Thin lenses
3.2.3What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the action of thin converging and thin diverging lenses on a parallel beam of light
- Define and use the terms focal length, principal axis and principal focus (focal point)
- Draw ray diagrams to illustrate the formation of real and virtual images of an object by a converging lens and know that a real image is formed by converging rays and a virtual image is formed by diverging rays
- Define linear magnification as the ratio of image length to object length; recall and use the equation linear magnification = image length / object length
- Describe the use of a single lens as a magnifying glass
- Draw ray diagrams to show the formation of images in the normal eye, a short-sighted eye and a long-sighted eye
- Describe the use of converging and diverging lenses to correct long-sightedness and short-sightedness
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Chapter 3: Thin lenses
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Every question on Thin lenses, untimed, marked as you go.
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35 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
A2.0 cm
B3.0 cm
C4.0 cm
D6.0 cm
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2Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Areal, R
Breal, Q
Cvirtual, P
Dvirtual, S
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
A3.5 / 0.80
B4.7 / 0.60
C4.8 / 0.70
D5.2 / 0.90
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4May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aconverging, converging, converging
Bconverging, converging, diverging
Cdiverging, converging, diverging
Ddiverging, diverging, converging
Mark scheme
5May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Areal and inverted
Breal and upright
Cvirtual and inverted
Dvirtual and upright
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A1.0
B2.0
C3.0
D6.0
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7Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Ain front of retina, diverging
Bbehind retina, converging
Con retina, converging
Dbehind retina, diverging
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8May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
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9May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
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10May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Areal, image length / object length
Breal, object length / image length
Cvirtual, image length / object length
Dvirtual, object length / image length
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11Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q21Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
A0.50
B1.5
C2.0
D6.0
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12Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q29Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
A0.33
B3.0
C4.0
D6.0
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13Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
ALW
BLX
CLY
DLZ
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14Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A
B
C
D
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15May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q25Also set in May / June 2022 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AIt is larger and inverted.
BIt is larger and upright.
CIt is smaller and inverted.
DIt is smaller and upright.
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16Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aconverging, real
Bconverging, virtual
Cdiverging, real
Ddiverging, virtual
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17Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Athe formation of a virtual image by a diverging lens
Bthe formation of a virtual image by a converging lens
Cthe formation of a real image by a diverging lens
Dthe formation of a real image by a converging lens
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18Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q25Also set in Oct / Nov 2021 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AShe sees close objects less clearly than a person with normal vision.
BShe sees distant objects more clearly than a person with normal vision.
CThe fault is corrected with a diverging lens.
DThe image of a close object is formed in front of her retina.
Mark scheme
19May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AIn a normal eye, the image on the retina is magnified and upright.
BIn a long-sighted eye, distant objects form images in front of the retina.
CShort-sighted eyes produce only virtual images.
DShort-sight is corrected by the use of a diverging lens.
Mark scheme
20May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A2.0
B3.0
C4.0
D6.0
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21May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Acamera
Bmagnifying glass
Cphotographic enlarger
Dprojector
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22Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q29Show mark scheme →
A[ray diagram A]
B[ray diagram B]
C[ray diagram C]
D[ray diagram D]
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23May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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24May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
ARay diagram A
BRay diagram B
CRay diagram C
DRay diagram D
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25May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A[diagram A]
B[diagram B]
C[diagram C]
D[diagram D]
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26May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AIt is enlarged.
BIt is inverted.
CIt is on the same side of the lens as the object.
DIt is virtual.
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27May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AThe image is magnified.
BThe image is virtual.
CThe lens is a converging lens.
DThe lens is too thin.
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28Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q23Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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29May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Alarger and inverted
Blarger and the same way up
Csmaller and inverted
Dsmaller and the same way up
Mark scheme
30Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aconverging; shape of lens: concave (thin in middle)
Bconverging; shape of lens: convex (thick in middle)
Cdiverging; shape of lens: concave (thin in middle)
Ddiverging; shape of lens: convex (thick in middle)
Mark scheme
31Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AThe distance between the object and the lens is greater than the focal length.
BThe image formed is a virtual image.
CThe image is the right way up.
DThe lens is acting as a magnifying glass.
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32Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Acamera; magnifying glass
Bmagnifying glass; projector
Cphotographic enlarger; camera
Dphotographic enlarger; projector
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33Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A16 cm
B20 cm
C36 cm
D45 cm
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34May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q19Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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35May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Aposition 1: converging, position 2: converging, position 3: converging
Bposition 1: converging, position 2: converging, position 3: diverging
Cposition 1: diverging, position 2: converging, position 3: diverging
Dposition 1: diverging, position 2: diverging, position 3: converging
Mark scheme