Tag: problems on mirror and magnification formula

Questions Related to problems on mirror and magnification formula

The focal length of a concave mirror is f and the distance from the object to the principal focus is p. The ratio of the size of the real image to the size of the object is:

  1. $-\displaystyle \frac{f}{p}$

  2. $\displaystyle \left(\frac{f}{p}\right)^2$

  3. $\displaystyle \left(\frac{f}{p}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}$

  4. $-\displaystyle \frac{p}{f}$

  5. $-fp$


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Distance of object is $u= -(f+p)$
$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$ gives:
$\dfrac{1}{v}-\dfrac{1}{f+p}= -\dfrac{1}{f}$
or, $\dfrac{1}{v}= -\dfrac{1}{f}+\dfrac{1}{f+p}$
or, $\dfrac{1}{v}= -\dfrac{p}{(f+p)\times f}$
or, $v= -\dfrac{(f+p)\times f}{p}$      (-ve sign indicates image is real) 
   Magnification $=-\dfrac{v}{u}$ 
           $=-\dfrac{(f+p)\times f}{p\times (f+p)}$   
           $=-\dfrac{f}{p}$  (-ve sign indicates inverted)
    So, ratio of size of image to that of object is: $-\dfrac{f}{p}$

A concave spherical mirror has a focal length of 12 cm. if an object is placed 6 cm in front of it, the position of the magic is 

  1. 4 cm behind the mirror

  2. 4 cm in front of the mirror

  3. 12 cm behind the mirror

  4. 12 cm in front of the mirror


Correct Option: A

A glass hemisphere of radius R and of material having refractive index 1.5 is silvered on its flat face as shown in figure . a small object of height h is located at distance 2R from the surface of hemisphere as shown in the figure. the final image will form

  1. At a distance of R from silvered surface, on the right side

  2. on the object itself

  3. at hemisphere surface

  4. refractive index


Correct Option: B

A small piece of wire bent into L shape such that the upright and horizontal portions are of equal length. It is placed with the horizontal portion along the axis of concave mirror of radius of curvature 20 cm. If the bend is 40 cm from the pole of the mirror, then the ratio of the length of the images of the upright and horizontal portions of the wire is

  1. 1 : 9

  2. 1 : 3

  3. 3 : 1

  4. 2 :1


Correct Option: C
Explanation:
$u= -40$ ; $f= -10$

$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$

$\dfrac{1}{v}-\dfrac{1}{40}=\dfrac{-1}{10}$

$v=\dfrac{-40}{3}$

magnification=$\dfrac{-v}{u}=\dfrac{-1}{3}$

lateral magnification is $\dfrac{f^{2}}{(u-f)^{2}}$

                                 =  $\dfrac{100}{(40-10)^{2}}$

                                 =  $\dfrac{1}{9}$

ratio of up-right portion to lateral portion is $\dfrac{\dfrac{1}{3}}{\dfrac{1}{9}}=3:1$, hence option $C$ is correct 

A small piece of wire bent into an L shape, with upright and horizontal portions of equal lengths, is placed with the horizontal portion along the axis of the concave mirror whose radius of curvature is 10 cm. If the bend is 20 cm from the pole of the mirror, then the ratio of the lengths of the images of the upright and horizontal portions of the wire is :

  1. 1:2

  2. 3:1

  3. 1:3

  4. 2:1


Correct Option: B
Explanation:
Given, $u= -20$ ; $f= -5$

From mirror formula, $\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$

$\dfrac{1}{v}-\dfrac{1}{20}=\dfrac{-1}{5}$

$v=\dfrac{-20}{3}$

magnification=$\dfrac{-v}{u}=\dfrac{-1}{3}$

lateral magnification is $\dfrac{f^{2}}{(u-f)^{2}}$

                                 =  $\dfrac{25}{(20-5)^{2}}$

                                 =  $\dfrac{1}{9}$
Ratio of up-right portion to lateral portion is $\dfrac{\dfrac{1}{3}}{\dfrac{1}{9}}=3:1$

option $B$ is correct 

An object is kept at 15 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 25 cm. What is the magnification?

  1. 4/9

  2. 5/8

  3. 9/4

  4. 8/5


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Magnification for a mirror, $m = \dfrac{f}{f-u}$

As per sign convention: $u = -15\ cm$, $f = 25\ cm$
So, $m=\dfrac{25}{25+15}=\dfrac{5}{8}$

The image of an object placed on the principal axis of a concave mirror of focal length 12 cm is formed at a point which is 10 cm more distance from the mirror than the object. The magnification of the image is:

  1. 8/3

  2. 2.5

  3. 2

  4. 1.5


Correct Option: D
Explanation:
Let the object distance be $u$ then image distance is $u+10$
$u= -u$ ; $v= -(u+10)$ ; $f= -12$
$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$
$\dfrac{-1}{u+10}+\dfrac{-1}{u}=\dfrac{-1}{12}$
$\dfrac{2u+10}{u(u+10)}=\dfrac{1}{12}$
$u=20$cm
$v=-30$cm
Magnification is $-\dfrac{v}{u}= -\dfrac{30}{20}= -1.5$

Mark the correct statement(s) w.r.t. a concave spherical mirror

  1. for real extended object, it can form a diminished virtual image

  2. for real extended object, it can form a magnified virtual image

  3. for virtual extended object, it can form a diminished real image

  4. for virtual extended object, it can form a magnified real image


Correct Option: B,C
Explanation:
$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$

$v= \dfrac{fu}{u-f}$

magnification is $\dfrac{-v}{u}=\dfrac{f}{f-u}$

if $f>|u|$ (u<0) then a magnified image is formed which is virtual 

if $u>2f$ (u>0) then a diminished image is formed which is real 

option $B,C$ are correct

A beam of light converges towards a point O, behind a convex mirror of focal length 20 cm. Find the magnification and nature of the image when point O is 30 cm behind the mirror.

  1. 2 (virtual, inverted)

  2. 3 (real, inverted)

  3. 3, (virtual, enlarged)

  4. +1 (real, enlarged)


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

$u=30$ ; $f=20$ 


$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$

$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{30}=\dfrac{1}{20}$

$v= 60$

Image is virtual (v>0) 

Magnification is $-\dfrac{v}{u}= -\dfrac{60}{30}= -2$ (<0) hence it is inverted.

A beam of light converges towards a point O, behind a convex mirror of focal length 20 cm. Find the magnification and nature of the image when point O is 10 cm behind the mirror :

  1. $2$ (Virtual, Inverted)

  2. $3$ (Real, Inverted)

  3. $5$ (Real, Erect)

  4. $2$ (Virtual, Erect)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:
$u=10$ ; $f=20$ 
$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{u}=\dfrac{1}{f}$
$\dfrac{1}{v}+\dfrac{1}{10}=\dfrac{1}{20}$
$v= -20$
Image is real  , Magnification is $-\dfrac{v}{u}= -\dfrac{-20}{10}=2$ ( > 0) Hence, it is erect.