LIGHT – REFLECTION & REFRACTION.

Light is the form of energy, which enables us to interact with our

surroundings in a most effective way.

 Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that causes the sensation of sight.

 Light waves are electromagnetic waves (non mechanical waves) which do not
require any material medium for its propagation.
 Speed of light in vacuum (free space) is 3× 108 m/s.
 Light is considered to have rectilinear propagation which means light travel in a
straight line.
Light appear to travel in almost straight line although it travel in the form of
waves because the wavelength of light wave is extremely small.
 Light is being used now days for communication with the help of optical fibre.
An optical fibre or a glass fibre is a thin and flexible thread of glass which
acts as a light carrying pipe.
 A straight line path along which a light wave moves is known as ray of light.
 A bundle of ray is known as beam of light.
 Light is produced by any one of two methods –
a) Incandescence i.e emission of light from hot matter (temp. more
than 800k)
b) Luminescence i.e. emission of light waves when the excited
electrons fall to lower energy level.

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 Reflection of light.
The bouncing back of light rays which fall on the surface of an object is called as
reflection of light.

Laws of Reflection of light:-

 The angle of incidence and angle of reflection are equal,i.e ∠ i = ∠ r.

 The incident ray, reflected ray and normal to the point of incidence lie in the
same plane.

The angle of incidence is denoted by 'i' and angle of reflection is denoted by 'r'.
The law of reflection is applicable to all types of reflecting surface.

Mirror and Reflection of Light:-

Mirror is a shiny polished object (glass) which reflects most of the rays of light
falling upon it. One side of mirror is polished with suitable material to make the
other side reflective.

Depending on the nature of the reflecting surface, there are two kinds of
reflections.

 Regular or (specular) reflection:- The reflection of light from a mirror like

smooth reflecting surface so that the reflected rays are parallel to each other
is called as regular or specular reflection.

 Irregular or (diffused) reflection:- The reflection of light from a rough,

irregular surface randomly in various direction is called as irregular or
diffused reflection.

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Types of Image formed by mirrors:-

Real Image: Image which is formed in front of the mirror and it can be obtained
on a screen is called real image.

Virtual Image: Image which is formed behind the mirror and cannot be obtained
on a screen is called virtual image.

Real image. Virtual image.

Real image is formed when the light ray Virtual image is formed when the light
after reflection or refraction actually ray after reflection or refraction appears
meets at a point. to meet a point.
It can be obtained on a screen. It cannot be obtained on screen.
It is always inverted. It is always erect.

Types of Mirror:-

Plane Mirror: A mirror having a flat surface is called plane mirror.

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Formation of image of a point object in a plane mirror:-

Fig: Image formation in plane mirror

Nature of the image formed by a plane mirror:-

 A plane mirror always forms virtual and erect image.

 The distance of image and that of object is equal from the mirror.
 The image formed by a plane mirror is laterally inverted.
 The size of the image is same as that of the object.

Few characteristics of plane mirror:-

 Number of images formed between two plane mirror placed at an angle  is

given by :- N = 360/ - 1; if 360/ is even and
 N = 360/ ; if 360/ is odd.

 The focal length of a plane mirror is infinity.

 If keeping the incident ray fixed, mirror is rotated by an angle then
reflected ray is rotated through 2
 The line joining the object and the image formed by a plane mirror is always
perpendicular to the surface of the mirror.
 The magnification of plane mirror is +1.
 If an object moves towards or away from a plane mirror at a speed of v, the
image also approaches or recedes from the mirror at the same speed v, and
the relative velocity of the image with respect to object is equal to 2v.

Lateral inversion:- The apparent reversal of the mirror image’s left and right
when compared with the object is called lateral inversion.

Formation of image of an extended object in a plane mirror:-

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The light from each point on the extended object forms a point image and the
images of all the points taken together make up the image of the whole extended
object.

Spherical Mirror:-

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Mirrors having curved reflecting surface are called spherical mirrors. A spherical
mirror is a part of a sphere.

Types of Spherical Mirror:-

Concave Mirror: Spherical mirror with reflecting surface curved inwards facing
towards the centre of the sphere is called concave mirror.

Convex Mirror: Spherical mirror with reflecting surface curved outwards,

opposite to the centre of the sphere is called convex mirror.

Important terms in the case of spherical mirror:-

Fig: Concave Mirror

Pole: The centre of reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is known as Pole. Pole
lies on the surface of spherical mirror. Pole is generally represented by ‘P’.

Centre of Curvature: The centre of sphere, of which the reflecting surface of a

spherical mirror is a part, is called the centre of curvature of the spherical mirror.
Centre of curvature is not a part of spherical mirror rather it lies outside the mirror.
Centre of curvature is denoted by letter ‘C’.

In the case of concave mirror centre of curvature lies in front of the reflecting
surface. On the other hand, centre of curvature lies behind the reflecting surface in
the case of convex mirror.

Radius of curvature:- It is the radius of hollow sphere of glass of which the

spherical mirror is a part.

Fig: Convex Mirror

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Aperture: The diameter of reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is called
aperture. {The intensity of image formed by spherical mirror is proportional to the
2
πd 2
area of aperture. i.e. I α 2
∨I α d ∨I α ( aperture ) }
4

Principal Axis: Imaginary line passing through the centre of curvature and pole of
a spherical mirror is called the Principal Axis.

Focus or Principal Focus: Point on principal axis at which parallel rays, coming
from infinity, converge after reflection is called the Focus or Principal Focus of the
spherical mirror. Focus is represented by letter ‘F’.

Fig: Converging Mirror (concave mirror)

In the case of a concave mirror, parallel rays, coming from infinity, converge after
reflection in front of the mirror. Thus, the focus lies in front of a concave mirror.

Fig: Diverging Mirror ( convex mirror )

In the case of a convex mirror, parallel rays, coming from infinity, appear to be
diverging from behind the mirror. Thus, the focus lies behind the convex mirror.

Focal length: The distance from pole to focus is called focal length. Focal length
is denoted by letter ‘f’. Focal length is equal to half of the radius of curvature.

Reflection from spherical mirror:-

Reflection of Rays parallel to Principal Axis:-

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In the case of concave mirror: A Ray parallel to principal axis passes through the
principal focus after reflection from a concave mirror.

Fig: Rays parallel to principal axis

Similarly, all parallel rays to the principal axis pass through the principal focus
after reflection from a concave mirror. Since, a concave mirror converge the
parallel rays after reflection, thus a concave mirror is also known as converging
mirror.

In the case of convex mirror: A ray parallel to principal axis appears to diverge
from the principal focus after reflecting from the surface of a convex mirror.

Fig: Rays parallel to principal axis

Similarly, all rays parallel to the principal axis of a convex mirror appear to
diverge or coming from principal focus after reflection from a convex mirror.
Since, a convex mirror diverges the parallel rays after reflection, thus it is also
known as diverging mirror.

Reflection of ray passing through the Principal Focus:-

In the case of concave mirror: Ray passing through the principal focus goes
parallel to principal axis after reflection in the case of concave mirror.

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 Fig: Ray passing through principal focus
In the case of convex mirror: A ray directed towards principal focus goes parallel
to principal axis after reflecting from the surface of a convex mirror.

Fig: Ray through principal focus

Ray passing through the Centre of curvature:-

In the case of concave mirror: Ray passing through the centre of curvature
returns at the same path after reflecting from the surface of a concave mirror.

Fig: Ray passing through C

In the case of convex mirror: Ray appears to passing through or directed towards
the centre of curvature returns at the same path after reflecting from the surface of
a convex mirror.

Fig: Ray passing through C

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 Ray incident obliquely to the principal axis: Ray obliquely to the principal axis
goes obliquely after reflecting from the pole of the both concave and convex mirror
and at the same angle.

Fig: Ray passing obliquely to principal axis

Image Formation by Concave Mirror:-

Formation of image depends upon the position of the object. There are six
possibilities of the position of object in the case of concave mirror.

a. Object at infinity
b. Object between infinity and centre of curvature (C)
c. Object at centre of curvature (C)
d. Object between centre of curvature (C) and Principal focus (F)
e. Object at Principal Focus (F)
f. Object between Principal Focus (F) and Pole (P)
a) Object at infinity:-

Since parallel rays coming from the object converge at principal focus, F of a
concave mirror; after reflection. Hence, when the object is at infinity the image
will form at F.

Fig: Object at Infinity

Properties of image:-

 At F.
 Highly diminished i.e point sized.
 Real and inverted.

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 b) Object between infinity and Centre of Curvature:-

When object is placed between infinity and centre of curvature of a concave mirror
the image is formed between centre of curvature (C) and focus (F).

Fig: Object between Infinity and C

Properties of image:-

 Between C and F.
 Diminished compared to object
 Real and inverted.

c) Object at Centre of Curvature (C):-

When the object is placed at centre of curvature (C) of a concave mirror, a real and
inverted image is formed at the same position.

Fig: Object at C
Properties of image:-

 At C
 Same size as object
 Real and inverted.

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 d) Object between Centre of curvature (C) and Principal Focus (F):-

When the object is placed between centre of curvature and principal focus of
concave mirror, a real image is formed beyond the centre of curvature (C).

Fig: Object between C and F

Properties of image:

 Beyond C.
 Larger than object
 Real and inverted.

e) Object at Principal Focus (F):-

When the object is placed at principal focus (F) of a concave mirror, a highly
enlarged image is formed at infinity.

Fig: Object at F
Properties of image:

 At infinity.
 Highly enlarged
 Real and inverted.

f) Object between Principal Focus (F) and Pole (P):-

When the object is placed between principal focus and pole of a concave mirror, an
enlarged, virtual and erect image is formed behind the mirror.

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 Fig: Object between F and P
Properties of image:

 Behind the mirror

 Enlarged
 Virtual and erect

Positions of Object and Image in Concave Mirror

Position of Nature of
Position of Object Size of Image
Image Image

Point sized, highly Real and

At infinity At focus
diminished inverted

Between infinity Between F and Real and

Diminished
and C C inverted

Real and
At C At C Same size
inverted

Real and
Between C and F Beyond C Enlarged
inverted

Real and
At F At infinity Highly enlarged
inverted
Virtual and
Between F and P Behind mirror Enlarged
erect

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Image Formation by Convex Mirror:-
There are only two possibilities of position of object in the case of a convex mirror,
i.e. object at infinity and object between infinity and pole of a convex mirror.

a) Object at infinity: When the object is at the infinity, a point sized

image is formed at principal focus behind the convex mirror.

Fig: Object at infinity

Properties of image:

 Image is highly diminished,

 Virtual and erect.

 Behind the mirror.

b) Object between infinity and pole:- When the object is between

infinity and pole of a convex mirror, a diminished, virtual and erect
image is formed between pole and focus behind the mirror.

Fig: Object between infinity and P

Properties of image:

 Image is diminished,
 Virtual and erect.
 Behind the mirror.

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 Positions and Nature of Image in Convex Mirror

Nature of
Position of Object Position of Image Size of Image
Image

Highly Virtual and

At infinity At F, behind mirror
diminished erect

Between infinity Between F and P, behind Virtual and

Diminished
and P mirror erect

Uses of Concave Mirror:-

 As reflector in electric torch, head lights of vehicle, search light, etc. The
source of light is put at the focus of the reflector, which produces a strong
parallel beam of light, which helps in clear visibility.
 As shaving mirror to produce larger image of face to facilitate better viewing
during shaving.
 Concave mirror is used by dentists to see larger image of teeth of the patient.
When a tooth is placed between focus and pole, the concave mirror produces
a magnified image of the tooth.
 As reflector in solar furnace. By using concave mirror in solar furnace the
concentrated rays of sunlight is obtained at focus which produces enormous
amount of heat because of concentration.

Uses of Convex Mirror:-

 Convex mirror is used in rear view mirror of vehicles; so that the driver can
see the traffic coming from behind. The field of view is widest in case of a
convex mirror, which enables it to show a wider area from behind.
 Convex mirror is used on hairpin bends on the road; so that the driver can
see the traffic approaching from another side of the bend.

NATURE, IMAGE AND ITS FORMATION (CONCAVE MIRROR)

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NATURE, IMAGE AND ITS FORMATION (CONVEX MIRROR

Object at infinity Object between infinity and pole

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Sign convention for reflection by spherical mirrors
Reflection of light by spherical mirrors follow a set of sign conventions called the
New Cartesian Sign Convention. In this convention, the pole (P) of the mirror is
taken as the origin. The principal axis of the mirror is taken as the x-axis of the
coordinate system. The conventions are as follows :-

 The object is always placed to the left of the mirror. This implies that the
light from the object falls on the mirror from the left-hand side.
 All distances parallel to the principal axis are measured from the pole of the
mirror.
 All the distances measured to the right of the origin (along +ve x-axis) are
taken as positive while those measured to the left of the origin (along -ve x-
axis) are taken as negative.
 Distances measured perpendicular to and above the principal axis (along +ve
y-axis) are taken as positive.
 Distances measured perpendicular to and below the principal axis (along –ve
y-axis) are taken as negative.
These new Cartesian sign convention for spherical mirrors are shown below in the

figure

Mirror formula and magnification

Mirror formula:-
It gives the relationship between image distance (v) , object distance (u) and the
focal length (f) of the mirror and is written as

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 1 1 1
+ =
v u f
Where v is the distance of image from the mirror, u is the distance of object from
the mirror and f is the focal length of the mirror. This formula is valid in all
situations for all spherical mirrors for all positions of the object.

Magnification
Magnification produced by a spherical mirror gives the relative extent to which the
image of an object is magnified with respect to the object size. It is expressed as
the ratio of the height of the image to the height of the object. It is usually

represented by the letter m. So,

h1
m=
h2
The magnification m is also related to the object distance (u) and image
distance (v) and is given as
h 1 −v
m= =
h2 u

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REFRACTION OF LIGHT:-

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