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Subjects · Leaving Cert Physics

Leaving Cert Physics: Lenses

How often Lenses comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026.

OL Asked on 6 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Lenses, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Lenses.

(a)An object is 30 cm from a converging lens of focal length 10 cm. Image distance?
  1. 7.5 cm
  2. 15 cm
  3. 20 cm
(b)Formula for the magnification produced by a lens?
  1. m = uv
  2. m = u/v
  3. m = v/u
(c)Which lens is used to correct short sight (myopia)?
  1. A diverging (concave) lens
  2. A prism
  3. A converging (convex) lens
Show the answers

(a) 15 cm

(b) m = v/u

(c) A diverging (concave) lens

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Lenses.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q8
2025Not asked
2024Q2
2023Q6(c)
2022Not asked
2021Q14(d)
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017Not asked
2016Q11

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Not asked
2024Q2, Q6(k)
2023Q8
2022Q14(b)
2021Q3
2019Q11
2018Not asked
2017Q5(f)
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Lenses questions

Lenses, 2 marks

Which type of lens is used to correct long sight?

  1. A diverging (concave) lens
  2. A flat sheet of glass
  3. A converging (convex) lens
Show the answer

A converging (convex) lens

A long-sighted eye focuses light behind the retina. A converging lens bends the light in more so it focuses on the retina.

Lenses, 3 marks

Describe the image formed by a magnifying glass.

  1. Real, upright and the same size
  2. Virtual, upright and magnified
  3. Real, inverted and diminished
Show the answer

Virtual, upright and magnified

A magnifying glass is a converging lens with the object inside its focal length. The image is on the same side as the object.

Lenses, 2 marks

What is the focal point of a converging lens?

  1. The point where rays parallel to the principal axis meet after passing through the lens
  2. The point at the exact centre of the lens, where rays pass through without bending
  3. The point where the image of any object is always formed by the lens
Show the answer

The point where rays parallel to the principal axis meet after passing through the lens

Parallel rays are brought together at the focus, F. The distance from the lens to F is the focal length, f.

Other Physics topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics