Question

If a light ray passing through centre of curvature (C) of a mirror is incident on the mirror, the reflected ray's path is

• A. Through focus (F)
• B. Through centre of curvature (C)
• C. Retraces the path
• D. through any point

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To solve this problem, we need to understand the behavior of a light ray when it passes through the center of curvature of a concave mirror.

1. Center of Curvature Concept:
The center of curvature (C) is the center of the sphere from which the mirror is a part. Any ray passing through the center of curvature of a concave mirror hits the mirror perpendicularly (i.e., along the radius).

2. Law of Reflection:
According to the law of reflection, when a light ray strikes a surface perpendicularly, it reflects back along the same path. This means the ray retraces its path.

3. Evaluating the Options:
(A) Through focus (F) – Incorrect (rays parallel to the principal axis pass through focus after reflection)
(B) Through centre of curvature (C) – Incorrect as a reflected ray cannot newly pass through C, it just retraces if incident from C
(C) Retraces the path – Correct ✅
(D Through any point – Incorrect

Final Answer:
The correct option is (C) Retraces the path.