Class 10 Science: Spherical Mirrors — Practice Questions with Answers
Exam-style CBSE practice questions on Spherical Mirrors (Light – Reflection and Refraction). Try each one first, then reveal the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Free, from EduLevel — the AI teacher for CBSE.
Q1easy1 mark
A concave mirror produces a virtual, erect, and magnified image. What is the correct location of the object?
Between the principal focus and the centre of curvature
At the centre of curvature
Beyond the centre of curvature
Between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus
Need a hint?
Recall the different types of images formed by a concave mirror and the conditions required for each, particularly focusing on virtual and magnified images.
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Answer: Between the pole of the mirror and its principal focus
Explanation: A concave mirror forms a virtual, erect, and magnified image only when the object is placed between the pole (P) and the principal focus (F).
Q2medium1 mark
A spherical mirror and a thin spherical lens both have a focal length of -15 cm. What type are the mirror and the lens?
both concave
both convex
the mirror is concave and the lens is convex
the mirror is convex and the lens is concave
Need a hint?
Recall the sign convention for focal length in spherical mirrors and thin spherical lenses. A negative focal length indicates a specific type of curvature for both optical devices.
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Answer: both concave
Explanation: According to the sign convention, a negative focal length is characteristic of both a concave mirror and a concave lens.
Q3easy1 markCBSE 2024
A mirror 'X' is used in a solar furnace to concentrate sunlight, and a mirror 'Y' is installed as a side-view mirror on a vehicle. From the following statements, determine which are true for both mirrors.
(i) The image formed by mirror 'X' is real, diminished, and located at its focus.
(ii) The image formed by mirror 'Y' is virtual, diminished, and erect.
(iii) The image formed by mirror 'X' is virtual, diminished, and erect.
(iv) The image formed by mirror 'Y' is real, diminished, and located at its focus.
(i) and (ii)
(ii) and (iii)
(iii) and (iv)
(i) and (iv)
Need a hint?
Consider the types of mirrors commonly used in solar furnaces and as side-view mirrors. Think about the properties of the images formed by concave and convex mirrors.
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Answer: (i) and (ii)
Explanation: Mirror X, used in a solar furnace, is a concave mirror which forms a real, highly diminished image at the focus. Mirror Y, a rear-view mirror, is a convex mirror which always forms a virtual, diminished, and erect image.
Q4easy1 markCBSE 2024
An object is located 30 cm from the pole of a concave mirror. A real, inverted image is formed 60 cm in front of the mirror. What is the focal length of this mirror?
-15 cm
-20 cm
+20 cm
+15 cm
Need a hint?
Recall the mirror formula that relates object distance, image distance, and focal length for spherical mirrors.
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Answer: -20 cm
Explanation: Using the mirror formula 1/f = 1/v + 1/u, with u = -30 cm and v = -60 cm (both negative as they are in front of the mirror), the focal length f is calculated to be -20 cm.
Q5easy1 markCBSE 2024
To obtain a magnified image of a patient's teeth, a dentist uses a concave mirror. What should be the position of the teeth with respect to the mirror?
at the focus of the mirror
between the pole and the focus of the mirror
between the focus and the centre of curvature of the mirror
at the centre of curvature of the mirror
Need a hint?
Think about the type of image a dentist needs to see and the properties of concave mirrors when forming magnified images.
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Answer: between the pole and the focus of the mirror
Explanation: A concave mirror produces a virtual, erect, and magnified image only when the object is placed between its pole and principal focus.
Q6easy1 markCBSE 2022
An optical device forms an erect image of an object placed in front of it. If the size of the image is one half that of the object, what is the optical device?
concave mirror
convex mirror
plane mirror
convex lens
Need a hint?
Recall the properties of images formed by different optical devices. Think about which devices can form erect images.
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Answer: convex mirror
Explanation: A convex mirror always forms a virtual, erect, and diminished image of a real object, which matches the description of an erect image that is half the object's size.
Q7easy1 markCBSE 2022
The relation R = 2f, where R is the radius of curvature and f is the focal length, is valid for which of the following?
for concave mirrors but not for convex mirrors
for convex mirrors but not for concave mirrors
neither for concave mirrors nor for convex mirrors
for both concave and convex mirrors
Need a hint?
Consider the fundamental relationship between the radius of curvature and the focal length of spherical mirrors. This relationship is derived from the geometry of how light rays reflect.
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Answer: for both concave and convex mirrors
Explanation: The formula R = 2f is a fundamental relationship for spherical mirrors that holds true for both concave and convex types, assuming they have a small aperture.
Q8medium1 markCBSE 2022
A converging mirror has a radius of curvature of 30 cm. To obtain a virtual image, what should be the range of distance for placing an object from the mirror?
At infinity
At 30 cm
Between 15 cm and 30 cm
Between 0 cm and 15 cm
Need a hint?
Recall the conditions under which a converging mirror (concave mirror) forms a virtual image. This typically happens when the object is placed within a specific region relative to the mirror.
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Answer: Between 0 cm and 15 cm
Explanation: A converging (concave) mirror produces a virtual image only when the object is placed between its pole and principal focus. Given the radius of curvature R = 30 cm, the focal length f = R/2 = 15 cm. Thus, the object must be placed at a distance less than 15 cm from the mirror.
Q9easy1 markCBSE 2022
In which of the following applications is a concave mirror used?
a solar cooker
a rear view mirror in vehicles
a safety mirror in shopping malls
in viewing full size image of distant tall buildings
Need a hint?
Think about the primary characteristic of a concave mirror: it converges light rays. Which of the options benefits from concentrating light or heat?
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Answer: a solar cooker
Explanation: Concave mirrors are converging mirrors, which makes them suitable for solar cookers where they concentrate parallel rays of sunlight to a focal point to generate heat.
Q10easy1 markCBSE 2022
If both a lens and a spherical mirror are found to have a focal length of -15 cm, what can be concluded about their types?
both are concave
the lens is concave and the mirror is convex
the lens is convex and the mirror is concave
both are convex
Need a hint?
Recall the sign conventions for focal length of lenses and mirrors. A negative focal length usually indicates a diverging nature for lenses and a converging nature for spherical mirrors.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: both are concave
Explanation: According to the Cartesian sign convention, a negative focal length is characteristic of both a concave mirror and a concave lens. Therefore, both optical devices are concave.
Q11medium1 markCBSE 2022
An object with a height of 4 cm is placed at a distance of 30 cm from the pole of a diverging mirror. If the focal length of the mirror is 10 cm, what is the height of the image formed?
+3.0 cm
+2.5 cm
+1.0 cm
+0.75 cm
Need a hint?
Recall the mirror formula and the magnification formula for spherical mirrors. Remember the sign conventions for diverging mirrors.
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Answer: +1.0 cm
Explanation: For a diverging (convex) mirror, u=-30cm, f=+10cm, h=+4cm. Using the mirror formula 1/v + 1/u = 1/f, we find v = +7.5 cm. Magnification m = h'/h = -v/u, so h' = h * (-v/u) = 4 * (-7.5 / -30) = +1.0 cm.
Q12medium1 markCBSE 2021
An object, 4 cm tall, is placed 30 cm in front of a diverging mirror that has a focal length of 10 cm. Calculate the height of the image.
+3.0 cm
+2.5 cm
+1.0 cm
+0.75 cm
Need a hint?
Remember the mirror formula and the magnification formula, which relate object distance, image distance, focal length, and object/image heights.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: +1.0 cm
Explanation: Using the mirror formula (1/f = 1/v + 1/u) for a diverging mirror (f=+10 cm, u=-30 cm), the image distance v is found. Then, the magnification formula (m = h_i/h_o = -v/u) is used to calculate the image height, which is +1.0 cm.
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