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Friday, 9 October

JEE Main Physics · Class 12

Ray Optics and Optical Instruments: JEE Main previous year questions

Ray Optics and Optical Instruments had 66 questions in the 42 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, about 1.4 a shift, asked in 42 of 42 shifts. It ranks 1 of 29 Physics chapters by questions; 11% of its questions were hard.

Questions
66
in 42 of 42 shifts
A shift, on average
1.4
of 25 Physics questions
Since 2024
+0.4
1.2 a shift in 2017–23, 1.6 in 2024–26
Numerical answer
15
23% of its questions

Year by year

How often it came

Questions in the analysed shifts of each year. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so read the bars with the shift count.

Questions each year
09181’176’206’215’226’2310’2417’2515’26

2017: 1 shifts · 2020: 4 shifts · 2021: 4 shifts · 2022: 4 shifts · 2023: 4 shifts · 2024: 8 shifts · 2025: 8 shifts · 2026: 9 shifts

Difficulty by year
  • 20171
  • 20206
  • 20216
  • 20225
  • 20236
  • 202410
  • 202517
  • 202615
  • Easy
  • Medium
  • Hard

Inside the chapter

Topics and the ideas that repeat

5 topics and 33 distinct ideas; 12 ideas were asked more than once. Most questions are single correct and calculation.

Topics, by questions

8 questions had no close topic in our taxonomy and are counted for the chapter only.

Ideas asked most
12 repeat

Study it on Lumi

Ray Optics and Optical Instruments: the interactive lesson

Every question

All 66 Ray Optics and Optical Instruments questions

Newest first. Each opens with its options and the official answer.

2026 15 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q40For a thin symmetric prism made of glass (refractive index 1.51.5), the ratio of incident angle and minimum deviation will be _________.MediumSingle correct
  2. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q41Refer the figure given below. μ1\mu_1 and μ2\mu_2 are refractive indices of air and lens material. The height of image will be ________ cm.MediumSingle correctHas a figure
  3. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q41One side of an equilateral prism is painted by a transparent material of refractive index n2n_2. The refractive index of prism is 1.6. The…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
  4. 2 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q49If sunlight is focused on a paper using convex lens, it starts burning the paper in shortest time when the lens is kept at 30 cm above the…EasyNumerical value
  5. 4 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q39A rod of length 1010 cm lies along the principle axis of a concave mirror of focal length 1010 cm as shown in figure. The length of the…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  6. 4 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q41A convex lens is made from glass material having refractive index of 1.4 with same radius of curvature on both sides. The ratio of its…EasySingle correct
  7. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q40A ray of light passing through an equilateral prism is having velocity 2.12×1082.12 \times 10^8 m/s in the prism material, then the minimum…MediumSingle correct
  8. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q42A compound microscope is designed with two symmetric biconvex lenses. The objective lens is cut vertically, creating two identical…HardSingle correct
  9. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q40A thin convex lens and a thin concave lens are kept in contact and are co-axial. Which of the following statements is correct for this…EasySingle correct
  10. 5 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q41An object ABAB is placed 15 cm on the left of a convex lens PP of focal length 10 cm. Another convex lens QQ is now placed 15 cm right…MediumSingle correct
  11. 6 Apr 2026, Shift 1 · Q41A spherical interface lens of radius RR separates two media of refractive indices 1 and 1.4 respectively as shown in the figure below. A…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
  12. 6 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q42Angle of minimum deviation is equal to the half of the angle of prism in an equilateral prism. The refractive index of the prism is…EasySingle correct
  13. 6 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q50A concave mirror of focal length 10 cm forms an image which is double the size of object when the object is placed at two different…MediumNumerical value
  14. 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q30A thin biconvex lens is prepared from the glass (μ=1.5\mu = 1.5) both curved surfaces of which have equal radii of 20 cm each. Left side…MediumSingle correct
  15. 8 Apr 2026, Shift 2 · Q42Light ray incident along a vector AO→\overrightarrow{AO} (AO→=2i^−3j^)\left(\overrightarrow{AO} = 2\hat{i} - 3\hat{j}\right) emerges out along vector…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure

2025 17 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q41A slanted object AB is placed on one side of convex lens as shown in the diagram. The image is formed on the opposite side. Angle made by…HardDiagram basedHas a figure
  2. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q42A spherical surface separates two media of refractive indices 1 and 1.5 as shown in figure. Distance of the image of an object 'O', is :…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  3. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q36Two identical objects are placed in front of convex mirror and concave mirror having same radii of curvature of 12 cm, at same distance of…MediumSingle correct
  4. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q37A bi-convex lens has radius of curvature of both the surfaces same as 1/61/6 cm. If this lens is required to be replaced by another convex…MediumSingle correct
  5. 2 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q49A ray of light suffers minimum deviation when incident on a prism having angle of the prism equal to 60∘60^\circ. The refractive index of…EasyNumerical value
  6. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q41Consider following statements for refraction of light through prism, when angle of deviation is minimum. A. The refracted ray inside prism…MediumOther
  7. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q42The radii of curvature for a thin convex lens are 10 cm and 15 cm respectively. The focal length of the lens is 12 cm. The refractive…EasySingle correct
  8. 3 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q49Light from a point source in air falls on a spherical glass surface (refractive index, μ=1.5\mu = 1.5 and radius of curvature = 50 cm). The…MediumNumerical value
  9. 4 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q39A finite size object is placed normal to the principal axis at a distance of 30 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 30 cm. A plane…MediumSingle correct
  10. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q27Two thin convex lenses of focal lengths 30 cm and 10 cm are placed coaxially, 10 cm apart. The power of this combination is:EasySingle correct
  11. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q42A lens having refractive index 1.6 has focal length of 12 cm, when it is in air. Find the focal length of the lens when it is placed in…EasySingle correct
  12. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 1 · Q50A container contains a liquid with refractive index of 1.2 up to a height of 60 cm and another liquid having refractive index 1.6 is added…MediumNumerical value
  13. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q40A mirror is used to produce an image with magnification of 14\frac{1}{4}. If the distance between object and its image is 40 cm, then the…MediumSingle correct
  14. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q41Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : Refractive…EasyAssertion–reason
  15. 7 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q42A transparent block A having refractive index μ=1.25\mu=1.25 is surrounded by another medium of refractive index μ=1.0\mu=1.0 as shown in figure.…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
  16. 8 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q41A concave-convex lens of refractive index 1.5 and the radii of curvature of its surfaces are 30 cm and 20 cm, respectively. The concave…HardSingle correct
  17. 8 Apr 2025, Shift 2 · Q43A convex lens of focal length 30 cm is placed in contact with a concave lens of focal length 20 cm. An object is placed at 20 cm to the…MediumSingle correct

2024 10 questions

  1. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q46For the thin convex lens, the radii of curvature are at 15 cm and 30 cm respectively. The focal length the lens is 20 cm. The refractive…EasySingle correct
  2. 6 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q50In finding out refractive index of glass slab the following observations were made through travelling microscope 50 vernier scale division…HardSingle correct
  3. 8 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q43Critical angle of incidence for a pair of optical media is 45∘45^\circ. The refractive indices of first and second media are in the ratio:EasySingle correct
  4. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 1 · Q45Given below are two statements : Statement (I) : When an object is placed at the centre of curvature of a concave lens, image is formed at…MediumTwo statements
  5. 9 Apr 2024, Shift 2 · Q46The following figure represents two biconvex lenses L1L_1 and L2L_2 having focal length 1010 cm and 1515 cm respectively. The distance…MediumSingle correctHas a figure
  6. 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q45A biconvex lens of refractive index 1.5 has a focal length of 20 cm in air. Its focal length when immersed in a liquid of refractive index…MediumSingle correct
  7. 29 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q49A convex mirror of radius of curvature 30 cm forms an image that is half the size of the object. The object distance is :EasySingle correct
  8. 30 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q59In an experiment to measure the focal length (ff) of a convex lens, the magnitude of object distance (xx) and the image distance (yy)…MediumNumerical valueHas a figure
  9. 31 Jan 2024, Shift 1 · Q45The refractive index of a prism with apex angle AA is cot⁡A/2\cot A/2. The angle of minimum deviation is :MediumSingle correct
  10. 31 Jan 2024, Shift 2 · Q59Light from a point source in air falls on a convex curved surface of radius 20 cm and refractive index 1.5. If the source is located at…MediumNumerical value

2023 6 questions

  1. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q36A monochromatic light wave with wavelength λ1\lambda_1 and frequency ν1\nu_1 in air enters another medium. If the angle of incidence and…EasySingle correct
  2. 6 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q52A pole is vertically submerged in swimming pool, such that it gives a length of shadow 2.15 m within water when sunlight is incident at an…HardNumerical value
  3. 8 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q57Two transparent media having refractive indices 1.0 and 1.5 are separated by a spherical refracting surface of radius of curvature 30 cm.…MediumNumerical value
  4. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q35The critical angle for a denser-rarer interface is 45∘45^\circ. The speed of light in rarer medium is 3×1083 \times 10^8 m/s. The speed of…EasySingle correct
  5. 11 Apr 2023, Shift 1 · Q52The radius of curvature of each surface of a convex lens having refractive index 1.8 is 20 cm. The lens is now immersed in a liquid of…MediumNumerical value
  6. 13 Apr 2023, Shift 2 · Q59A bi convex lens of focal length 10 cm is cut in two identical parts along a plane perpendicular to the principal axis. The power of each…EasyNumerical value

2022 5 questions

  1. 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q45Which of the following statement is correct ?MediumSingle correct
  2. 25 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q46Time taken by light to travel in two different materials A and B of refractive indices μA\mu_A and μB\mu_B of same thickness is t1t_1 and…MediumSingle correct
  3. 28 Jul 2022, Shift 1 · Q46In normal adjustment, for a refracting telescope, the distance between objective and eye piece is 30 cm. The focal length of the…EasySingle correct
  4. 24 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q52Two identical thin biconvex lenses of focal length 15 cm and refractive index 1.5 are in contact with each other. The space between the…MediumNumerical value
  5. 29 Jun 2022, Shift 1 · Q59A parallel beam of light is allowed to fall on a transparent spherical globe of diameter 30 cm and refractive index 1.5. The distance from…HardNumerical value

2021 6 questions

  1. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q15To view a small object with angular magnification 5, the power of the microscope needed is [The final image is formed at infinity]…EasySingle correct
  2. 3 Aug 2021, Shift 2 · Q16If a man having the least distance of distinct vision of 50 cm, what should be the focal length of the spectacles for the man ?EasySingle correct
  3. 25 Jul 2021, Shift 1 · Q9A ray of laser of a wavelength 630 nm is incident at an angle of 30∘30^\circ at the diamond-air interface. It is going from diamond to air.…EasySingle correct
  4. 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q3The refractive index of a converging lens is 1.4. What will be the focal length of this lens if it is placed in a medium of same…EasySingle correct
  5. 16 Mar 2021, Shift 2 · Q29A deviation of 2∘2^\circ is produced in the yellow ray when prism of crown and flint glass are achromatically combined. Taking dispersive…MediumNumerical value
  6. 18 Mar 2021, Shift 1 · Q16Your friend is having eye sight problem. She is not able to see clearly a distant uniform window mesh and it appears to her as non-uniform…MediumSingle correct

2020 6 questions

  1. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q15The critical angle of a medium for a specific wavelength, if the medium has relative permittivity 3 and relative permeability…MediumSingle correct
  2. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q16The magnifying power of a telescope with tube length 60 cm is 5. What is the focal length of its eye piece ?EasySingle correct
  3. 8 Jan 2020, Shift 1 · Q25A point object in air is in front of the curved surface of a plano-convex lens. The radius of curvature of the curved surface is 30 cm and…EasyNumerical value
  4. 9 Jan 2020, Shift 2 · Q17There is a small source of light at some depth below the surface of water (refractive index =43= \frac{4}{3}) in a tank of large cross…HardSingle correct
  5. 2 Sep 2020, Shift 1 · Q16A spherical mirror is obtained as shown in the figure from a hollow glass sphere. If an object is positioned in front of the mirror, what…MediumDiagram basedHas a figure
  6. 6 Sep 2020, Shift 2 · Q17A double convex lens has power P and same radii of curvature R of both the surfaces. The radius of curvature of a surface of a…MediumSingle correct

2017 1 questions

  1. 2 Apr 2017 (offline) · Q22A diverging lens with magnitude of focal length 25 cm is placed at a distance of 15 cm from a converging lens of magnitude of focal length…MediumSingle correct

Pattern: Asked most years.