formed as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.

Q.14An object 5.0 cm in length is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of a convex mirror of radius of curvature 30 cm. Find the position of the image, its nature and size.v
Solution

For a convex mirror, R = 30 cm, so f = +15 cm. u = -20 cm, h = +5.0 cm. Mirror formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f, so 1/v - 1/20 = 1/15. Hence 1/v = 1/15 + 1/20 = 7/60 and v = 60/7 = 8.6 cm. Magnification m = -v/u = -8.6/(-20) = 0.43. Image height h′ = 0.43 × 5.0 = 2.1 cm.

Answer:

The image is formed about 8.6 cm behind the mirror. It is virtual, erect and diminished, with size about 2.1 cm.

Q.15An object of size 7.0 cm is placed at 27 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length 18 cm. At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed, so that a sharp focussed image can be obtained? Find the size and the nature of the image.v
Solution

For a concave mirror, f = -18 cm, u = -27 cm, h = +7.0 cm. Mirror formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f. Thus 1/v - 1/27 = -1/18, so 1/v = -1/18 + 1/27 = -1/54 and v = -54 cm. Magnification m = -v/u = -(-54)/(-27) = -2. Therefore h′ = -2 × 7.0 = -14 cm.

Answer:

The screen should be placed 54 cm in front of the mirror. The image size is 14 cm, and the image is real, inverted and enlarged.

Q.16Find the focal length of a lens of power -2.0 D. What type of lens is this?v
Solution

Power P = 1/f, with f in metres. f = 1/P = 1/(-2.0) = -0.50 m. Negative focal length indicates a concave/diverging lens.

Answer:

The focal length is -0.50 m, or -50 cm. It is a concave lens.

Q.17A doctor has prescribed a corrective lens of power +1.5 D. Find the focal length of the lens. Is the prescribed lens diverging or converging?v
Solution

f = 1/P = 1/(+1.5) = +0.667 m. Positive power means a converging convex lens.

Answer:

The focal length is +0.67 m, or about +66.7 cm. The lens is converging, so it is a convex lens.