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ICSE Question Bank

Refraction of Light at Plane Surfaces

Appeared in 10 of the 11 available papers.

Examined in
10 of 11 papers

Appears almost every year — treat as core

Typically worth
11.3 marks

Average per paper it appears in · 113 marks in total

Usual form
Short answer

40% of this chapter's 82 questions

Needs a diagram
54%

44 questions carry a figure — practise drawing them

Question-type distribution

  • Short answer33
  • Diagram14
  • MCQ13
  • Numerical8
  • Reasoning4
  • Identification4
  • True/False3
  • Fill in the blank2

Most frequent topics

Refraction / total internal reflection 38Total internal reflection in a prism 3Critical angle and colour 2Real and apparent depth 2Relative refractive index 2Speed of light in a medium 2Minimum deviation in a prism 2Refraction through a prism 2
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Showing 25 of 82 matching questions (113 marks).

25 questions

1

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write the correct answers only.)

2(i)

Complete the following by choosing the correct answers from the bracket:

3(vii)

A monochromatic ray strikes the surface of identical prisms (A, B and C) at different angles of incidence. The diagram below shows their refracted rays. Study the path of these refracted rays and identify in which of the diagrams:

Figure for this question
4(i)

A ray of light enters a glass block from air and comes out from the opposite surface. If the angle of refraction at the first surface is not the same as the angle of incidence at the second surface, then:

4(ii)

A type of glass block has a refractive index of 1.8.

1

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write the correct answers only.)

2(i)

Complete the following by choosing the correct answers from the bracket:

4(i)
Figure for this question
4(ii)

A rectangular glass block of refractive index 1.5 has an air bubble trapped inside it as shown in the diagram. When seen from the surface AB, it appears to be 4 cm deep.

Figure for this question
5(ii)

Two rays PQ and RS are incident on a rectangular glass block as shown in the diagram. Observe the diagram and answer the questions that follow.

Figure for this question
5(ii)

Which of these two rays will :

1

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the questions, write the correct answers only.)

4(iii)(b)

The diagram below shows the path of a blue ray through the prism :

Figure for this question