Change set

Pick exam & year, then Go.

Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect Bookmarked
Loading…
Q115 (IAS/1996) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Geometrical optics Answer Verified

When a mirror is rotated by an angle of θ, the reflected ray will rotate by:

  • A) 0°
  • B) θ / 2
  • C) θ
  • D) 2θ

(Note: The default options displayed by the platform belong to a different question due to an error. Please use the options listed above to answer.)

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

According to the laws of reflection, when an incident ray is kept fixed and a plane mirror is rotated by an angle θ, the reflected ray rotates by an angle of .

Proof:

  • Let the initial angle of incidence be i. The angle of reflection is also i. The angle between the incident and reflected ray is 2i.
  • If the mirror is rotated by an angle θ, its normal also rotates by θ.
  • The new angle of incidence becomes (i + θ).
  • The new angle of reflection is also (i + θ). The new total angle between the incident and reflected ray is 2(i + θ) = 2i + 2θ.
  • Since the incident ray is fixed, the reflected ray has rotated by the difference: (2i + 2θ) - 2i = .
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
33%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

5 Cross-Linked PYQs

UPSC repeats concepts across years. Login to see how this question connects to 5 others.

Login with Google