PYQ Vault

Ray diagrams for mirrors

This type of question, asked 3 times: 2023, 2025, 2026. All 6 questions below, oldest first.

Try each one first, then open its answer.

  1. Question 1

    2023

    30 (A)
    Define the following terms in the context of a diverging mirror : (i) Principal focus (ii) Focal length Draw a labelled ray diagram to illustrate your answer.
  2. Question 2

    2023

    30
    (a) Complete the following ray diagram to show the formation of image : (b) Mention the nature, position and size of the image formed in this case. (c) State the sign of the image distance in this case using the Cartesian sign convention.
  3. Question 3

    2025

    13
    Identify from the following the ray diagram which shows the correct path of the reflected ray for the ray incident on a concave mirror as shown :

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  4. Question 4

    2025

    36 (b)
    (i) A student wishes to study the image formation by a concave mirror using candle flame as object. State the type of the image formed by the mirror and mention the change in the image formed, if any, that he observes when the candle flame is gradually moved away from the pole of the mirror. Draw a ray diagram to show the image formation when the object distance is nearly equal to the radius of curvature of the mirror. (ii) A convex mirror used for rear-view on an automobile has a focal length of 3⋅03{\cdot}0 m. If a bus is located at 6⋅06{\cdot}0 m from this mirror, use mirror formula to find the position of the image of the bus as seen in the mirror.
  5. Question 5

    2026

    34
    Redraw the following ray diagrams in your answer book and show the path of reflected/refracted ray :
  6. Question 6

    2026

    36
    (a) A ray of light after reflection from a concave mirror becomes parallel to its principal axis. Draw a labelled ray diagram to show this. (b) (i) Differentiate between the virtual images formed by a convex mirror and concave mirror. (ii) “The value of magnification ‘m’ for a mirror is −2-2.” Calculate the height of object if the height of image is 20 cm.