Thin lenses: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 26May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object of height $5.0\text{ cm}$ is placed $2.0\text{ cm}$ from a converging (convex) lens which is being used as a magnifying glass. The image produced is $6.0\text{ cm}$ from the lens and has height $15.0\text{ cm}$. What is the focal length of the lens?

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

  An object O is placed near to a thin converging lens. The diagram shows three rays of light from the object passing through the lens. Which row describes the image formed and gives the position of a principal focus (focal point) of the lens?

  Try this question
• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object is placed in front of a converging lens of focal length $4.0\text{ cm}$. The height of the image is $6.0\text{ cm}$. The arrangement is shown on the scale diagram.

  Try this question
• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A student uses a glass block and two identical glass prisms to demonstrate the action of a converging lens. Figure 5.1 shows three parallel rays of red light incident on the glass block and the two prisms. On Figure 5.1, draw and label the normal to the prism at point P.

  Try this question
• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Some glass lenses are converging lenses, and others are diverging lenses. Draw the cross-section of a diverging lens.

  Try this question
• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a ray of light striking the left-hand surface of a thin glass converging lens. Explain why the ray refracts and changes direction as it enters the glass.

  Try this question
• Question 25May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows rays of light passing through a converging lens?

  Try this question
• Question 6May/June 2023, paper 21Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  The virtual reality headset in Fig. 6.1 contains a display and a lens, as shown in Fig. 6.2. The display is the object for the lens. The lens acts as a magnifying glass and forms a virtual image of the display.

  Try this question
• Question 22May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The rays of light from a ray-box pass through three lenses placed at positions 1, 2 and 3. Which type of lens is used at each position?

  Try this question
• Question 24May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows how light from a distant object forms an image in a normal eye?

  Try this question
• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 42Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the image formed by a converging lens. The student arranges the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3.1. The illuminated triangular object is shown full size in Fig. 3.2.

  Try this question
• Question 24May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  When a converging lens is used as a magnifying glass, what is the nature of the image?

  Try this question
• Question 23May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object O is placed between a converging lens and one principal focus F of the lens. What is the magnification of the image formed?

  Try this question
• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 42Essay6 marksHas a diagram

  A student has a converging (convex) lens and needs to determine its focal length.

  Try this question