CBSE · NCERT · Class 12 Physics · Chapter 9

NCERT Solutions: Class 12 Physics Chapter 9 - Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Ray Optics and Optical Instruments, 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.
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Exercises 25
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1Exercises25 questions
Q.9.1A small candle, 2.5 cm in size is placed at 27 cm in front of a concave mirror of radius of curvature 36 cm. At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed in order to obtain a sharp image? Describe the nature and size of the image. If the candle is moved closer to the mirror, how would the screen have to be moved?v
Solution

For a concave mirror, $f=-R/2=-18\,\text{cm}$ and $u=-27\,\text{cm}$. From $1/v+1/u=1/f$, $1/v=-1/18+1/27=-1/54$, so $v=-54\,\text{cm}$. The image is formed in front of the mirror and can be caught on a screen. Magnification $m=-v/u=-(-54)/(-27)=-2$, so image height $=-2(2.5)=-5.0\,\text{cm}$, i.e. inverted. As the object approaches the focus from beyond it, $|v|$ increases.

Answer:

The screen should be placed $54\,\text{cm}$ in front of the mirror. The image is real, inverted and $5.0\,\text{cm}$ high. As the candle is moved closer to the mirror but remains beyond the focus, the screen must be moved farther away.

Q.9.2A 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Give the location of the image and the magnification. Describe what happens as the needle is moved farther from the mirror.v
Solution

For a convex mirror, $f=+15\,\text{cm}$ and $u=-12\,\text{cm}$. From $1/v+1/u=1/f$, $1/v=1/15+1/12=9/60$, giving $v=6.67\,\text{cm}$. Magnification is $m=-v/u=-6.67/(-12)=0.56$. Positive $v$ means the image is behind the mirror; positive magnification means it is erect.

Answer:

The image is $6.7\,\text{cm}$ behind the mirror, with magnification $0.56$. It is virtual, erect and diminished. As the needle is moved farther away, the image moves towards the focus and becomes smaller.

Q.9.3A tank is filled with water to a height of 12.5 cm. The apparent depth of a needle lying at the bottom of the tank is measured by a microscope to be 9.4 cm. What is the refractive index of water? If water is replaced by a liquid of refractive index 1.63 up to the same height, by what distance would the microscope have to be moved to focus on the needle again?v
Solution

For near-normal viewing, $\mu=\text{real depth}/\text{apparent depth}=12.5/9.4=1.33$. In the new liquid, apparent depth $=12.5/1.63=7.67\,\text{cm}$. The image appears closer to the surface than before by $9.4-7.67=1.73\,\text{cm}$, so the microscope must be moved upward by this amount.

Answer:

The refractive index of water is $1.33$. With the liquid of refractive index $1.63$, the microscope must be raised by about $1.7\,\text{cm}$.

Q.9.5A small bulb is placed at the bottom of a tank containing water to a depth of 80cm. What is the area of the surface of water through which light from the bulb can emerge out? Refractive index of water is 1.33. (Consider the bulb to be a point source.)v
Solution

Light emerges only within the cone whose semi-angle is the critical angle. For water-air, $\sin i_c=1/1.33$, so $\tan i_c=1.14$. The radius of the emergent circular patch is $r=h\tan i_c=0.80(1.14)=0.91\,\text{m}$. Area $=\pi r^2=2.6\,\text{m}^2$.

Answer:

$2.6\,\text{m}^2$ approximately.

Q.9.6A prism is made of glass of unknown refractive index. A parallel beam of light is incident on a face of the prism. The angle of minimum deviation is measured to be 40°. What is the refractive index of the material of the prism? The refracting angle of the prism is 60°. If the prism is placed in water (refractive index 1.33), predict the new angle of minimum deviation of a parallel beam of light.v
Solution

For minimum deviation, $n=\sin[(A+D_m)/2]/\sin(A/2)=\sin50^\circ/\sin30^\circ=1.53$. In water, the relative refractive index is $1.53/1.33=1.15$. Thus $\sin[(60^\circ+D'_m)/2]=1.15\sin30^\circ=0.576$. Hence $(60^\circ+D'_m)/2=35.2^\circ$ and $D'_m=10.4^\circ$.

Answer:

The refractive index of the prism is $1.53$. In water, the new angle of minimum deviation is about $10.4^\circ$.

Q.9.7Double-convex lenses are to be manufactured from a glass of refractive index 1.55, with both faces of the same radius of curvature. What is the radius of curvature required if the focal length is to be 20cm?v
Solution

For an equiconvex lens in air, $R_1=R$, $R_2=-R$, and $1/f=(n-1)(1/R_1-1/R_2)=2(n-1)/R$. Therefore $R=2(n-1)f=2(0.55)(20)=22\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

$22\,\text{cm}$.

Q.9.8A beam of light converges at a point P. Now a lens is placed in the path of the convergent beam 12cm from P. At what point does the beam converge if the lens is (a) a convex lens of focal length 20cm, and (b) a concave lens of focal length 16cm?v
Solution

The point P acts as a virtual object for the lens, so $u=+12\,\text{cm}$. Using $1/v-1/u=1/f$: for the convex lens, $1/v=1/20+1/12$, so $v=7.5\,\text{cm}$. For the concave lens, $f=-16\,\text{cm}$, so $1/v=-1/16+1/12=1/48$, giving $v=48\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

(a) $7.5\,\text{cm}$ beyond the lens. (b) $48\,\text{cm}$ beyond the lens.

Q.9.9An object of size 3.0cm is placed 14cm in front of a concave lens of focal length 21cm. Describe the image produced by the lens. What happens if the object is moved further away from the lens?v
Solution

For a concave lens, $f=-21\,\text{cm}$ and $u=-14\,\text{cm}$. From $1/v-1/u=1/f$, $1/v=-1/21-1/14=-5/42$, so $v=-8.4\,\text{cm}$. Magnification $m=v/u=(-8.4)/(-14)=0.60$, so image height $=0.60(3.0)=1.8\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

The image is virtual, erect and diminished, formed $8.4\,\text{cm}$ from the lens on the object side, with height $1.8\,\text{cm}$. If the object is moved farther away, the image moves towards the focus and becomes still smaller.

Q.9.10What is the focal length of a convex lens of focal length 30cm in contact with a concave lens of focal length 20cm? Is the system a converging or a diverging lens? Ignore thickness of the lenses.v
Solution

For lenses in contact, $1/F=1/f_1+1/f_2=1/30+1/(-20)=-1/60$. Thus $F=-60\,\text{cm}$, so the combination behaves as a diverging lens.

Answer:

$-60\,\text{cm}$; the system is diverging.

Q.9.11A compound microscope consists of an objective lens of focal length 2.0 cm and an eyepiece of focal length 6.25 cm separated by a distance of 15cm. How far from the objective should an object be placed in order to obtain the final image at (a) the least distance of distinct vision (25cm), and (b) at infinity? What is the magnifying power of the microscope in each case?v
Solution

For final image at $25\,\text{cm}$, the eyepiece has $v_e=-25\,\text{cm}$ and $f_e=6.25\,\text{cm}$, giving $u_e=-5\,\text{cm}$. Thus the objective image is $10\,\text{cm}$ from the objective. With $f_o=2\,\text{cm}$, $1/10-1/u_o=1/2$, so $u_o=-2.5\,\text{cm}$. Objective magnification is $4$ in magnitude and eyepiece magnification is $1+D/f_e=5$, so total is $20$. For final image at infinity, $u_e=-6.25\,\text{cm}$, so objective image distance is $8.75\,\text{cm}$. Then $u_o=-2.59\,\text{cm}$. The magnifying power is $(8.75/2.59)(25/6.25)=13.5$ approximately.

Answer:

(a) Object distance $2.5\,\text{cm}$; magnifying power $20$. (b) Object distance $2.59\,\text{cm}$; magnifying power about $13.5$.

Q.9.12A person with a normal near point (25 cm) using a compound microscope with objective of focal length 8.0 mm and an eyepiece of focal length 2.5cm can bring an object placed at 9.0mm from the objective in sharp focus. What is the separation between the two lenses? Calculate the magnifying power of the microscope,v
Solution

For the objective, $f_o=0.80\,\text{cm}$ and $u_o=-0.90\,\text{cm}$. From $1/v_o-1/u_o=1/f_o$, $v_o=7.2\,\text{cm}$. For final image at the near point, the eyepiece has $f_e=2.5\,\text{cm}$ and $v_e=-25\,\text{cm}$, giving $u_e=-2.27\,\text{cm}$. Hence lens separation $=7.2+2.27=9.47\,\text{cm}$. Objective magnification is $|v_o/u_o|=8$ and eyepiece magnification is $1+25/2.5=11$, so total magnifying power $=88$.

Answer:

The lens separation is about $9.5\,\text{cm}$ and the magnifying power is about $88$.

Q.9.13A small telescope has an objective lens of focal length 144cm and an eyepiece of focal length 6.0cm. What is the magnifying power of the telescope? What is the separation between the objective and the eyepiece?v
Solution

For normal adjustment, magnifying power of a telescope is $m=f_o/f_e=144/6.0=24$. The lens separation is $f_o+f_e=144+6.0=150\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

Magnifying power $=24$; separation $=150\,\text{cm}$.

Q.9.14(a) A giant refracting telescope at an observatory has an objective lens of focal length 15m. If an eyepiece of focal length 1.0cm is used, what is the angular magnification of the telescope? (b) If this telescope is used to view the moon, what is the diameter of the image of the moon formed by the objective lens? The diameter of the moon is 3.48 × 106m, and the radius of lunar orbit is 3.8 × 108m.v
Solution

Angular magnification in normal adjustment is $f_o/f_e=15/0.010=1500$. The angular diameter of the moon is approximately $3.48\times10^6/(3.8\times10^8)=9.16\times10^{-3}\,\text{rad}$. The objective image diameter is $f_o\theta=15(9.16\times10^{-3})=0.137\,\text{m}$.

Answer:

(a) $1500$. (b) $0.137\,\text{m}$, or about $13.7\,\text{cm}$.

Q.9.15Use the mirror equation to deduce that: (a) an object placed between f and 2f of a concave mirror produces a real image beyond 2f. (b) a convex mirror always produces a virtual image independent of the location of the object. (c) the virtual image produced by a convex mirror is always diminished in size and is located between the focus and the pole. (d) an object placed between the pole and focus of a concave mirror produces a virtual and enlarged image. [Note: This exercise helps you deduce algebraically properties of images that one obtains from explicit ray diagrams.]v
Solution

For a concave mirror, $f<0$ and a real object has $u<0$. If $f<u<2f$ in magnitude, solving the mirror equation gives $v<2f$ in sign convention, meaning a real image beyond $2f$. For a convex mirror, $f>0$ and $u<0$, so $1/v=1/f-1/u$ is positive for all object positions; hence $v>0$, a virtual image behind the mirror. Also $v<f$, so it lies between pole and focus, and $m=-v/u<1$, so it is diminished. For a concave mirror with the object between pole and focus, $|u|<|f|$, which gives $v>0$, a virtual image; $m=-v/u>1$, so it is enlarged.

Answer:

All four results follow directly from $1/v+1/u=1/f$ with the Cartesian sign convention.

Q.9.16A small pin fixed on a table top is viewed from above from a distance of 50cm. By what distance would the pin appear to be raised if it is viewed from the same point through a 15cm thick glass slab held parallel to the table? Refractive index of glass = 1.5. Does the answer depend on the location of the slab?v
Solution

Apparent upward shift through a parallel slab is $t(1-1/\mu)$. Thus shift $=15[1-1/1.5]=15(1/3)=5\,\text{cm}$. The result depends on thickness and refractive index, not on where the slab is placed between eye and object.

Answer:

The pin appears raised by $5\,\text{cm}$. The shift does not depend on the slab's location, as long as it is parallel to the table.

Q.9.18The image of a small electric bulb fixed on the wall of a room is to be obtained on the opposite wall 3m away by means of a large convex lens. What is the maximum possible focal length of the lens required for the purpose?v
Solution

For a real image on a screen separated from the object by fixed distance $D=3\,\text{m}$, the maximum focal length occurs when object and image distances are equal: $u=v=D/2$. Then $f=uv/(u+v)=D/4=3/4=0.75\,\text{m}$.

Answer:

$0.75\,\text{m}$.

Q.9.19A screen is placed 90cm from an object. The image of the object on the screen is formed by a convex lens at two different locations separated by 20cm. Determine the focal length of the lens.v
Solution

Using the displacement method, $f=(D^2-d^2)/(4D)$, where $D=90\,\text{cm}$ is the object-screen distance and $d=20\,\text{cm}$ is the separation between lens positions. Thus $f=(90^2-20^2)/(4\times90)=7700/360=21.4\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

$21.4\,\text{cm}$.

Q.9.21At what angle should a ray of light be incident on the face of a prism of refracting angle 60° so that it just suffers total internal reflection at the other face? The refractive index of the material of the prism is 1.524.v
Solution

For just total internal reflection at the second face, the internal incidence angle there equals the critical angle, $\sin c=1/1.524$, so $c=41.0^\circ$. Inside the prism, $r_1+r_2=A=60^\circ$, so $r_1=60^\circ-41.0^\circ=19.0^\circ$. At the first face, $\sin i=1.524\sin19.0^\circ=0.496$, giving $i=29.8^\circ$.

Answer:

$29.8^\circ$ approximately.

Q.9.22A card sheet divided into squares each of size 1 mm2 is being viewed at a distance of 9 cm through a magnifying glass (a converging lens of focal length 9 cm) held close to the eye. (a) What is the magnification produced by the lens? How much is the area of each square in the virtual image? (b) What is the angular magnification (magnifying power) of the lens? (c) Is the magnification in (a) equal to the magnifying power in (b)? Explain.v
Solution

The card is at the focal plane of the magnifying glass, so the virtual image is formed at infinity. Therefore its linear size cannot be assigned a finite value. The angular magnification for relaxed viewing is $D/f=25/9=2.8$. This is not the same as linear magnification; angular magnification compares the viewing angle with and without the magnifier.

Answer:

(a) The image is at infinity, so linear magnification and image area are not finite useful quantities. (b) Angular magnification is $25/9=2.8$. (c) No; linear magnification and angular magnification are different concepts.

Q.9.23(a) At what distance should the lens be held from the card sheet in Exercise 9.22 in order to view the squares distinctly with the maximum possible magnifying power? (b) What is the magnification in this case? (c) Is the magnification equal to the magnifying power in this case? Explain.v
Solution

For maximum magnifying power, the final image is at the near point, $v=-25\,\text{cm}$, with $f=9\,\text{cm}$. From $1/v-1/u=1/f$, $-1/25-1/u=1/9$, giving $u=-6.62\,\text{cm}$. The linear magnification is $|v/u|=25/6.62=3.8$, equal to $1+D/f=1+25/9=3.8$ when the eye is close to the lens.

Answer:

(a) $6.6\,\text{cm}$. (b) $3.8$. (c) With the eye close to the lens and final image at the near point, the linear magnification equals the angular magnifying power numerically.

Q.9.24What should be the distance between the object in Exercise 9.23 and the magnifying glass if the virtual image of each square in the figure is to have an area of 6.25 mm2. Would you be able to see the squares distinctly with your eyes very close to the magnifier? [Note: Exercises 9.22 to 9.24 will help you clearly understand the difference between magnification in absolute size and the angular magnification (or magnifying power) of an instrument.]v
Solution

Area magnification is $6.25/1=6.25$, so linear magnification is $m=2.5$. With $m=v/u=2.5$ and $1/v-1/u=1/f$ for $f=9\,\text{cm}$, putting $v=2.5u$ gives $u=-5.4\,\text{cm}$ and $v=-13.5\,\text{cm}$. Since the final image is at $13.5\,\text{cm}$, it is closer than the least distance of distinct vision, so it cannot be seen distinctly by a normal eye close to the lens.

Answer:

The object should be $5.4\,\text{cm}$ from the lens. No; the virtual image would be only $13.5\,\text{cm}$ from the lens, closer than the normal near point.

Q.9.26An angular magnification (magnifying power) of 30X is desired using an objective of focal length 1.25cm and an eyepiece of focal length 5cm. How will you set up the compound microscope?v
Solution

Using $m=(L/f_o)(1+D/f_e)$ with $D=25\,\text{cm}$, $f_o=1.25\,\text{cm}$ and $f_e=5\,\text{cm}$, $30=(L/1.25)(1+25/5)=6L/1.25$, so $L=6.25\,\text{cm}$, where $L$ is the distance between the second focal point of the objective and the first focal point of the eyepiece. Thus lens separation $=L+f_o+f_e=12.5\,\text{cm}$. For final image at $25\,\text{cm}$, the eyepiece object distance is $4.17\,\text{cm}$, so the objective image distance is $12.5-4.17=8.33\,\text{cm}$. The objective formula gives $u_o=-1.47\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

For final image at the near point, set the lens separation to about $12.5\,\text{cm}$ and place the object about $1.47\,\text{cm}$ in front of the objective.

Q.9.27A small telescope has an objective lens of focal length 140cm and an eyepiece of focal length 5.0cm. What is the magnifying power of the telescope for viewing distant objects when (a) the telescope is in normal adjustment (i.e., when the final image is at infinity)? (b) the final image is formed at the least distance of distinct vision (25cm)?v
Solution

For normal adjustment, $m=f_o/f_e=140/5.0=28$. When the final image is at the near point, $m=(f_o/f_e)(1+f_e/D)=28(1+5/25)=33.6$.

Answer:

(a) $28$. (b) $33.6$.

Q.9.28(a) For the telescope described in Exercise 9.27 (a), what is the separation between the objective lens and the eyepiece? (b) If this telescope is used to view a 100 m tall tower 3 km away, what is the height of the image of the tower formed by the objective lens? (c) What is the height of the final image of the tower if it is formed at 25cm?v
Solution

In normal adjustment, separation is $f_o+f_e=140+5=145\,\text{cm}$. The tower subtends angle $\theta=h/d=100/3000=1/30\,\text{rad}$. The objective image height is $f_o\theta=140\,\text{cm}/30=4.67\,\text{cm}$. If the final image is at $25\,\text{cm}$, eyepiece magnification is $1+D/f_e=1+25/5=6$, so final image height is $6(4.67)=28\,\text{cm}$.

Answer:

(a) $145\,\text{cm}$. (b) $4.7\,\text{cm}$. (c) About $28\,\text{cm}$.

Q.9.30Light incident normally on a plane mirror attached to a galvanometer coil retraces backwards as shown in Fig. 9.29. A current in the coil produces a deflection of 3.5o of the mirror. What is the displacement of the reflected spot of light on a screen placed 1.5 m away?v
Solution

When the mirror turns by $3.5^\circ$, the reflected ray turns by twice this angle, $7.0^\circ$. The spot displacement on a screen at distance $L=1.5\,\text{m}$ is $d=L\tan7.0^\circ=1.5(0.123)=0.184\,\text{m}$.

Answer:

$0.18\,\text{m}$ approximately.