Ray Optics - JEE Main Previous Year Questions with Solutions
Ray Optics is a highly important and frequently tested JEE Main Physics chapter covering reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors, prisms, total internal reflection, and optical instruments, where practicing previous-year questions helps students master recurring concepts and improve problem-solving accuracy.
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Why Ray Optics Matters in JEE Main
Ray Optics is one of the most consistently tested chapters in JEE Main Physics. According to NTA's official question paper archives, at least 2 questions from this chapter appear in virtually every session — sometimes 3. The concepts tested range from the mirror formula and lens maker's equation to total internal reflection, apparent depth, and deviation through a prism.
What makes this chapter both scoring and tricky is that questions look deceptively simple but demand precision with sign conventions and the ability to switch between multiple concepts within a single problem. Students who practise previous year questions systematically find that nearly 60–70% of new questions are concept-repeats in a new wrapper.
Ray Optics - JEE Main Previous Year Questions with Solutions
JEE Main Previous Year Question of Physics with Solutions are available here. Practicing JEE Main Previous Year Papers Questions of Physics will help all the JEE aspirants in realizing the question pattern as well as help in analyzing their weak & strong areas. Get detailed Class 11th &12th Physics Notes to prepare for Boards as well as competitive exams like IIT JEE, NEET etc. eSaral helps the students in clearing and understanding each topic in a better way. eSaral is providing complete chapter-wise notes of Class 11th and 12th both for all subjects. Besides this, eSaral also offers NCERT Solutions, Previous year questions for JEE Main and Advance, Practice questions, Test Series for JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET, Important questions of Physics, Chemistry, Math, and Biology and many more. Download eSaral app for free study material and video tutorials. Simulator Previous Years AIEEE/JEE Mains Questions 
( 1) $\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\right)$ (2) $\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\right)$ (3) $\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$ ( 4) $\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)$ [AIEEE - 2009] 
[JEE-Mains- 2013] 
$(1) \theta>\cos ^{-1}\left[\mu \sin \left(A+\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu}\right)\right)\right]$ (2) $\theta<\cos ^{-1}\left[\mu \sin \left(A+\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu}\right)\right)\right]$ (3) $\theta>\sin ^{-1}\left[\mu \sin \left(A-\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu}\right)\right)\right]$ (4) $\theta<\sin ^{-1}\left[\mu \sin \left(A-\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu}\right)\right)\right]$ [JEE-Mains- 2015] 
Apply Snell's law at face AB $1 \sin \theta=\mu \sin \left(r_{1}\right)$ $\theta=\sin ^{-1}\left(\mu \sin \left(A-\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu}\right)\right)\right.$ for all light transmitted through $\mathrm{AC}, \mathrm{e}<90^{\circ}$ $\Rightarrow \theta>\sin ^{-1}\left(\mu \sin \left(A-\sin ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{\mu}\right)\right)\right.$ 
So for converging lens u = –40 cm, f = 20 cm $\therefore \quad$ Final image $\frac{1}{\mathrm{V}}-\frac{1}{-40}=\frac{1}{20}$ V = 40 cm from converging lenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions.
How many questions come from Ray Optics in JEE Main?
Ray Optics consistently contributes 2–3 questions per JEE Main session, each carrying 4 marks. Over the last 10 years, this chapter has never been absent from a JEE Main paper. That makes it one of the highest-reliability scoring chapters in Physics — practising previous year questions here gives a very strong return on time invested.
What are the most important topics in Ray Optics for JEE Main?
The most frequently tested topics are: (1) mirror and lens formula with sign convention, (2) lens maker's equation including lens in a liquid, (3) total internal reflection and critical angle, (4) refraction through a prism and the minimum deviation condition, and (5) apparent depth with single or multiple media. Optical instruments (telescope and microscope) appear less frequently but carry straightforward marks.
Is Ray Optics easy to score in JEE Main?
Yes — Ray Optics is among the more formula-driven chapters, which means consistent practice of previous year questions leads directly to marks. Students in eSaral's batches — taught by IIT Bombay faculty including AIR-2 and AIR-41 rankers — regularly score full marks on this chapter after completing the structured question bank and doubt-clearing sessions.
What is the trick for lens-in-liquid questions in JEE Main?
Always check the ratio μ_glass/μ_liquid first. If this ratio > 1, the lens behaves as expected (convex = converging). If the ratio < 1, the lens reverses its behaviour — a convex lens becomes diverging and has a negative focal length. This single check prevents the most common error in this question type.
How do I solve apparent depth problems with multiple liquids quickly?
Add the apparent shifts from each layer independently. For a layer of actual depth h and refractive index μ, the apparent shift = h(1 – 1/μ). Sum these for all layers. This works because each interface produces an independent shift when viewed from air above.