SVVS

SRI VIDYA VIHAR SCHOOL

LIGHT – REFLECTION AND REFRACTION
 Light: “Light is a form of energy which enable us to see the objects.”
 Light has two basic properties:
1) Reflection (Explained by Mirror)
2) Refraction (Explained by lenses)]

REFLECTION OF LIGHT

“The phenomenon of bouncing back of light ray when falls on a highly polished surface is called
Reflection of light”

Laws of reflection: –
(i) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and
(ii) The incident ray, the normal to the mirror at the point of incidence and the reflected ray, all lie in
the same plane.

Mirrors
Reflection is explained by the mirrors. We have different types of mirrors

Page | 1
SVVS

Concave mirror: A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved inwards i.e faces
towards the centre of the sphere, is called a concave mirror .
Convex mirror: A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved outwards is called a convex
mirror.

 Pole(P): The centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is a point called the pole.
The pole is usually represented by the letter P.
 Centre of curvature (C): The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror forms a part of a
sphere. This sphere has a centre. This point is called the centre of curvature of the spherical
mirror. It is represented by the letter C.
 Radius of curvature (R): The radius of the sphere of which the reflecting surface of a
spherical mirror forms a part, is called the radius of curvature of the mirror. It is represented
by the letter R. the distance PC is equal to the radius of curvature.
 Principal axis: straight line passing through the pole and the centre of curvature of a
spherical mirror. This line is called the principal axis. Remember that principal axis is
normal to the mirror at its pole.
 Aperture: The diameter of the reflecting surface of spherical mirror is called its aperture.
distance MN represents the aperture.
 Principal focus (F): The reflected rays appear to come from a point on the principal axis.
This point is called the principal focus.
 Focal length (f): The distance between the pole and the principal focus of a spherical
mirror is called the focal length. It is represented by the letter f.
 The radius of curvature is found to be equal to twice the focal length. So, R = 2f.

Spherical Lenses

A transparent material bound by two surfaces, of which one or both surfaces are spherical, forms a
lens. This means that a lens is bound by at least one spherical surface. In such lenses, the other
surface would be plane. We have mainly two types of Lenses. They are,

1) Concave Lens (diverging lens)

2) Convex Lens (converging Lens)

Page | 2
SVVS

Concave Lens (diverging lens): A double concave lens is bounded by two spherical surfaces, curved
inwards. It is thicker at the edges than at the middle. Such lenses are
also called diverging lenses. A double concave lens is simply called
a concave lens.
Convex Lens (converging Lens): A lens may have two spherical surfaces, bulging outwards. Such a
lens is called a double convex lens. It is simply called a convex
lens. convex lenses are also called converging lenses.

 Centre of curvature (C): The centres of these spheres are called centres of curvature of the lens.
The centre of curvature of a lens is usually represented by the letter C. Since there are two
centres of curvature, we may represent them as C1 and C2.
 Principal axis: An imaginary straight line passing through the two centres of curvature of a lens
is called its principal axis.
 Optical centre(O): The central point of a lens is its optical centre. It is usually represented by
the letter O.two centres of curvatures are equidistant from the optical centre O.
 Several rays of light parallel to the principal axis are falling on a convex lens. These rays, after
refraction from the lens, are converging to a point on the principal axis. This point on the
principal axis is called the principal focus of the lens.
(OR)
Several rays of light parallel to the principal axis are falling on a concave lens. These rays, after
refraction from the lens, are appearing to diverge from a point on the principal axis. This point
on the principal axis is called the principal focus of the concave lens. Letter F is usually used
to represent principal focus.
 A lens has two principal foci. They are represented by F1 and F2. The distance of the principal
focus from the optical centre of a lens is called its focal length. The letter f is used to represent
the focal length.

Rules to draw a Ray Diagrams by using Spherical Mirrors

1) A ray parallel to the principal axis, after reflection, will pass through the principal focus in case of a
concave mirror or appear to diverge from the principal focus in case of a convex mirror .

Page | 3
SVVS
2) A ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror or a ray which is directed towards the
principal focus of a convex mirror, after reflection, will emerge parallel to the principal axis.

3) A ray passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror or directed in the direction of the
centre of curvature of a convex mirror, after reflection, is reflected along the same path. The light
rays come back along the same path because the incident rays fall on the mirror along the normal to
the reflecting surface.

4) A ray incident obliquely to the principal axis, towards a point P (pole of the mirror), on the concave
mirror or a convex mirror is reflected obliquely. The incident and reflected rays follow the laws of
reflection at the point of incidence (point P), making equal angles with the principal axis.

Rules to draw a Ray Diagrams by using Spherical Lenses

1) A ray of light from the object, parallel to the principal axis, after refraction from a convex lens,
passes through the principal focus on the other side of the lens. In case of a concave lens, the ray
appears to diverge from the principal focus located on the same side of the lens.

Page | 4
SVVS

2) A ray of light passing through a principal focus, after refraction from a convex lens, will emerge
parallel to the principal axis. Ray of light appearing to meet at the principal focus of a concave lens,
after refraction, will emerge parallel to the principal axis.

3) A ray of light passing through the optical centre of a lens will emerge without any deviation and after
refraction, will emerges in same optical centre.

Diagrams for the image formation by a concave mirror

S.No Position of object Position of image Size of image Nature of image

a At infinity At the focus F Highly Real and inverted
diminished,
point-sized
b Beyond C Between F and C Diminished Real and inverted
c At C At C Same Size Real and inverted
d Between C and F Beyond C Enlarged Real and inverted
e At F At infinity Highly enlarged Real and inverted
f Between P and F Behind the mirror Enlarged Virtual and
erected

Page | 5
SVVS

Diagrams for the image formation by a convex lens

Position of object Position of image Size of image Nature of image

At infinity At focus F2 Highly diminished, Real and inverted
point-sized
Beyond 2F1 Between F2 and 2F2 Diminished Real and inverted
At 2F1 At 2F2 Same Size Real and inverted
Between F1 and 2F1 Beyond 2F2 Enlarged Real and inverted
At focus F1 At infinity Highly enlarged or Real and inverted
infinitely large
Between focus F1 On the same side of Enlarged Virtual and erected
and optical centre O the lens as the object

Page | 6
SVVS

Diagrams for the image formation by a convex mirror

Position of object Position of image Size of image Nature of image

At infinity At the focus F, behind Highly diminished, Virtual and erect
the mirror point-sized
Between infinity and Between P and F, Diminished Virtual and erect
the pole P of the behind the mirror
mirror

Page | 7
SVVS

Diagrams for the image formation by a concave lens

Position of object Position of image Size of image Nature of image

At infinity At focus F1 Highly diminished, Virtual and erect
point-sized
Between infinity and Between focus F1 and Diminished Virtual and erect
optical centre O of the optical centre O
lens

Magnification(m) for mirror and lens

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.

Let,
h¹ = Height of the image
h = Height of the object
u = Object distance
v = Image distance,
 Magnification(m) for mirror:

m = h¹/ h = -v/u

 Magnification(m) for lens:

m = h¹/ h = v/u

A negative sign in the value of the magnification indicates that the image is real. A positive sign
in the value of the magnification indicates that the image is virtual.

The New Cartesian Sign Convention

(i) 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.
(ii) All distances parallel to the principal axis are measured from the pole of the mirror.
(iii) All the distances measured to the right of the origin (along + x-axis) are taken as positive
Page | 8
SVVS
while those measured to the left of the origin (along – x-axis) are taken as negative.
(iv) Distances measured perpendicular to and above the principal axis (along + y-axis) are taken
as positive.
(v) Distances measured perpendicular to and below the principal axis (along –y-axis) are taken as
negative.

Quantity Conditions Sign

Focal length(f) Concave mirror +
Convex mirror -
Convex lens +
Concave lens -
Object distance(u) Always +
Image distance(v) Real image +
Virtual image -
Magnification(m) Image upright +
Image inverted -

Mirror formula and Lens formula

Let, h¹ = Height of the image

h = Height of the object
u = Object distance
v = Image distance
f = focal length

 Mirror formula:

 Lens formula:

Page | 9
SVVS

Advantages of concave and convex mirrors

Concave mirror Convex Mirror

Concave mirrors are commonly used in, Convex mirrors are commonly used as rear-view
1. Torches (wing) mirrors in
2. search-lights Vehicles.
3. vehicles headlights
to get powerful parallel beams of light.
used as shaving mirrors to see a larger image of the Convex mirrors are preferred because they always
face. give an erect, though diminished, image.
dentists use concave mirrors to see large images of
the teeth of patients.
Large concave mirrors are used to concentrate
sunlight to produce heat in solar furnaces.

Multiple Choice Questions(MCQ’s)

1. When light passes from a denser medium to a rarer medium, it generally:

a) Speeds up b) Slows down
c) Changes colour d) Becomes parallel

Answer: a) Speeds up

2. Which of the following is an example of regular reflection?

a) Light bouncing off a rough wall
b) Light bouncing off a smooth mirror
c) Light passing through a transparent material
d) Light bending as it passes through water

Answer: b) Light bouncing off a smooth mirror

3. The law of reflection states that:

a) Light always refracts when it encounters a new medium
b) The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence
c) The angle of reflection is always greater than the angle of incidence
d) The speed of light remains constant in all media

Answer: b) The angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence

4. When light passes from air into water, it tends to:

a) Speed up b) Slow down
c) Change colour d) Split into multiple beams

Answer: b) Slow down

5. A concave mirror is one that:

a) Curves outward, like the outside of a bowl
b) Curves inward, like the inside of a spoon
c) Does not reflect light

Page | 10
SVVS

d) Only reflects light in one direction

Answer: b) Curves inward, like the inside of a spoon

6. When white light passes through a prism, it separates into its constituent colors. This phenomenon is
called:
a) Reflection b) Refraction
c) Dispersion d) Absorption

Answer: c) Dispersion

7. The phenomenon responsible for the formation of a rainbow is primarily due to:
a) Reflection b) Refraction
c) Dispersion d) Diffraction

Answer: c) Dispersion

8. What is the speed of light in a vacuum?

a) 300,000 km/s
b) 3,000 km/s
c) 30,000,000 m/s
d) 299,792,458 m/s

Answer: d) 299,792,458 m/s

9. When light bends as it passes from one medium to another, this phenomenon is called:
a) Reflection b) Diffraction
c) Refraction d) Dispersion

Answer: c) Refraction

1o. Which of the following colours of light is refracted the least in a glass prism?
a) red b) Blue
c) green d) Violet

Answer: a) Red

11. What type of mirror is commonly used in a makeup or shaving mirror?

a) Plane mirror b) Convex mirror
c) concave mirror d) Spherical mirror

Answer: c) Concave mirror

12. The image formed by a concave mirror can be:

a) Real and inverted
b) Virtual and upright
c) Real and upright
d) Virtual and inverted

Answer: a) Real and inverted

Page | 11
SVVS
13. Which of the following phenomena explains why a pencil appears bent when partially immersed in a
glass of water?
a) Reflection b) Dispersion
c) Refraction d) Diffraction

Answer: c) Refraction

14. A lens that is thicker at the centre than at the edges is called:
a) concave lens b) Convex lens
c) Diverging lens d) Plano-concave lens

Answer: b) Convex lens

15. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection according to:
a) The law of reflection b) Snell's Law
c) Huygens' Principle d) Fermat's Principle

Answer: a) The law of reflection

16. In which type of mirror do objects appear smaller than they are?
a) Plane mirror b) Convex mirror
c) concave mirror d) Spherical mirror

Answer: b) Convex mirror

17. The phenomenon of total internal reflection occurs when light:

a) Passes from a denser medium to a rarer medium
b) Passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium
c) Strikes a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle
d) Passes through a perfectly transparent medium

Answer: c) Strikes a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle

18. What is the correct order of the colours in a spectrum when white light is passed through a prism?
a) Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet
b) Violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red
c) Red, yellow, green, blue, violet, orange
d) Red, orange, yellow, blue, green, violet

Answer: a) Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet

19. Which of the following materials allows light to pass through but scatters it in all directions, making
objects behind it difficult to see?
a) Transparent b) Translucent
c) Opaque d) Luminous

Answer: b) Translucent

20. When light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, what happens to its speed?
a) It increases
b) It remains the same
c) It decreases
d) It depends on the angle of incidence
Page | 12
SVVS

Answer: c) It decreases

21. Which type of mirror can form both real and virtual images, depending on the object's position?
a) Plane mirror b) Concave mirror
c) convex mirror d) Spherical mirror

Answer: b) Concave mirror

22. The image formed by a plane mirror is always:

a) Real and inverted
b) Virtual and upright
c) Real and upright
d) Virtual and inverted

Answer: b) Virtual and upright

23. What happens to the frequency of light when it enters a medium with a higher refractive index?
a) It decreases b) It increases
c) It remains the same d) It becomes zero

Answer: c) It remains the same

24. The bending of light waves as they pass around the edges of an obstacle or aperture is known as:
a) Reflection b) Refraction
c) Diffraction d) Dispersion

Answer: c) Diffraction

25. What is the phenomenon where light waves reinforce each other, creating a stronger light intensity?
a) Reflection b) Refraction
c) Interference d) Diffraction

Answer: c) Interference

26. Which type of lens can be used to correct near-sightedness?

a) convex lens b) Concave lens
c) Diverging lens d) Plano-concave lens

Answer: b) Concave lens

27. When does total internal reflection occur in a medium?

a) When light enters a denser medium
b) When light enters a rarer medium
c) When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle
d) When the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle

Answer: c) When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle

28. What happens to the speed of light when it passes from air into a glass medium?
a) It speeds up b) It slows down
c) It remains the same d) It depends on the color of light

Page | 13
SVVS

Answer: b) It slows down

29. When light reflects off a smooth and shiny surface, such as a mirror, it follows the law of:
a) Refraction
b) Dispersion
c) Diffraction
d) Reflection

Answer: d) Reflection

30. Which type of mirror is used as a rearview mirror in a car to provide a wider field of view?
a) convex mirror b) Concave mirror
c) Plane mirror d) Spherical mirror

Answer: a) Convex mirror

31. When light passes through a prism, it separates into different colors. This phenomenon is called:
a) Diffraction b) Dispersion
c) Reflection d) Refraction

Answer: b) Dispersion

32. In a concave lens, which type of image is formed when an object is placed between the focal point and
the lens?
a) Real and inverted b) Virtual and upright
c) Real and upright d) Virtual and inverted

Answer: b) Virtual and upright

33. What is the critical angle for total internal reflection?

a) 30 degrees b) 45 degrees
c) 60 degrees d) It depends on the material

Answer: d) It depends on the material

34. Which color of light is bent the most when passing through a prism?
a) red b) Green
c) blue d) Violet

Answer: d) Violet

35. When a beam of light passes from a denser medium to a rarer medium at an angle of incidence greater
than the critical angle, what phenomenon occurs?
a) Reflection b) Refraction
c) Diffraction d) Total internal reflection

Answer: d) Total internal reflection

36. What happens to the wavelength of light when it enters a medium with a higher refractive index?
a) It increases b) It decreases
c) It remains the same d) It becomes zero

Page | 14
SVVS

Answer: b) It decreases

37. In which type of mirror is the image always virtual, upright, and smaller than the object?
a) concave mirror b) Convex mirror
c) Plane mirror d) Spherical mirror

Answer: b) Convex mirror

38. What is reflection in the context of light?

a) The bending of light as it passes through a medium
b) The absorption of light by an object
c) The bouncing back of light rays from a surface
d) The scattering of light in all directions

Answer: c) The bouncing back of light rays from a surface

39. Which of the following surfaces is the best reflector of light?

a) Rough and uneven surface
b) Transparent surface
c) Smooth and polished surface
d) Translucent surface

Answer: c) Smooth and polished surface

40. When light reflects off a rough surface, it undergoes:

a) Diffuse reflection
b) Regular reflection
c) Total internal reflection
d) Refraction

Answer: a) Diffuse reflection

41. What is the law of reflection?

a) Light always travels in a straight line.
b) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of refraction.
c) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
d) Light always travels faster in air than in any other medium.

Answer: c) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

42. Which type of mirror forms a virtual, upright, and diminished image when an object is placed in front of
it?
a) Concave mirror
b) Convex mirror
c) Plane mirror
d) Spherical mirror

Answer: c) Plane mirror

43. In a concave mirror, if an object is placed beyond the focal point, the image formed is:
a) Real and inverted
b) Real and upright
Page | 15
SVVS
c) Virtual and upright
d) Virtual and inverted

Answer: d) Virtual and inverted

44. Which of the following is NOT a primary color of light in the RGB color model?
a) Red
b) Green
c) Blue
d) Yellow

Answer: d) Yellow

45. When white light is passed through a prism, it separates into a spectrum of colors due to:
a) Diffraction
b) Dispersion
c) Reflection
d) Refraction

Answer: b) Dispersion

46. Which type of lens can converge parallel rays of light to a focal point?
a) Convex lens
b) Concave lens
c) Plano-convex lens
d) Plano-concave lens

Answer: a) Convex lens

47. In a convex lens, when an object is placed between the focal point and the lens, the image formed is:
a) Real, inverted, and diminished
b) Real, inverted, and magnified
c) Virtual, upright, and diminished
d) Virtual, upright, and magnified

Answer: b) Real, inverted, and magnified

48. When light travels from one medium to another and changes its speed, it undergoes:
a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Dispersion
d) Diffraction

Answer: b) Refraction

49. The angle of incidence is always measured:

a) Relative to the normal
b) Relative to the mirror's surface
c) Relative to the angle of reflection
d) Relative to the angle of refraction

Answer: a) Relative to the normal

Page | 16
SVVS
50. When light reflects off a smooth surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of:
a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Incidence
d) Diffraction

Answer: a) Reflection

51. Which of the following materials does light travel fastest through?
a) Air
b) Water
c) Glass
d) Diamond

Answer: a) Air

52. When a ray of light passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it generally:
a) Bends away from the normal
b) Bends toward the normal
c) Reflects at an angle of 90 degrees
d) Does not change direction

Answer: b) Bends toward the normal

53. In which type of mirror, the image formed is always virtual and erect?
a) Concave mirror
b) Convex mirror
c) Plane mirror
d) Spherical mirror

Answer: c) Plane mirror

54. When a beam of light passes from air into water, the phenomenon responsible for the change in direction
of the light is:
a) Reflection
b) Refraction
c) Dispersion
d) Diffraction

Answer: b) Refraction

55. Which of the following is NOT a property of an image formed by a concave mirror?
a) Virtual
b) Real
c) Inverted
d) Enlarged

Answer: b) Real

56. The angle of refraction depends on the angle of incidence and the:
a) Speed of light in the medium
b) Wavelength of light
c) Color of light
Page | 17
SVVS
d) Angle of reflection

Answer: a) Speed of light in the medium

57. What is the angle of incidence equal to when light is incident on a surface at an angle of 45 degrees?
a) 45 degrees
b) 90 degrees
c) 0 degrees
d) It depends on the material

Answer: a) 45 degrees

58. When light travels from air into glass, which of the following statements is true regarding the speed of
light?
a) Light slows down in glass
b) Light speeds up in glass
c) Light maintains the same speed in glass as in air
d) Light does not enter glass

Answer: a) Light slows down in glass

59. What happens to the angle of reflection when light is incident on a smooth, polished surface?
a) It becomes smaller than the angle of incidence
b) It becomes larger than the angle of incidence
c) It remains equal to the angle of incidence
d) It becomes 90 degrees

Answer: c) It remains equal to the angle of incidence

60. Which of the following colors of light experiences the least deviation when passing through a glass
prism?
a) Red
b) Blue
c) Green
d) All colors experience the same deviation

Answer: a) Red

61. When does total internal reflection occur in a transparent medium?

a) When light enters the medium from air at a small angle of incidence
b) When light enters the medium from air at a large angle of incidence
c) When light exits the medium into air at a small angle of incidence
d) Total internal reflection never occurs

Answer: b) When light enters the medium from air at a large angle of incidence

62. What type of lens is used to correct near-sightedness?

a) Convex lens
b) Concave lens
c) Plano-convex lens
d) Plano-concave lens

Answer: b) Concave lens

Page | 18
SVVS

63. What is the focal length of a converging lens if it has a positive optical power?
a) Positive
b) Negative
c) Zero
d) Cannot be determined

Answer: a) Positive

64. Which of the following is NOT a type of mirror?

a) Plane mirror
b) Concave mirror
c) Convex mirror
d) Diffraction mirror

Answer: d) Diffraction mirror

65. In which direction does light bend when it passes from a rarer medium to a denser medium?
a) Away from the normal
b) Toward the normal
c) It does not bend
d) It bends randomly

Answer: b) Toward the normal

https://betrained.in/AP-Board/10-Physics-Chemistry/Reflection-Of-Light-By-Different-Surfaces-Solution

Page | 19