6.

1 REFLECTION
OF LIGHT

Exploring how images form in plane mirrors

MIRROR,
MIRROR
Have you ever snuck a peek at
your reflection in a spoon or the
mirrored surface of a tall
building? How would you
describe the characteristics of
the images you see?
 TODAY, YOU WILL...

Explain the ray model of light

Describe how plane mirrors form images using ray diagrams

Draw ray diagrams

Name the characteristics of images formed by plane mirrors

Understand how pinhole cameras work

 KEYWORDS
Angle of incidence Plane mirror

Angle of reflection Protractor

Incident ray Ray diagram

Law of reflection Rays

Normal Reflection

Perpendicular Set square

THE RAY
MODEL OF
LIGHT
Light travels in straight lines
called rays. Rays also have
arrows to indicate the direction A ray travels in a straight line until
of travel of light. An example of it hits something, like a mirror.
a ray is the beam of light from a
laser.
 THE RAY MODEL OF LIGHT
When light rays encounter an object, they can be reflected, absorbed or transmitted.

Absorption happens when Transmission is when light

Reflection occurs when light
materials take in light, often passes through a transparent
bounces off a surface
converting to heat. material, like glass or water
THE RAY
MODEL OF
LIGHT
We can represent how light
interacts with materials using a
ray diagram. It represents the
possible paths light can take
from a source or an object to an
observer or a screen.
MIRRORS AND
REFLECTION
Mirrors work on the principle of
reflection, where light bounces
off surfaces.

When light rays from an object hit

the surface of a plane mirror, they
reflect off the mirror at the same
angle at which they arrive but in a
different direction.
 NORMAL

INCIDENT RAY REFLECTED RAY

MIRRORS AND
i r REFLECTION
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE ANGLE OF REFLECTION
This process is guided by the law of
reflection, which states that the
angle of incidence (the angle at which
PLANE MIRROR the incoming light ray hits the mirror)
equals the angle of reflection (the
angle at which the light ray leaves the
LAW OF REFLECTION mirror).

i = r
LEARNING CHECK
The diagram shows a light ray hitting a plane mirror. What would
be the angles of incidence and reflection?

A i = 30°, r = 30°

B i = 60°, r = 30°

C i = 30°, r = 60°
30°

D i = 60°, r = 60°
 LEARNING CHECK
The correct answer is D. The angle of incidence and angle of
reflection is 60°.

D
ANSWER KEY

i = 90° - 30° = 60°

Since i = r, then the angle of

reflection (r) is also 60°.
60° 60°

30°
 MIRRORS: DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM
Follow the steps below when drawing ray diagrams for plane mirrors.

OBJECT OBJECT

i
1 2
NORMAL

Draw the line perpendicular to the plane mirror

Draw an incoming ray (also known as the
(normal), then draw the reflected ray. Make
incident ray) from the object to the mirror.
sure that it follows the law of reflection.
 MIRRORS: DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM
Follow the steps below when drawing ray diagrams for plane mirrors.

OBJECT OBJECT

3 4

Draw another incident ray (in green) from the Extend both reflected rays backwards behind
same point on the object, along with its the mirror until they meet. We need to use
corresponding reflected ray. dashed lines since these are not real ‘rays.’
 MIRRORS: DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM
Follow the steps below when drawing ray diagrams for plane mirrors.

WHAT ARE THE

OBJECT IMAGE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
IMAGE FORMED BY A PLANE
MIRROR?
5

The point where the extended rays meet is the

location of the image.
IMAGE FORMED BY A PLANE MIRROR

AN IMAGE FORMED BY
A PLANE MIRROR IS:

OBJECT IMAGE upright, meaning it is the same

way up as the object
the same size as the object
laterally inverted, meaning the
left side of the object appears as
the right side of the image
the same distance behind the
mirror as the object in front
 LEARNING CHECK
An eye observes object P by reflection in a plane mirror. Which of
the following ray diagrams is correct, and why is it the correct one?

A B C

P P P
 LEARNING CHECK
An eye observes object P by reflection in a plane mirror. Which of
the following ray diagrams is correct, and why is it the correct one?

B
ANSWER KEY

OBJECT IMAGE
The reflected rays and their
P P’
extensions are accurately drawn—
the angle of reflection and
incidence are more or less equal.

Moreover, the extended reflected

rays intersect at a point located the
same distance from the mirror as
the object.
THE PINHOLE
CAMERA
A pinhole camera is a simple
device that captures images
without a lens. It operates on
the principle of light travelling in
straight lines.
 THE PINHOLE CAMERA
Light passing through a pinhole camera's tiny hole projects an upside-down and smaller image on the
screen. Rays coming from the image intersect at the pinhole and continue to travel in a straight line.

TOP RAY IS DIRECTED

DOWNWARDS

INVERTED IMAGE

OBJECT
PINHOLE

BOTTOM RAY IS
DIRECTED UPWARDS

TRANSLUCENT SCREEN
 THE PINHOLE CAMERA
Changing the distance of the object from the pinhole will also change the size of the image.

Object closer to the pinhole Object farther from the pinhole

produces a larger image produces a smaller image
THINK ABOUT IT!
What will happen to the image formed on the screen of a pinhole
camera if the pinhole is larger, as shown? Support your answer
using a ray diagram.
 THINK ABOUT IT!
A larger pinhole will allow more light to enter. However, this can
cause a single point from the object to reach multiple points on the
screen, resulting in a fuzzy image.
ANSWER KEY
 REVIEW

IMAGES ON PLANE
RAY MODEL OF LIGHT RAY DIAGRAM
MIRRORS

Plane mirrors create images

Represents the possible that are upright, the same
Uses the concept that light
paths that light can take size, laterally inverted, and
travels in straight lines,
from the source to the located at the same
represented by rays
observer or screen distance from the mirror as
the object.