Light plays an important role in our everyday lives, allowing us to see objects and understand the world around us. In Class 8 Science Chapter 10 - Light: Mirrors and Lenses, students explore how light reflects from different surfaces, how mirrors and lenses form images, and why these concepts are used in common devices such as rear-view mirrors, magnifying glasses, cameras, and spectacles. A clear understanding of these topics helps students perform well in examinations while building a strong foundation for higher-level science.
To make revision easier, this page offers Class 8 Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses MCQs with Answers prepared according to the latest CBSE Board and NCERT syllabus. Each question is accompanied by the correct answer and a simple explanation, helping you understand the concept instead of relying on memorization. Whether you're revising before a periodic test, half-yearly examination, annual exam, or simply checking your understanding of the chapter, these practice questions provide an effective way to evaluate your preparation.
If you're looking for chapter-wise Class 8 Science MCQs, this collection covers all the important concepts in a structured manner and follows the latest CBSE exam pattern. You can also explore our complete collection of MCQs for all subjects and chapters to strengthen your overall exam preparation. Along with other Class 8 MCQs available on Shiksha Nation, these questions can help you improve accuracy, strengthen conceptual clarity, and gain confidence before your exams.
Class 8 Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Practice these Class 8 Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses MCQs based on the latest CBSE Board and NCERT syllabus. Each question includes the correct answer and a clear explanation to help you strengthen concepts, revise key topics, and prepare confidently for your exams.
Q. Which statement correctly describes the image formed by a plane mirror?
A. It is always inverted and smaller than the object.
B. It is always erect and equal in size to the object.
C. It is always real and can be obtained on a screen.
D. It is always enlarged and upside down.
Answer: B
Explanation:
A plane mirror always forms a virtual, erect image that is the same size as the object. Although the image appears behind the mirror, it cannot be projected onto a screen. One noticeable characteristic is lateral inversion, where the left and right sides appear reversed.
Q. Why are convex mirrors commonly used as rear-view mirrors in vehicles?
A. They produce magnified images of nearby objects.
B. They always form real images.
C. They provide a wider field of view than plane mirrors.
D. They make distant objects appear larger.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Convex mirrors spread reflected light rays, allowing drivers to see a larger area behind the vehicle. Although the image appears smaller, the wider field of view helps reduce blind spots and improves road safety, making convex mirrors ideal for rear-view mirrors.
Q. A student stands in front of a plane mirror and raises the right hand. Which hand appears to be raised in the mirror?
A. Left hand
B. Right hand
C. Both hands
D. Neither hand
Answer: A
Explanation:
This happens because of lateral inversion, a property of plane mirrors. The mirror reverses the left and right sides of an image while keeping it upright. As a result, the person's raised right hand appears as the left hand in the mirror image.
Q. Which mirror is most suitable for a dentist to examine a patient's teeth?
A. Plane mirror
B. Convex mirror
C. Concave mirror
D. Any mirror gives the same result
Answer: C
Explanation:
A concave mirror can produce a magnified, erect image when the object is placed close to it. This enlarged view helps dentists observe small details of the teeth more clearly, making examination easier and more accurate.
Q. Which lens is commonly used in a magnifying glass?
A. Concave lens
B. Convex lens
C. Cylindrical lens
D. Plane glass sheet
Answer: B
Explanation:
A convex lens bends light rays toward one another and can produce an enlarged virtual image when the object is placed within its focal length. This property allows small objects or printed text to appear larger, making it useful in magnifying glasses.
Q. What happens when light falls on a smooth and polished mirror?
A. It is completely absorbed.
B. It undergoes regular reflection.
C. It changes into heat only.
D. It passes straight through the mirror.
Answer: B
Explanation:
Smooth surfaces like mirrors produce regular reflection, where parallel rays remain parallel after reflection. This creates clear and sharp images. Rough surfaces, in contrast, scatter light in different directions and do not form distinct images.
Q. Which of the following objects works mainly because of lenses?
A. Magnifying glass
B. Steel plate
C. Wooden ruler
D. Chalk stick
Answer: A
Explanation:
A magnifying glass uses a convex lens to enlarge the appearance of nearby objects. By bending light rays appropriately, the lens helps the eye observe fine details that would otherwise be difficult to see with the naked eye.
Q. Which statement about a convex mirror is correct?
A. It always forms a virtual, erect, and diminished image.
B. It always forms a real and enlarged image.
C. It forms only inverted images.
D. It cannot form any image.
Answer: A
Explanation:
Regardless of where the object is placed, a convex mirror always produces a virtual image that is upright and smaller than the object. This predictable behavior makes it useful wherever a broad viewing area is required, such as in vehicles and security mirrors.
Q. A spoon has two curved surfaces. Looking at your face in the inner curved surface from very close, your image appears larger. Which surface behaves like a concave mirror?
A. Outer curved surface
B. Flat handle
C. Inner curved surface
D. Both curved surfaces behave identically
Answer: C
Explanation:
The inner surface of a spoon curves inward like a concave mirror. When your face is close to it, the reflected image appears upright and magnified. This simple observation demonstrates how concave mirrors are capable of producing enlarged images under suitable conditions.
Q. Which factor decides the nature of the image formed by a concave mirror?
A. The colour of the object
B. The position of the object in front of the mirror
C. The brightness of the room
D. The material of the object only
Answer: B
Explanation:
A concave mirror can form different types of images depending on where the object is placed relative to its focus and centre of curvature. The image may be real or virtual, enlarged or diminished, showing why object position is an important factor in image formation.
Q. Which type of image can be formed on a screen?
A. Virtual image only
B. Both real and virtual images
C. Real image only
D. Diminished image only
Answer: C
Explanation:
A real image is formed when reflected or refracted light rays actually meet at a point. Since the light converges physically, the image can be projected onto a screen. Virtual images only appear to come from a point and therefore cannot be obtained on a screen.
Q. Which of the following objects mainly uses a convex mirror?
A. Shaving mirror
B. Dentist's mirror
C. Vehicle rear-view mirror
D. Magnifying glass
Answer: C
Explanation:
Vehicle rear-view mirrors are convex because they provide a wider field of view than plane or concave mirrors. Although the images appear smaller, drivers can observe more of the traffic behind them, making driving safer.
Q. A student wants to observe a large image of a small object without turning it upside down. Which optical device should be used?
A. Plane mirror
B. Convex mirror
C. Concave mirror placed close to the object
D. Concave lens
Answer: C
Explanation:
When an object is placed close to a concave mirror, between the pole and the principal focus, the mirror forms a virtual, erect, and enlarged image. This property is widely used in shaving mirrors and mirrors used for detailed examination.
Q. Why is it difficult to see a clear image in a rough wall?
A. The wall reflects no light.
B. Light undergoes irregular reflection from the surface.
C. The wall absorbs all colours of light.
D. The wall behaves like a convex lens.
Answer: B
Explanation:
A rough surface reflects light in many different directions, a phenomenon known as irregular or diffused reflection. Since the reflected rays do not remain organized, they cannot produce a clear image even though the surface reflects light.
Q. Which lens is thinner at the centre than at the edges?
A. Convex lens
B. Double convex lens
C. Concave lens
D. Plano-convex lens
Answer: C
Explanation:
A concave lens has a thinner centre and thicker edges. It spreads out, or diverges, light rays passing through it and always forms a virtual, erect, and diminished image. This property makes it useful in correcting certain vision problems.
Q. Which statement about light is correct?
A. Light always travels in a curved path.
B. Light travels in a straight line through a uniform medium.
C. Light cannot change direction after striking a mirror.
D. Light travels only through transparent solids.
Answer: B
Explanation:
One of the basic properties of light is that it travels in straight lines when passing through the same medium. Reflection and refraction can change its direction, but in a uniform medium, light follows a straight path.
Q. Which mirror would be most suitable for installing at a blind turn on a road?
A. Plane mirror
B. Concave mirror
C. Convex mirror
D. Any polished metal sheet
Answer: C
Explanation:
At blind turns, drivers need to observe vehicles approaching from different directions. A convex mirror offers a broad viewing angle, allowing more of the surrounding area to be seen at once. This improves visibility and helps reduce the chances of accidents.
Q. A torch is switched on in a dark room. Which property of light makes the beam appear straight?
A. Reflection of light
B. Refraction of light
C. Rectilinear propagation of light
D. Dispersion of light
Answer: C
Explanation:
The visible beam of a torch demonstrates that light travels in straight lines through a uniform medium. This property, known as rectilinear propagation, explains the formation of shadows and is the basis of many optical phenomena studied in science.
Q. Which of the following is a common use of a concave lens?
A. Rear-view mirrors
B. Magnifying glasses
C. Spectacles for correcting certain vision defects
D. Solar cookers
Answer: C
Explanation:
Concave lenses diverge light rays before they enter the eye. This helps correct certain vision defects, making distant objects appear clearer. Their ability to spread light distinguishes them from convex lenses, which converge light rays.
Q. A student notices that the image formed by a plane mirror is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it. This observation shows that the image is:
A. Real and inverted
B. Virtual and appears behind the mirror
C. Enlarged and real
D. Formed only when sunlight falls on the mirror
Answer: B
Explanation:
A plane mirror forms a virtual image that appears to be located behind the mirror at the same distance as the object is placed in front of it. Although the image seems real to our eyes, no light actually passes through the mirror to that position.
Q. Which property of a plane mirror makes it useful in dressing mirrors at home?
A. It always enlarges the image.
B. It forms an erect image of the same size as the object.
C. It forms only real images.
D. It makes distant objects appear closer.
Answer: B
Explanation:
A plane mirror produces a virtual, erect image that is the same size as the object. This allows people to view themselves accurately while getting ready. Since the image is neither enlarged nor diminished, it is suitable for everyday use in homes and public places.
Q. A beam of light strikes a mirror and bounces back into the same medium. This phenomenon is called:
A. Refraction
B. Reflection
C. Dispersion
D. Absorption
Answer: B
Explanation:
Reflection occurs when light returns to the same medium after striking a surface. Mirrors are specially designed to reflect most of the incident light, allowing clear images to form. This principle is used in many optical instruments and everyday applications.
Q. Which of the following devices works mainly because of the reflecting property of a concave mirror?
A. Rear-view mirror of a car
B. Torch reflector
C. Window glass
D. Periscope mirror
Answer: B
Explanation:
A concave mirror is placed behind the bulb in a torch because it reflects and concentrates light into a nearly parallel beam. This focused beam travels farther and provides better illumination than light spreading in all directions.
Q. If the surface of a mirror becomes dusty, the image appears less clear because:
A. The dust changes the colour of light.
B. The smooth reflecting surface is disturbed.
C. The mirror becomes a lens.
D. Light stops travelling in straight lines.
Answer: B
Explanation:
A clean mirror provides regular reflection from its smooth surface. Dust particles create tiny irregularities that scatter some of the reflected light, reducing the sharpness and brightness of the image. Cleaning the mirror restores clearer reflection.
Q. Which statement correctly compares a convex lens and a concave lens?
A. Both always spread light rays.
B. Both always bring light rays together.
C. A convex lens converges light, while a concave lens diverges it.
D. A convex lens and a concave lens always form identical images.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Convex lenses bend light rays toward one another, whereas concave lenses spread them apart. This difference in the way they affect light determines the type of images they produce and explains why they are used for different purposes in optical devices.
Q. Which of the following situations best demonstrates lateral inversion?
A. A pencil appears larger through a magnifying glass.
B. The word "AMBULANCE" is written in reverse on the front of an ambulance.
C. A rainbow appears after rainfall.
D. A shadow changes its length during the day.
Answer: B
Explanation:
The word "AMBULANCE" is written in reverse so that drivers see it correctly in their rear-view mirrors. This happens because a plane mirror produces lateral inversion, reversing the left and right sides of the image while keeping it upright.
Q. Which mirror would you choose if you wanted to see the maximum area of a shopping mall corridor?
A. Plane mirror
B. Concave mirror
C. Convex mirror
D. Any polished metal surface
Answer: C
Explanation:
Security mirrors installed in shopping malls are usually convex because they provide a wide field of view. Even though the images are smaller, they allow staff to monitor a much larger area, improving surveillance and safety.
Q. A student moves closer to a concave mirror and notices that the image becomes erect and enlarged. What does this indicate about the object's position?
A. It is beyond the centre of curvature.
B. It is exactly at the principal focus.
C. It is between the pole and the principal focus.
D. It is infinitely far from the mirror.
Answer: C
Explanation:
A concave mirror forms a virtual, erect, and magnified image only when the object is placed between the pole and the principal focus. This unique property makes concave mirrors useful whenever a larger view of a nearby object is required.
Q. Which statement about images formed by a concave lens is correct?
A. They are always real and inverted.
B. They are always virtual, erect, and diminished.
C. They are always larger than the object.
D. They can always be projected onto a screen.
Answer: B
Explanation:
A concave lens always produces a virtual image that is upright and smaller than the object, regardless of where the object is placed. Since the light rays diverge after passing through the lens, the image cannot be formed on a screen.
Q. Why is understanding mirrors and lenses important in everyday life?
A. They are used only in science laboratories.
B. They have no practical applications outside textbooks.
C. They are used in many devices such as cameras, spectacles, microscopes, and vehicle mirrors.
D. They work only with sunlight.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Mirrors and lenses are essential components of many everyday devices. From helping drivers observe traffic and enabling doctors to examine patients to improving vision through spectacles and capturing photographs with cameras, their applications demonstrate how scientific concepts are closely connected to daily life.
What is Included in Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses MCQs?
This chapter-wise MCQ resource is designed to support effective revision while matching the latest CBSE assessment approach. Instead of focusing only on factual recall, the questions encourage conceptual understanding and practical application.
The MCQ set includes:
- Chapter-wise multiple-choice questions based on the latest CBSE and NCERT syllabus.
- Detailed answers for every question.
- Simple, concept-focused explanations that make learning easier.
- Conceptual questions covering the fundamentals of mirrors and lenses.
- Application-based questions based on real-life situations.
- Assertion and Reason questions to develop logical thinking.
- Competency-based questions aligned with current CBSE assessment patterns.
- Case-based questions that encourage analytical problem-solving.
- Questions suitable for periodic tests, half-yearly exams, annual examinations, and classroom practice.
- These questions are prepared to help students revise efficiently while improving both conceptual clarity and exam readiness.
Class 8 Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Practice the following MCQs to test your understanding of reflection, mirrors, lenses, image formation, and their everyday applications. Every question includes the correct answer and a concise explanation to reinforce the underlying concept and help you learn from every attempt.
Important Concepts from Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses
Before or after solving the MCQs, quickly revise these important concepts from the chapter.
- Reflection of Light: Reflection is the bouncing back of light when it strikes a smooth surface. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, making this one of the fundamental principles of optics.
- Plane Mirror: A plane mirror forms an erect, virtual image of the same size as the object. It also produces lateral inversion, where the left and right sides appear reversed.
- Concave Mirror: A concave mirror curves inward and can produce either real or virtual images depending on the position of the object. It is commonly used in headlights, shaving mirrors, and reflecting telescopes.
- Convex Mirror: A convex mirror curves outward and always forms a virtual, erect, and diminished image. Its wide field of view makes it suitable for rear-view mirrors in vehicles.
- Convex Lens: A convex lens is thicker at the centre than at the edges. It converges light rays and can produce real or virtual images based on the object's position. Convex lenses are commonly used in magnifying glasses, cameras, and microscopes.
- Concave Lens: A concave lens is thinner at the centre and thicker at the edges. It diverges light rays and always forms a virtual, erect, and diminished image. It is commonly used in spectacles for correcting certain vision problems.
- Real and Virtual Images: A real image is formed when reflected or refracted rays actually meet and can be projected onto a screen. A virtual image is formed when light rays appear to meet and cannot be captured on a screen.
- Lateral Inversion: Lateral inversion is the sideways reversal observed in images formed by a plane mirror. This explains why the left side of an object appears on the right in its mirror image.
- Principal Focus: The principal focus is the point where light rays either meet or appear to meet after reflection from a mirror or refraction through a lens. It is an important concept for understanding image formation.
- Everyday Applications of Mirrors and Lenses: Mirrors and lenses are used in numerous devices, including vehicle mirrors, cameras, microscopes, telescopes, projectors, magnifying glasses, spectacles, and medical instruments. Understanding their uses helps students relate scientific concepts to real-life situations.
Key Takeaways from Chapter 10 Light: Mirrors and Lenses MCQs
Practicing chapter-wise MCQs is one of the most effective ways to revise science concepts before examinations. By solving objective questions and reviewing the explanations, students can strengthen their understanding while improving speed and accuracy.
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
- Explain the basic principles of reflection of light.
- Differentiate between plane, concave, and convex mirrors.
- Compare convex and concave lenses based on their properties and uses.
- Identify the characteristics of real and virtual images.
- Understand lateral inversion and image formation.
- Apply concepts of mirrors and lenses to everyday situations.
- Improve accuracy by practising competency-based and application-oriented questions.
- Build confidence for CBSE periodic tests, half-yearly examinations, and annual exams through regular revision.
Consistent practice, combined with careful review of explanations, helps students identify weak areas and develop a deeper understanding of the chapter.
