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Chapter 13 Worksheet: Geometric Optics

1) Which one of the following sets of characteristics describes the image formed by a plane
mirror?
A) real and inverted
B) real and upright
C) virtual and upright
D) virtual and inverted
E) virtual and larger than the object
Answer: C

2) The image formed in a plane mirror is

A) at the same distance in front of the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror.
B) a real image behind the mirror.
C) at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front of the mirror.
D) at a shorter distance behind the mirror than the distance the object is in front of the mirror.
E) at a larger distance behind the mirror than the distance the object is in front of the mirror.
Answer: C

3) You may have seen ambulances on the street with the letters of the word AMBULANCE
written on the front of them, in such a way as to appear correctly when viewed in your car's rear-
view mirror. (See the figure.) How do the letters appear when you look directly at the ambulance
(not through the mirror)?

A) a
B) b
C) c
D) d
E) e
Answer: E

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4) A lighted candle is placed a short distance from a plane mirror, as shown in the figure. At
which location will the image of the flame appear to be located?

A) at A
B) at B
C) at C
D) at M (at the mirror)
Answer: C

5) Which one of the following numbers is the correct magnification produced by a plane mirror?
A) 1/2
B) 1/4
C) 2
D) 1
E) 3/2
Answer: D

6) As you walk away from a plane mirror on a wall, the height of your image
A) gets smaller.
B) may or may not get smaller, depending on where the observer is positioned.
C) is always a real image, no matter how far you are from the mirror.
D) changes from being a virtual image to a real image as you pass the focal point.
E) is always the same size.
Answer: E

7) Suppose you place an object in front of a concave mirror. Which of the following statements
must be true? (There could be more than one correct choice.)
A) The image of the object will always be smaller than the object.
B) No matter where you place the object, a real image of the object will be formed.
C) The image of the object will always be inverted.
D) If you position the object between the mirror and the focal point of the mirror, its image must
be upright and virtual.
E) No matter where you place the object, the image of the object will always be virtual and
upright.
Answer: D

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8) Which statements about images are correct? (There could be more than one correct choice.)
A) A virtual image cannot be formed on a screen.
B) A virtual image cannot be viewed by the unaided eye.
C) A virtual image cannot be photographed.
D) A real image must be erect.
E) Mirrors always produce real images because they reflect light.
Answer: A

9) A negative magnification for a mirror means that

A) the image is inverted, and the mirror could be either concave or convex.
B) the image is upright, and the mirror is convex.
C) the image is inverted, and the mirror is convex.
D) the image is inverted, and the mirror is concave.
E) the image is upright, and the mirror could be either concave or convex.
Answer: D

10) The focal length of a concave mirror has a magnitude of 20 cm. What is its radius of
curvature?
A) 10 cm
B) 40 cm
C) -40 cm
D) 20 cm
E) -20 cm
Answer: B

11) The focal length of a convex mirror is has a magnitude of 20 cm. What is its radius of
curvature?
A) -10 cm
B) 40 cm
C) -40 cm
D) -20 cm
E) 20 cm
Answer: C

12) If a spherical concave mirror has a radius of curvature R, its focal length is
A) R/4.
B) R/2.
C) R.
D) 2R.
E) 4R.
Answer: B

13) If a spherical convex mirror has a radius of curvature R, the magnitude of its focal length is
A) R/2.
B) R/4.
C) R.
D) 2R.
E) 4R.
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Answer: A

14) Which of the following statements about spherical mirrors is correct? (There could be more
than one correct choice.)
A) A concave mirror always produces a real image.
B) A convex mirror always produces a virtual image.
C) A concave mirror always produces a virtual image.
D) A convex mirror always produces a real image.
E) A convex mirror always produces an upright image.
Answer: B, E

15) An object is placed to the left of a spherical mirror in front of the mirror. If the image of the
object is formed on the right side of the mirror, which of the following statements must be true?
(There could be more than one correct choice.)
A) The image is upright and the mirror must be convex.
B) The image is inverted and real, and the mirror must be convex.
C) The image is upright and the mirror must be concave.
D) The image is upright and virtual.
E) The mirror could be either concave or convex.
Answer: D, E

16) An object is placed in front of a convex mirror at a distance larger than twice the magnitude
of the focal length of the mirror. The image will appear
A) in front of the mirror.
B) inverted and reduced.
C) inverted and enlarged.
D) upright and reduced.
E) upright and enlarged.
Answer: D

17) A convex mirror has a focal length of magnitude f. An object is placed in front of this mirror
at a point f from the face of the mirror. The image will appear

A) behind the mirror.

B) upright and reduced.
C) upright and enlarged.
D) inverted and reduced.
E) inverted and enlarged.
Answer: B

18) If an object is placed at the center of curvature of concave mirror, the image formed by the
mirror is located
A) out beyond the center of curvature.
B) at the center of curvature.
C) between the center of curvature and the focal point.
D) at the focal point.
E) at infinity.

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Answer: B

19) If you stand in front of a convex mirror, at the same distance from it as its radius of
curvature,
A) you won't see your image because there is none.
B) you won't see your image because it is focused at infinity.
C) you will see your image and you will appear smaller than you.
D) you will see your image and you will appear larger than you.
E) you will see your image and it will be the same size as you except upside down.
Answer: C

20) If you stand in front of a convex mirror, at the same distance from it as its focal length,
A) you won't see your image because there is none.
B) you won't see your image because it is focused at infinity.
C) you will see your image and you will appear smaller than you.
D) you will see your image and you will appear larger than you.
E) you will see your image and it will be the same size as you except upside down.
Answer: C

21) Sometimes when you look into a curved mirror you see a magnified image (a great big you)
and sometimes you see a diminished image (a little you). If you look at the bottom (convex) side
of a shiny spoon, what will you see?
A) You won't see an image of yourself because no image will be formed.
B) You will see a little you, upside down.
C) You will see a little you, right side up.
D) You will see a little you, but whether you are right side up or upside down depends on how
near you are to the spoon.
E) You will either see a little you or a great big you, depending on how near you are to the
spoon.
Answer: C

22) Single concave spherical mirrors produce images that

A) are always smaller than the actual object.
B) are always larger than the actual object.
C) are always the same size as the actual object.
D) could be smaller than, larger than, or the same size as the actual object, depending on the
placement of the object.
E) are always real.
Answer: D

23) Single convex spherical mirrors produce images that

A) are always smaller than the actual object.
B) are always larger than the actual object.
C) are always the same size as the actual object.
D) could be larger than, smaller than, or the same size as the actual object, depending on the
placement of the object.
E) are sometimes real.
Answer: A
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24) A beam of light that is parallel to the principal axis strikes a concave mirror. What happens
to the reflected beam of light?
A) It also is parallel to the principal axis.
B) It is perpendicular to the principal axis.
C) It passes through the center of curvature of the mirror.
D) It passes through the focal point of the mirror.
E) It passes between the focal point and the center of curvature of the mirror.
Answer: D

25) A beam of light that is parallel to the principal axis strikes a convex mirror. What happens to
the reflected beam of light?
A) It also is parallel to the principal axis.
B) It is perpendicular to the principal axis.
C) It appears to be coming from the focal point on the other side of the mirror.
D) It appears to be coming from the center of curvature of the mirror.
E) It appears to be coming from a point between the focal point and the center of curvature of the
mirror.
Answer: C

26) An upright object is 50 cm from a concave mirror of radius 60 cm. The character of the
image is
A) real and upright.
B) real and inverted.
C) virtual and upright.
D) virtual and inverted.
Answer: B

27) Suppose you wanted to start a fire using a mirror to focus sunlight. Which of the following
statements is most accurate?
A) It would be best to use a plane mirror.
B) It would be best to use a convex mirror.
C) It would be best to use a concave mirror, with the object to be ignited positioned at the center
of curvature of the mirror.
D) It would be best to use a concave mirror, with the object to be ignited positioned halfway
between the mirror and its center of curvature.
E) One cannot start a fire using a mirror, since mirrors form only virtual images.
Answer: D

28) An object that is 75 cm tall is located 3.8 m in front of a plane mirror. The image formed by
the mirror appears to be
A) 1.9 m in front of the mirror.
B) on the mirror's surface.
C) 1.9 m behind the mirror's surface.
D) 3.8 m in front of the mirror.
E) 3.8 m behind the mirror's surface.
Answer: E

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29) A laser beam strikes a plane mirror's reflecting surface with an angle of incidence of 43°.
What is the angle between the incident ray and the reflected ray?
A) 43°
B) 86°
C) 45°
D) 90°
E) 0°
Answer: B

30) A person jogs toward a plane mirror at a speed of 3 m/s. How fast is he approaching his
image in the mirror?
A) 1 5 m/s
B) 3 m/s
C) 4 m/s
D) 5 m/s
E) 6 m/s
Answer: E

31) Two plane mirrors make an angle of with each other. A light ray enters the system and is
reflected once off of each mirror. Through what angle is the ray turned?
A) 60°
B) 90°
C) 120°
D) 150°
Answer: A

32) When an object is 12 cm in front of a concave mirror, the image is 3.0 cm in front of the
mirror? What is the focal length of the mirror?
A) -0.25 cm
B) 15 cm
C) 4.0 cm
D) 2.4 cm
E) -1.3 cm
Answer: D

33) An object that is 4.00 cm tall is placed 18.0 cm in front of a concave mirror having a focal
length of 20.0 cm. What is the location of its image in relation to the mirror and what are its
characteristics?
A) 180 cm on the other side of mirror, real, 6.00 times bigger
B) 10 cm on the other side of mirror, virtual, 10.0 times bigger
C) 18 cm on the same side of mirror, virtual, 2.25 times bigger
D) 20 cm on the same side of mirror, real, 10.0 times bigger
E) 180 cm on the other side of mirror, virtual, 10.0 times bigger
Answer: E

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34) An object that is 2.0 cm tall is placed at the center of curvature in front of a concave mirror.
How tall is its image?
A) 0.50 cm
B) 1.0 cm
C) 1.5 cm
D) 2.0 cm
E) infinite
Answer: D

35) An object is placed 50 cm in front of a concave mirror with a focal length of 25 cm. What is
the magnification produced by the mirror?
A) -0.50
B) -1.0
C) +1.5
D) -2.0
E) +1.0
Answer: B

36) An object that is 10.0 cm tall is placed 37.0 cm in front of a concave mirror of focal length
18.5 cm. How tall is the image?
A) 2.5 cm
B) 5.0 cm
C) 7.5 cm
D) 20.0 cm
E) 10.0 cm
Answer: E

37) Tan's face is 20 cm in front of a concave shaving mirror. If he observes his image to be twice
as big and upright, what is the focal length of the mirror?
A) 10 cm
B) -40 cm
C) -50 cm
D) 40 cm
E) 50 cm
Answer: D

38) Reza's face is 20 cm in front of a concave shaving mirror having a focal length of magnitude
30 cm. How large is the image of his face?
A) half as large as his face
B) of the same size as his face
C) twice as large as his face
D) three times as large as his face
E) four times as large as his face
Answer: D

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39) A concave mirror having a focal length of magnitude 5.0 cm forms an image 4.0 cm behind
the mirror. Where is the object for this image?
A) 2.2 cm in front of the mirror
B) 2.2 cm behind the mirror
C) 9.0 cm in front of the mirror
D) 1.0 cm behind the mirror
E) 20 cm behind the mirror
Answer: A

40) A concave spherical mirror with a radius of curvature of 20 cm creates a real image 30 cm
from the mirror. How far is the object from the mirror?
A) 20 cm
B) 15 cm
C) 7.5 cm
D) 5.0 cm
Answer: B

41) When an object is 12 cm in front of a concave spherical mirror, the image is formed 3.0 cm
in front of the mirror. What is the focal length of the mirror?
A) 15 cm
B) 4.0 cm
C) 2.4 cm
D) 1.3 cm
Answer: C

42) An object is 10 cm in front of a concave spherical mirror with a focal length of magnitude
3.0 cm. Where is the image?
A) 13 cm from the mirror
B) 7.0 cm from the mirror
C) 4.3 cm from the mirror
D) 3.3 cm from the mirror
Answer: C

43) A concave spherical mirror has a focal length of magnitude 20 cm. An object is placed 10
cm in front of the mirror on the mirror's axis. Where is the image located?
A) 20 cm behind the mirror
B) 20 cm in front of the mirror
C) 6.7 cm behind the mirror
D) 6.7 cm in front of the mirror
Answer: A

44) A concave spherical mirror has a focal length of magnitude 20 cm. An object is placed 30
cm in front of the mirror on the mirror's axis. Where is the image located?
A) 12 cm behind the mirror
B) 12 cm in front of the mirror
C) 60 cm behind the mirror
D) 60 cm in front of the mirror
Answer: D
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45) An object is 5.7 cm from a spherical concave mirror. If the image is 4.7 cm tall and 10 cm
from the mirror, how tall is the object?
A) 12 cm
B) 11 cm
C) 8.2 cm
D) 2.7 cm
Answer: D

46) An object is placed 15 cm from a spherical concave mirror with a focal length of magnitude
20 cm. If the object is 4.0 cm tall, how tall is the image?
A) 1.0 cm
B) 2.0 cm
C) 8.0 cm
D) 16 cm
Answer: D

47) An object that is 47.5 cm tall forms an image that is 38.6 cm tall and 14.8 cm from a
spherical mirror. How far is the object from the mirror?
A) 124 cm
B) 47.6 cm
C) 18.2 cm
D) 12.0 cm
Answer: C

48) A 1.4-cm tall flower is 4.0 cm from a spherical concave mirror. If the image of the flower is
4.0 cm tall, how far is the image from the mirror?
A) 11 cm
B) 9.4 cm
C) 1.4 cm
D) 0.090 cm
Answer: A

49) A plant that is 4.0 cm tall is placed 15 cm from a concave spherical mirror having a focal
length of magnitude 20 cm. Where is the image located?
A) 12 cm behind the mirror
B) 12 cm in front of the mirror
C) 60 cm behind the mirror
D) 60 cm in front of the mirror
Answer: C

50) When a person stands 40 cm in front of a cosmetic (concave) spherical mirror, the upright
image is twice the size of the object. What is the focal length of the mirror?
A) 27 cm
B) 40 cm
C) 80 cm
D) 160 cm
Answer: C

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51) A person's face is 30 cm in front of a concave spherical shaving mirror. If the image is an
erect image that is 1.5 times as large as the object, what is the focal length mirror?
A) 20 cm
B) 50 cm
C) 70 cm
D) 90 cm
Answer: D
52) An object is in front of a concave spherical mirror, and its image is 4.0 cm behind the mirror.
If the focal length of the mirror has a magnitude of 5.0 cm, where is the object?
A) 2.2 cm in front of the mirror
B) 2.2 cm behind the mirror
C) 9.0 cm in front of the mirror
D) 1.0 cm behind the mirror
Answer: A
53) A convex spherical mirror has a focal length of magnitude 20 cm. If an object is placed 10
cm in front of the mirror on the mirror's axis, where is the image located?
A) 20 cm behind the mirror
B) 20 cm in front of the mirror
C) 6.7 cm behind the mirror
D) 6.7 cm in front of the mirror
Answer: C
54) A toy is 14 cm in front of a convex spherical mirror. If the image of the toy is 5.8 cm behind
the mirror, what is the focal length of the mirror?
A) -4.1 cm
B) +20 cm
C) -9.9 cm
D) -20 cm
E) +9.9 cm
Answer: C
55) A cell phone that is 8.90 cm tall is placed in front of a convex mirror. The image of the
phone is 7.80 cm tall and is located 14.8 cm from a mirror. What is the mirror's focal length?
A) -120 cm
B) -105 cm
C) +16.9 cm
D) -13.0 cm
E) +120 cm
Answer: A
56) An object is 50 cm from a concave mirror of radius of curvature of magnitude 60 cm. How
far is the image from the mirror?
A) 19 cm
B) 35 cm
C) 60 cm
D) 75 cm
E) 120 cm
Answer: D
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57) An object is 50 cm from a concave mirror with radius of curvature of magnitude 60 cm.
What is the lateral magnification produced by the mirror?
A) +0.40
B) +0.70
C) +1.5
D) -0.70
E) -1.5
Answer: E

58) An object is placed near a concave mirror having a radius of curvature of magnitude 60 cm.
How far should you place the object from the mirror so that the lateral magnification produced
by the mirror will be +2.5?
A) 18 cm
B) 24 cm
C) 30 cm
D) 36 cm
E) 42 cm
Answer: A

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