Refraction of Light MCQ Worksheet (Medium–Hard) | Apparent Depth, Lateral Shift, Denser & Rarer Media

This Refraction of Light MCQ Worksheet contains 20 multiple choice questions with answers and brief solutions. The questions cover important optics concepts including refraction fundamentals, Snell’s law, denser to rarer medium, rarer to denser medium, lateral shift in glass slab, and apparent depth.

This worksheet is useful for students preparing for JEE Main, NEET, CBSE Class 10, and Class 12 Physics.

Topics Covered

Refraction of light basics
Light travelling from rarer to denser medium
Light travelling from denser to rarer medium
Snell’s law
Refractive index
Apparent depth
Lateral shift in a glass slab

Total Questions: 20

Conceptual Questions: 10
Numerical Questions: 10

Part A: Conceptual MCQs on Refraction of Light

Question 1

When light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it:

A. Bends away from the normal
B. Bends towards the normal
C. Travels undeviated
D. Gets totally reflected

Question 2

When light travels from a denser medium to a rarer medium, the refracted ray:

A. Bends towards the normal
B. Bends away from the normal
C. Travels along the normal
D. Always undergoes total internal reflection

Question 3

The refractive index of a medium mainly depends on:

A. Intensity of light
B. Speed of light in that medium
C. Distance travelled by light
D. Brightness of the source

Question 4

The refractive index of a medium is defined as:

A. v / c
B. c / v
C. cv
D. 1 / cv

Question 5

The apparent depth of water appears less than the real depth because of:

A. Reflection
B. Refraction
C. Scattering
D. Diffraction

Question 6

In a rectangular glass slab experiment, the emergent ray is:

A. Parallel to the incident ray
B. Perpendicular to the incident ray
C. Divergent
D. Convergent

Question 7

Lateral displacement occurs in a glass slab because:

A. Light reflects twice
B. Light refracts at two parallel surfaces
C. Light is absorbed
D. Diffraction occurs

Question 8

If the angle of incidence increases, the lateral shift generally:

A. Decreases
B. Remains constant
C. Increases
D. Becomes zero

Question 9

If the refractive index of water is 1.33, then light travels:

A. Faster in water
B. Slower in water
C. At same speed
D. Speed cannot be determined

Question 10

The relationship between real depth and apparent depth is:

A. n = Real depth / Apparent depth
B. n = Apparent depth / Real depth
C. n = Real depth + Apparent depth
D. n = Real depth × Apparent depth

Part B: Numerical MCQs on Refraction

Question 11

Light travels from air to glass. If the refractive index of glass is 1.5, the speed of light in glass is approximately:

A. 3 × 10⁸ m/s
B. 2 × 10⁸ m/s
C. 1.5 × 10⁸ m/s
D. 4.5 × 10⁸ m/s

Question 12

A ray travels from air to water with angle of incidence 30°. If the refractive index of water is 1.33, the angle of refraction is closest to:

A. 20°
B. 22°
C. 25°
D. 30°

Question 13

The real depth of a pond is 4 m. If refractive index of water is 1.33, the apparent depth is:

A. 3 m
B. 2.5 m
C. 3.5 m
D. 4.5 m

Question 14

A glass slab has thickness 6 cm and refractive index 1.5. If light enters normally, the lateral shift is:

A. 0 cm
B. 3 cm
C. 6 cm
D. Cannot be determined

Question 15

A coin appears 4 cm deep in water. If the refractive index of water is 1.33, the real depth is approximately:

A. 3 cm
B. 4 cm
C. 5.3 cm
D. 6 cm

Question 16

A glass slab has thickness 5 cm. A ray enters at 45°. If refractive index is 1.5, the lateral shift is approximately:

A. 0 cm
B. 1 cm
C. 2 cm
D. 4 cm

Question 17

Light travels from air to a medium. If

Angle of incidence = 60°
Angle of refraction = 30°

The refractive index of the medium is:

A. 1
B. 1.5
C. 1.73
D. 2

Question 18

If the refractive index of glass is 1.5, the apparent depth of an object placed 12 cm below the surface is:

A. 8 cm
B. 10 cm
C. 12 cm
D. 18 cm

Question 19

Light travels from water (n = 1.33) to air. If the angle of incidence is 30°, the refracted angle will be approximately:

A. 30°
B. 40°
C. 45°
D. 60°

Question 20

If the thickness of a glass slab is doubled, the lateral shift will:

A. Remain the same
B. Become half
C. Double
D. Become zero

Answer Key

Brief Solutions

Q11

Speed of light in medium

v = c / n

v = (3 × 10⁸) / 1.5

v = 2 × 10⁸ m/s

Q12

Snell’s law

n = sin i / sin r

1.33 = sin30 / sin r

sin r ≈ 0.376

r ≈ 22°

Q13

Apparent depth formula

Apparent depth = Real depth / n

= 4 / 1.33 ≈ 3 m

Q14

If light enters normally, there is no refraction, hence no lateral shift.

Q15

n = Real depth / Apparent depth

1.33 = d / 4

d = 5.32 cm

Q16

Using lateral shift formula

d = t × sin(i − r) / cos r

Approximate value ≈ 2 cm

Q17

n = sin60 / sin30

= 0.866 / 0.5

= 1.73

Q18

Apparent depth = 12 / 1.5 = 8 cm

Q19

Using Snell’s law

1.33 sin30 = sin r

sin r = 0.665

r ≈ 41°

Q20

Lateral shift is directly proportional to slab thickness, so it doubles.

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