Thin lenses: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 22May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Light from the Sun passes through a converging lens and forms an image. What is the description of the image formed?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the formation of an image by a thin converging lens. Which terms describe the image?

  Try this question
• Question 20Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows how an image of an object is formed on a screen by a converging lens?

  Try this question
• Question 20May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows two rays of light from the same point on an object passing through a thin converging lens. Which statement describes the image of the object?

  Try this question
• Question 22Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows an image being formed by a converging lens. Which description of the image formed is correct?

  Try this question
• Question 20Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows rays of light passing through a converging lens. Which labelled arrow represents the focal length of the lens?

  Try this question
• Question 22Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A converging lens is used to produce a real image of a $2\text{ cm}$ high object. The image is $4\text{ cm}$ high. Which ray diagram shows how the lens forms the image?

  Try this question
• Question 20Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A thin converging lens forms an image. What is the nature of this image and can it be formed on a screen?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A thin converging lens in a camera produces a real image on a photo-sensitive surface, as shown. At which position is the image of the top of the object formed?

  Try this question
• Question 20May/June 2026, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object O is near a converging lens. The diagram shows two rays of light from the object which pass through the lens. The lens forms an image of the object.

  Try this question
• Question 20Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about a thin converging lens is correct?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object is placed $20\text{ cm}$ in front of a thin converging lens. The scale diagram shows how the lens forms a real, inverted image. Which row gives the focal length of the lens and the distance of the image from the lens?

  Try this question
• Question 19Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows part of a ray diagram that demonstrates the formation of a virtual image Y of object X by a converging lens. One ray of light from X is shown approaching the lens. Which arrow shows the direction of this ray as it leaves the lens?

  Try this question
• Question 7May/June 2026, paper 32Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 7.1 shows a ray of light striking a plane mirror. State the name of the dashed line AB in Figure 7.1.

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A long-sighted person cannot see objects clearly that are a short distance away because the image is blurred. Where is the image formed relative to the retina and which type of lens is used to correct long-sightedness?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object is placed in front of a converging lens. The lens has a focal length $f$. The lens produces a real, enlarged image of the object.

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a human eye that correctly focuses the light on the retina. Which row shows a short-sighted eye and use of the correct lens to focus the image?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows the effect of a converging lens on a parallel beam of light?

  Try this question
• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 42Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Complete the definition of the ‘principal focus’ of a lens.

  Try this question
• Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 shows the path of a ray of visible light travelling from the top of an object and passing through a converging lens. State what the line XY represents.

  Try this question
• Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 shows a ray diagram for a thin converging lens. The lens forms an image of the object. The object is positioned $30\text{ cm}$ from the centre of the lens.

  Try this question
• Question 20May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a converging lens forming an image. What is the focal length of the converging lens?

  Try this question
• Question 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured5 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows a ray diagram for an object positioned on the principal axis of a thin converging lens. ${\text{F}}_1$ and ${\text{F}}_2$ are the focal points of the lens and $\text{C}$ is the centre of the converging lens.

  Try this question
• Question 18May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The diagram shows a thin converging lens with principal focuses at ${\text{F}}_1$ and ${\text{F}}_2$.

  Try this question
• Question 8Oct/Nov 2023, paper 32Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  In Fig. 8.1, each diagram illustrates a wave property. Draw a line from each diagram to the correct wave property.

  Try this question
• Question 21May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The ray diagrams show the formation of an image by two different converging lenses.

  Try this question
• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 33Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A student shines a ray of red light into a rectangular glass block, as shown in Fig. 6.1. Draw the normal at the point where the ray of red light enters the glass block.

  Try this question
• Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A page of printed text is placed $18\text{ cm}$ from a converging lens of focal length $35\text{ cm}$.

  Try this question
• Question 6May/June 2025, paper 31Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 6.1 represents a ray of red light travelling into and through a glass block. State the name of the dashed line labelled line Y in Fig. 6.1.

  Try this question
• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 31Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light striking a plane mirror. The ray is reflected as shown. The angle of incidence for the ray of light is ${40}^{\circ }$.

  Try this question