AP Physics 2 : Optics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #421 : Ap Physics 2

An object is set near a mirror like below.

Mirror2

At which point would the image be?

Possible Answers:

B

E

A

C

D

Correct answer:

A

Explanation:

If you were to draw a line from an object to its image on a flat mirror, the line would be perpendicular to the plane of the mirror. The distance from the image to the mirror would be the same distance from the mirror to the object. Only point A fits both criteria, as all other points aren't perpendicular with the mirror, and point E isn't the same distance either.

Example Question #1 : Mirrors

You place a candle  away from a concave mirror with a radius of curvature of . What is the image distance?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this problem, we use the mirror equation, rearraged to find .

 is the image location,  is the object location, and  is the focal point which is equal to the radius of curvature. Plugging in our known values:

Therefore, the image distance is  from the mirror. Remember, for concave mirrors, the image is on the same side as the object, and has a flipped orientation.

Example Question #2 : Mirrors

An object is  from a convex mirror with a radius of . What is the image distance?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For convex mirrors, the mirror equation is slightly different than for concave mirrors.

Note the negative sign in front of the focal point. This is because a convex mirror is the same as a concave mirror pointing in the opposite direction.

Now, we rearrange the equation to solve for .

Now, we can plug in our numbers.

Therefore, the image is at , which is on the concave side of the mirror.

Example Question #2 : Mirrors

An object of height  is placed  in front of a convex mirror that has a radius of curvature of .

Determine the size of the image.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the mirror/lens equation:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror, which is taken to be negative number

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror, which for convex mirrors is taken to be negative number

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values:

Solve for :

Use the equation for magnification:

In this equation:

 is magnification

 is image height

 is object height

Plug in values and solve for :

Example Question #2 : Mirrors

An object of height  is placed in front of a concave mirror that has a radius of curvature of . Determine the focal length of the mirror.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the relationship for concave mirrors:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values:

Solve for :

Example Question #8 : Mirrors

 An object of height  is placed  in front of a convex mirror that has a radius of curvature of

Determine the distance of the image.  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the mirror/lens equation:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror, which is taken to be negative

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror, which is taken to be negative for convex mirrors

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values:

Solve for the image distance:

Example Question #1 : Mirrors

 An object of height  is placed  in front of a convex mirror that has a radius of curvature of

Determine the focal length of the mirror.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the mirror/lens equation:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror, which is taken to be negative

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror, which is taken to be negative for convex mirrors

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values:

Solve for the focal length:

Example Question #1 : Mirrors

An object of height  is placed  in front of a concave mirror that has a radius of curvature of

Determine the magnification of the image.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the mirror/lens equation:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror, which is taken to be negative

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror, which for concave mirrors is taken to be positive

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values:

Solve for the image distance:

Use the magnification equation:

Where

 is magnification

 is image height

 is object height

Plug in values and solve for magnification:

Example Question #431 : Ap Physics 2

An object of height  is placed  in front of a concave mirror that has a radius of curvature of 

Determine the focal length of the mirror.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the mirror/lens equation:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror, which is taken to be negative

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror, which for concave mirrors is taken to be positive

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values and solve for the focal point:

Example Question #11 : Optics

An object of height  is placed  in front of a concave mirror that has a radius of curvature of 

Determine the distance of the image.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the mirror/lens equation:

Where:

 is the object distance from the mirror, which is taken to be negative

 is the image distance from the mirror

 is the focal length of the mirror, which for concave mirrors is taken to be positive

 is the radius of curvature of the mirror

Plug in values and solve for the image distance:

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