Practice Ray Diagram in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

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Quick Recap

A ray diagram is a drawing that uses a few principal rays to show how mirrors or lenses form images.

Instead of tracing every ray of light, you trace only the key rays that tell you where the image must be.

Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.

Example 1

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A concave mirror has radius of curvature R=40 cmR = 40\,\text{cm}. Find ff and locate the image for an object at do=60 cmd_o = 60\,\text{cm}.

Example 2

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A converging lens (f=10 cmf=10 \text{ cm}) has an object at do=20 cmd_o=20 \text{ cm} (=2f=2f). A ray diagram predicts the image is where, and what size?

Example 3

easy
For a concave mirror with f=10 cmf = 10\,\text{cm} and object at 25 cm25\,\text{cm}, will the image be real or virtual?

Example 4

easy
For the eye, a converging lens forms an image where, relative to the lens?

Example 5

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Why does a ray diagram only need the principal rays rather than every ray of light?

Example 6

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A converging lens with f=5 cmf=5\,\text{cm} forms an image of a candle at do=10 cmd_o=10\,\text{cm}. Find did_i and mm.

Example 7

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An object 5 cm tall sits 30 cm from a converging lens with f=10 cmf = 10 \text{ cm}. Predict from a ray diagram the image distance and height.

Example 8

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A converging lens forms a real image 20 cm20\,\text{cm} from the lens of a 5 cm5\,\text{cm}-tall object whose image is 10 cm10\,\text{cm} tall. Find the magnification and tell if it is upright or inverted.

Example 9

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An object of height 4 cm4\,\text{cm} is placed 15 cm15\,\text{cm} from a converging lens with f=10 cmf = 10\,\text{cm}. Find the image height.

Example 10

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A ray diagram shows two rays from the object intersecting 25 cm25\,\text{cm} behind a lens. What does that intersection point represent?

Example 11

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A converging lens with f=12 cmf = 12\,\text{cm} has an object at do=18 cmd_o = 18\,\text{cm}. Find did_i and mm.

Example 12

easy
On a ray diagram, what do dashed lines usually represent?

Example 13

hard
A two-lens system: lens 1 (f1=10 cmf_1 = 10\,\text{cm}) followed by lens 2 (f2=15 cmf_2 = 15\,\text{cm}) separated by 30 cm30\,\text{cm}. Object at 20 cm20\,\text{cm} in front of lens 1. Find the final image location relative to lens 2.

Example 14

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A concave mirror diagram has the object beyond the center of curvature CC. What image type results?

Example 15

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For a plane mirror, the image of an object 30 cm30\,\text{cm} in front of the mirror sits where?

Example 16

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Using a ray diagram for an object inside the focal length of a converging lens, what kind of image is predicted?

Example 17

easy
For a converging lens, a ray passing through the near focal point emerges how?

Example 18

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In a ray diagram, can a real image form behind a diverging lens?

Example 19

easy
A converging lens has f=8 cmf=8\,\text{cm}. An object sits at do=24 cmd_o = 24\,\text{cm}. Where does the image form?

Example 20

easy
For a converging lens, the magnification of an object placed at 2f2f is what?
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