MCQEasyJEE 2025Reflection & Spherical Mirrors

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A concave mirror of focal length ff in air is dipped in a liquid of refractive index μ\mu. Its focal length in the liquid will be:

  • A

    fμ\frac{f}{\mu}

  • B

    f(μ1)\frac{f}{(\mu - 1)}

  • C

    μf\mu f

  • D

    ff

Answer

Correct answer:D

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A concave mirror has focal length ff in air and is dipped in a liquid of refractive index μ\mu.

Find: The focal length of the mirror in the liquid.

A mirror forms images by reflection, not by refraction. Therefore, its focal length depends only on its geometry, that is, the radius of curvature.

Using the mirror relation:

f=R2f = \frac{R}{2}

Here, RR is the radius of curvature of the mirror. Since the refractive index of the surrounding medium does not appear in this expression, changing the medium from air to a liquid does not change the focal length.

Therefore, the focal length remains ff in the liquid.

The correct option is D.

Concept Shortcut

Given: A concave mirror is immersed in a liquid of refractive index μ\mu.

Find: Whether its focal length changes.

For mirrors, reflection is the governing phenomenon, so the surrounding medium does not affect focal length. Only lenses change focal length when placed in another medium because refraction depends on refractive index.

Hence, the focal length stays ff.

The correct option is D.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing a mirror with a lens. A lens changes focal length in a different medium because refraction depends on refractive index, but a mirror works by reflection. Use the mirror formula based on curvature instead.

  • Substituting μ\mu into the answer because it appears in the question. This is incorrect because the focal length of a spherical mirror is determined by RR only. Check whether the governing formula actually contains μ\mu before modifying the result.

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