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AP Physics 2 Geometric Optics — practice questions

Explore 23 free Geometric Optics questions in AP Physics 2 Physics. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Geometric Optics questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–23 of 23.

Which law applies to situations in which light bounces off matter?Read the answer and worked solution →Which law applies to situations in which light passes through matter?Read the answer and worked solution →Refraction of light travelling from one transparent medium to another can be used to form:Read the answer and worked solution →At a non-normal incident angle, the light ray bends closer to the perpendicular in which substance?Read the answer and worked solution →A lens in which parallel rays cross at a single point on the opposite side is called a:Read the answer and worked solution →The concave lens is described as a diverging lens because it causes light rays to:Read the answer and worked solution →The critical angle is defined as the incident angle producing an angle of refraction of:Read the answer and worked solution →If the incident angle is greater than the critical angle, all of the light is:Read the answer and worked solution →Light being entirely reflected back into the first medium is a condition called:Read the answer and worked solution →An image that can be projected on a screen is described as a:Read the answer and worked solution →The image distance is taken to be positive for which kind of image?Read the answer and worked solution →The image distance is taken to be negative for which kind of image?Read the answer and worked solution →Determining the index of refraction requires knowing the speed of light in the:Read the answer and worked solution →Light entering glass from air bends toward the perpendicular, which shows that glass is optically:Read the answer and worked solution →An optical fibre keeps light inside by arranging for the incident angle to be:Read the answer and worked solution →A lens forming an image that cannot be caught on a screen has an image distance that is:Read the answer and worked solution →A convex lens and a concave lens differ in that the convex lens makes parallel rays:Read the answer and worked solution →Reflection and refraction are distinguished by whether light bounces off matter or:Read the answer and worked solution →Pull the rope to the right lensRead the answer and worked solution →Sort real and virtual imagesRead the answer and worked solution →Stack the optics termsRead the answer and worked solution →Match each optics termRead the answer and worked solution →Complete the optics rulesRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

Which law applies to situations in which light bounces off matter?

  1. The law of reflection
  2. The law of refraction
  3. The law of diffraction
  4. The law of absorption
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Correct answer: A. The law of reflection

1. Two laws divide the behaviour of light at a surface. 2. Light can bounce off matter or pass through it. 3. The law of reflection applies where light bounces off matter. 4. The law of refraction covers light passing through matter. _Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 25 'Geometric Optics', sections 25.1-25.7_

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Which law applies to situations in which light passes through matter?

  1. The law of dispersion
  2. The law of refraction
  3. The law of reflection
  4. The law of diffraction
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Correct answer: B. The law of refraction

1. The second law covers transmission rather than bouncing. 2. The law of reflection applies where light bounces off matter. 3. The law of refraction applies where light passes through matter. 4. Together they cover both cases at a surface. _Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 25 'Geometric Optics', sections 25.1-25.7_

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Refraction of light travelling from one transparent medium to another can be used to form:

  1. Images
  2. Shadows
  3. Echoes
  4. Currents
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Correct answer: A. Images

1. Refraction has a practical consequence. 2. Light bends as it crosses between transparent media. 3. The refraction of light as it travels from one medium to another can be used to form images. 4. Lenses work on exactly this principle. _Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 25 'Geometric Optics', sections 25.1-25.7_

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