LIGHT

CLASS X
STUDY MATERIAL & QUESTION BANK:

REFLECTION OF LIGHT:
The phenomenon of light coming back into the same medium after it strikes a smooth surface
is called reflection.
LAWS OF REFLECTION:
A. The angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are equal.
B. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the surface at the point of incidence
are in the same plane.
PROPERTIES OF IMAGE FORMED BY PLANE MIRRORS:
A. A plane mirror forms a virtual image
B. The image is erect
C. The image is of the same size as the object
D. The image is laterally inverted.
SPHERICAL MIRROR:
It is a type of mirror in which the reflecting surface is curved.
CENTRE OF CURVATURE:
It is the centre of that sphere of which mirror is a part.
TYPES OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS:

Concave: It is a type of spherical mirror in which reflection takes place at the surface on the
same side as the centre of curvature.

Convex: It is a type of spherical mirror in which reflection takes place at the bulged surface.

IMPORTANT TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH SPHERICAL MIRRORS:

Pole (P): The centre of the reflecting surface of the mirror is called pole.

Principal axis: The line joining the pole and centre of curvature is called principal axis.
Principal focus (F):
concave mirror:
It s the point on the principal axis at which the rays which come parallel to principal axis
after reflection converge.
convex mirror:
It is the point on the principal axis at which the rays which come parallel to principal axis after
reflection appear to diverge.
Radius of curvature(R):
The distance between pole and centre of curvature is called radius of curvature
 Focal length: (f):
The distance between pole and principal focus is called focal length
Aperture:
The width or diameter of the reflecting surface is called its aperture.

Relation between radius of curvature and focal length:

Radius of curvature is twice of its focal length. R = 2f or f = R/2
5. RULES FOR THE FORMATION OF IMAGES:
A ray of light which passes parallel to principal axis after reflection from a concave
mirror,passes through principal focus.

A ray of light which passes parallel to principal axis after reflection from a convex mirror,
appear to diverge from principal focus
B. A light ray passing through principal focus, after reflection, passes parallel to principal
axis.

A light ray projected towards the principal focus of a convex mirror, after reflection passes
parallel to principal axis.

A ray of light which strikes at the pole of a concave or a convex mirror, reflects at the same
angle on the other side of principal axis.
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 back along the same
path.

FORMATION OF IMAGES BY CONCAVE MIRROR FOR DIFFERENT POSITIONS

OF OBJECT IN FRONT OF IT:
CONCAVE MIRROR FORMS REAL IMAGES IN ALL THE CASES EXCEPT
WHEN THE OBJECT IS PLACED BETWEEN POLE AND PRINCIPAL FOCUS.
THE VIRTUAL IMAGE FORMED BY CONCAVE MIRROR WILL BE BIGGER
INSIZE THAN THE OBJECT.
FORMATION OF IMAGES BY CONVEX MIRROR FOR DIFFERENT POSITIONS
OF OBJECT IN FRONT OF IT:

CONVEX MIRROR ALWAYS FORMS VIRTUAL IMAGES

THE SIZE OF VIRTUAL IMAGE FORMED BY A CONVEX MIRROR WILL BE
SMALLER THAN THE OBJECT.

USES OF CONCAVE MIRROR:

A. It is used as a shaving mirror
B. It is used in search lights and head lights of automobiles
C. It is used by dentists.

USES OF A CONVEX MIRROR:

A. It is used as a rear view mirror in automobiles
B. It is used in apartments to bring the view of the corners which are not directly visible.

MIRROR FORMULA ( used both for convex and concave mirrors)

1/f = 1/u + 1/v
Here u= object distance
v = image distance
f = focal length
MAGNIFICATION (m):
It is defined as the ratio of size of the image to the size of the object
m = -v/u = h’/h
Magnification is negative for real and inverted images
 Magnification is positive for virtual images
m= 1 for plane mirror. It means the size of the object and the image are same
 m >1, when image is larger than the object
 m < 1 when image is smaller than the object
SIGN CONVENTION FOR SPHERICAL MIRRORS:
 All the measurements must be done from the pole
 Measurements done in the direction of light are taken as positive
 Measurements done in the opposite direction of light are taken as negative
Concave mirror Convex mirror
Object distance negative negative
Image distance Negative ( real images) Positive
Positive ( virtual
images)
Focal length Negative positive
Size of the Positive positive
object
Size of the image Negative (real images) Positive
Positive ( virtual
images)

6. REFRACTION OF LIGHT:
The process of bending of light at the surface of separating two media when it travels from
one medium into the other is called refraction of light.
7. CAUSE OF REFRACTION:
Light has different speeds in different media. Therefore, it changes its direction when it travels
from one medium into the other.
 It bends towards the normal when it travels from rarer to denser medium.
 It bends away from the normal when it travels from denser to rarer medium.
8. LAWS OF REFRACTION:
1. The incident ray, refracted ray and the normal lie in the same plane.
2. The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction for the same pair of
media remains constant. This is called Snell’s law of refraction.
9. SNELL’ S LAW OF REFRACTION :
The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction for the same pair of
media remains constant. This is called Snell’s law of refraction.
The constant is called the refractive index for the pair of the media.
1
μ2 sin i
μ2 = =
μ 1 sin r
10. REFRACTIVE INDEX:
The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is called refractive
index for the given pair of media.
1
μ2 sin i
μ2 = =
μ 1 sin r
(OR)
The ratio of speed of light in the first medium to the speed of light in the second medium is
called refractive index of the second medium with respect to the first medium.
1
μ2 sin i v1
μ2 = = =
μ 1 sin r v2

11.ABSOLUTE REFRACTIVE INDEX:

The ratio of the speed of light in air (vacuum) to the speed of light in the given medium is
called the absolute refractive index of the given medium.
c
μmedium=
v medium ;
here c is the speed of light in air (vacuum)

12.OPTICAL DENSITY & MASS DENSITY:

The ability of the medium to refract the light when passes through it is called optical density.
Mass per unit volume of a substance is known as its mass density.
Kerosene has higher optical density than water but its mass density is less than that of water.

13.REFRACTIVE INDEX OF WATER IS 1.33. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The ratio of speed of light in air to speed of light in water is 1.33

14.REFRACTION OF LIGHT THROUGH A GLASS SLAB:

EO = Incident ray i1 =
angle of incidence
OO1 = refracted ray r1 =
angle of refraction
O1H = emergent ray r2 =
angle of emergence

 The extent of bending at the

opposite faces of the glass slab is
equal and opposite. That is the
reason; the emergent ray is parallel to incident ray.
 The perpendicular distance between the emergent ray and the original un deviated incident
ray (in the absence of glass slab) is called ‘lateral shift’.
15.REFRACTION BY SPHERICAL LENSES:
Lens:
A transparent material bounded by two surfaces of which at least one is curved is a called a
lens.
Convex lens:
A lens that is thicker at the middle than at the edges is called a convex lens
Concave lens:
A lens that is thicker at the edges than at the middle is called a concave lens

16.IMPORTANT TERMS RELATED TO SPHERICAL LENSES:

A. Optic centre:
The central point of the lens is called Optic centre. A ray of light incident at the optic centre
passes almost without any deviation.
B. Principal focus:
A set of rays parallel to principal axis, after refraction from one of the surfaces, converge or
appear to diverge from a point on the principal axis. This point is called principal focus.
C. Focal length:
The distance of the principal focus from the optic centre is called focal length.
17.RULES FOR THE FORMATION OF IMAGES IN CASE OF SPHERICAL
LENSES:
A. A ray of light passing parallel to principal axis, after refraction, passes through principal
focus on the other side of the lens. (FOR CONVEX LENS)

A ray of light passing parallel to principal axis, after refraction, appear to diverge from the
principal focus on the same side of the object. (FOR CONCAVE LENS)

A ray of light passing through a principal focus, after refraction from a convex lens, will
emerge parallel to the principal axis.

A ray of light appearing to meet at the principal focus of a concave lens, after refraction, will
emerge parallel to the principal axis.

B. A ray of light passing through the optical centre of a lens will emerge without any
deviation.

18.FORMATION OF IMAGES BY SPHERICAL LENSES:

A. Object at infinity Image is real, point sized

B. Object beyond 2F image is real, inverted & smaller than object

C. Object at 2F image is real, inverted & same size as the object

D. Object between F & 2F: Image is real, inverted & bigger in size as the object

E. Object at F

Image real, inverted & is infinitely large

F. Object between F & O:
 Image is virtual, erect & large
 A CONVEX LENS FORMS REAL IMAGES IN ALL THE POSITIONS OF THE
OBJECT INFRONT OF IT EXCEPT WHEN IT IS PLACED BETWEEN PRINCIPAL
FOCUS AND OPTIC CENTRE.

19.FORMATION OF IMAGES BY A CONCAVE LENS:

 A CONCAVE LENS ALWAYS FORMS

VIRTUAL, ERECT & SMALLER IMAGES.
28. LENS FORMULA:
1 1 1
f
=v+u
Here: u= object distance; v= image
distance; f = focal length
20.MAGNIFICATION:
It is defined as the ratio of size of the image to size of the object

h v
m= 1 =
u
h

 FOR CONCAVE LENS ‘m’ IS ALWAYS POSITIVE

 FOR CONVEX LENS ‘m’ IS NEGATIVE FOR REAL IMAGES AND POSITIVE FOR
VITUAL IMAGES.

21.SIGN CONVENTION:
Convex Lens Concave Lens
Object distance negative negative
Image distance Positive (real images) negative
Negative (virtual
images)
Focal length positive negative
Size of the positive positive
object
Size of the image Negative (real images) positive
Positive (virtual
images)
22.POWER OF A LENS:

The ability of a lens to converge or diverge the rays of light is called its power. It is defined as
the reciprocal of its focal length when expressed in meters.
1
P= f
S.I unit: Dioptre
Def of 1Dioptre:
The power of a lens is said to be 1 dioptre when its focal length is 1 metre.
 THE POWER OF A CONVERGING ( CONVEX) LENS IS POSITIVE
 THE POWER OF A DIVERGING (CONCAVE) LENS IS NEGATIVE

23.COMBINATION OF LENSES:
When two or more lenses are in contact:
The resultant power is ; P = P1 + P2 + …..
1 1 1
The resultant focal length; F = f + f + …
1 2

QUESTION BANK: (Know the answers from your teacher)

1. A concave mirror of focal length f can form a magnified, erect as well as inverted image of
an object placed in front of it. Justify this statement stating the position of the object with
respect to the mirror in each case for obtaining these images.
2. Distinguish between a real and virtual image of an object. What type of image is formed i)
by a plane mirror ii) on a cinema screen
3. What is the minimum number of rays required for locating the image formed by a concave
mirror for an object? Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of a virtual image by a
concave mirror.
4. Explain with the help of a diagram, why a pencil partly immersed in water appears to be
bent at the water surface.
5. With the help of a ray diagram explain why a convex mirror is preferred for rear view
mirrors in motor cars
6. One half of a convex lens of focal length 20 cm is covered with a black paper.
I) will the lens produce a complete image of the object?
Ii) Show the formation of image of an object placed at 2F of such covered lens with the help
of a ray diagram
Iii) How will the intensity of the image formed by half-covered lens compare with non-
covered lens?
7. Explain why we see the sign
in front of some vehicles?
8. A ray of light is incident on the plane mirror normally. What are the angle of incidence and
the angle of reflection?
9. With the help of a ray diagram show that angle of incidence is equal to the angle of
reflection when a ray is incident on the concave mirror.
10.Discuss the position and nature of the image formed by a concave mirror when the object
is moved from infinity towards the pole of the mirror?
11.Why does a ray of light passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror after
reflection is reflected back along the same path?
12.A pencil partly immersed in water in a glass tumbler appears to be displaced at the
interface of air and water. Name the phenomenon of light responsible for it?
13.Name two spherical mirrors. Define them. Write any three points of difference between
them.
14.The magnification produced by a concave mirror is m= + 4. Write the information about
the image given by this statement.
15.With the help of a ray diagram explain the use of concave mirror as solar concentrators
16.A thin converging lens forms a: 1) real magnified image 2) virtual magnified image of an
object placed in front of it. Write the positions of the objects in each case. Draw labelled ray
diagrams to show the image formation in each case.
17.How will the following be affected on cutting the convex lens into two halves along the
principal axis? 1) Focal length ii) intensity of the image formed by half lens.
18.For what position of the object does a concave mirror form a real, inverted and diminished
image of the object? Draw the ray diagram.
19.What lens can be used as a magnifying glass? For which position of the object does a
convex lens form:
i) a virtual and erect image?
Ii) a real and inverted image of same size as that of the object? Draw labelled ray diagrams to
show the formation of the required image in each of the above two cases.
20.How will you identify whether a given lens is concave or convex without touching it? Also
mention one use of each of the lens.
NUEMRICALS:
 Practice NCERT text book examples and exercise numericals.
Concept Sheet
Analysis:
1. Name a mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object.
2. If an object is placed at the focus of a convex lens, where is the image formed?
3. If an object 5 cm high is placed at a distance of 12 cm from a convex lens of focal
length 8 cm, find the position, nature and height of the image formed.
4. A convex mirror used as a rear-view mirror in a car has a radius of curvature of 3 m. If a
bus is located at distance of 5 m from this mirror, find the position of image. What is the
nature of the image.
5. Write the relation between the angle of incidence and angle of refraction for a medium.
The refractive index of glass with respect to water is 1.125. If the speed of light in water
is 2.25 x 108 m/s, then calculate the speed of light in glass.
6. What do you understand by the power of a lens? Define also its unit. An object of height
4 cm is placed at a distance of 15 cm in front of a concave lens of power -10 dioptres.
Find the size of the image.
7. Where should an object be placed in front of a convex lens so as to obtain its magnified
erect image?
8. A 1 cm high object is placed at a distance of 2f from a convex lens. What is the height
of the image formed?
9. An object is placed at a distance equal to 2f in front of a convex lens. Draw a labelled
ray diagram to show the formation of image. State two characteristics of the image.
10. An object is kept at a distance more than twice the focal length (F) from a concave
mirror. The distance the image formed will be (a) less then F (b) equal to F
(c) between F and 2 F (d) More than 2 F
11. A ray passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror is inclined at an angle
α to its principal axis. The angle of reflection for this ray equals
()
o
α
(a) 0° (b) (c) o (d) 90 °
2
12. Beams of light are incident though the holes C and D respectively as shown in the
figure. Which of the following could be inside the box?
(a) A rectangular glass slab (b) Convex lens (c) Concave lens (d) Prism
13. A beam of rays, parallel to the principal axis, is incident on a convex mirror. Show, on a
diagram, the path of these rays after reflection from the mirror.
14. Find the power of a concave lens of focal length 2m?
15. The power of a lens is -4.0 D. what is the nature of the lens?
(a) Plane (b) Concave (c) Convex (d) Plano convex
16. Where should an object be placed in front of a convex lens to get real image of the size of
the object? (a) At focus (b) At 2F (c) At Infinity (d) Between optical centre and focus.
17. When a ray of light goes from one medium to another, these is
(a) Always a change in its speed as well as direction (b) No change in speed and direction
(c) A change in speed but no change in direction (d) A change in direction but constant speed.
18. Name the kind of surfaces that (i) Reflect (ii) Refract most of the light falling on them.
19. Find the position, nature and size of the image formed by a convex lens of focal length
12 cm of an object 5 cm high placed at a distance 20 cm from it.
20. How can you show that if a ray enters a rectangular glass slab obliquely and emerges
from the opposite face, the emergent ray is parallel to the incident ray?
Knowledge:
1. Define 1 dioptre power of a lens.
2. Define the term ‘refractive index’. The refractive index of diamond is 2.42. What is the
meaning of the statement?
3. What is the S.I. unit of power of lens? Which of the two has a great power: a lens of
short focal length or lens of large focal length? A doctor has prescribed a corrective lens
of power + 1.5 D. Find the focal length of the lens.
4. An object is 2 m from a lens which forms an erect image one-fourth (exactly) the size of
the object. Determine the focal length of the lens. What type of lens is this?
5. (i) Define: (a) Centre of curvature (b) Pole of concave mirror. (ii) State the mirror
formula and its magnification. (iii) Show by drawing ray-diagram that the image of an
object formed by a concave lens is virtual, erect and diminished.
6. Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.
7. How is the power of a lens related to its focal length?
8. Give two uses of concave mirror.
9. An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm.
Find the position and nature of the image.
10. An object 5.0 cm in length is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of a convex mirror
of radius of curvature 30 cm. Find the position of the image, its nature and size.
11. What are the values of (i) Angle of incidence and (ii) Angle of reflection for normal
incidence on a plane surface?
12. Obtain the formula for the focal length of a lens in terms of object distance (u) and
magnification (m)
13. In what S.I unit is the power of lenses stated? A convex lens has a focal length of 50
cm. calculate its power?
14. State the mirror formula for determining the focal length of spherical mirrors write the
meanings of the symbols used An object is placed at a distance of 25 cm. from a concave
mirror of focal length 15 cm. calculate the distance of the image from the mirror.
15. Name the mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object?
16. Which type of mirror is usually used as a rear-view mirror in motor cars?
17. Define one dioptre of power of a lens?
Application:
1. How does a concave mirror give a virtual image of an object? Explain with the help of a
ray diagram.
2. Name the type of mirror used in the following situations.
(a)Headlights of a car. (b) Side/rear-view mirror of a vehicle (c)Solar furnace.
3. An convex mirror used on a bus has a focal length of 200 cm. it a scooter is located at
100 cm. from this mirror find the position, nature and magnification of the image
formed in the mirror.
4. In torches, search lights and head lights of vehicles the bulb is placed (a) Between pole
and focus (b) Very near to the focus (c) Between focus and centre of curvature (d) At
centre of curvature
5. Three mirrors, one plane, one concave and one convex are lying on the table. How can a
person identify them without touching them or using any other apparatus or device?
6. Why do we prefer a convex mirror as a rear view mirror is vehicles.
Comprehension:
1. Write the relation between the refractive index and the speed of light in the medium.
2. Distinguish between a concave and convex lens.
3. Name the type of mirror which always forms a virtual image for a real object.
4. Which mirror has wider field of views?
5. You are given three mirrors of equal size-concave, convex and plane. How will you
identify them without touching their surfaces?
6. Is it necessary that an optically denser medium should possess greater mass density than
optically rarer medium? The speed of light in air 3 x 108 m/s. If the refractive index of
glass is 1.5, find the time taken by light to travel a distance of 10 cm in glass.
7. A concave lens has focal length of 20 cm. At what distance from the lens a 5 cm tall
object be placed so that it forms an image as 15 cm from the lens? Also calculate the
size of the image formed.
Synthesis:
1. Where is the image formed of an object placed at the focus of a convex lens? Give ray diagram.
2. Which mirror is used as rear-view mirror in automobile to see traffic behind and why
this mirror is useful?
3. Draw a ray diagram to represent the nature, position and size of the image formed by a
convex lens for the object placed at (1) infinity (2) Between F1 and optical centre (O)
4. An object is kept at a distance of 15cm from a (1) convex mirror (2) concave lens
(3) Plane mirror. The focal length of the convex mirror and the concave lens are 10 cm
each. Draw the appropriate ray diagrams, showing the formation of image, is each of the
three cases.
5. Draw a ray diagram to show the use of a convex lens for the formation of images having
the following characteristics.
(a) Real & inverted and diminished (b) Virtual, erect & magnified.
6. The rays, parallel to the principal axis, of a spherical mirror, actually meet at a point
20cm distant from its pole. Identify the mirror and give its focal length.
7. A doctor has prescribed a corrective lens of power 1.5D. Find the focal length of this
lens. Is the prescribed lens diverging or converging.
Evaluation:
1. Distinguish between real and virtual images.
rd
2
2. The speed of light, in a given medium is of its speed in vaccuum. The absolute
3
refractive index of the medium equals to
9 4 3 2
(a) 4 (b) 9 (c) 2 (d) 3
3. With respect to air the refractive index of ice is 1.31 and that of rock salt is 1.54.
calculate the refractive index of rock salt with respect to ice?
4. A object is placed at a distance of 12 cm in front of a concave mirror. It forms a real
image four times larger than the object. Calculate the distance of the image from the
mirror
5. A convex lens has a focal length of 10 cm. At what distance from the lens should the
object be placed so that it forms a real and inverted image 20 cm. away from the lens?
What would be the size of the image formed if the object is 2 cm high? With the help of
a ray diagram show the formation of the image by the lens in this case?
6. Figure shows a ray of light as it travels from medium A to B. Refractive index of
medium B with respect to A is

√3 1 √2 √2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
√2 √2 √3 √2

7. A concave mirror produces three times magnified (enlarged) real image of an object 10
cm in front of it. Where is the image located
8. A concave lens has focal length of 20 cm. At what distance from the lens a 5cm tall
object be placed so that it forms an image at 15 cm from the lens? Also calculate the
size of the image formed?
9. Light enters from air into diamond which has a refractive index of 2.42. Calculate the
speed of light in diamond. The speed of light in air is 3.0 10× 8 m/s.
10. Light is incident at an angle of (i) 30° (ii) 45°, on the same face of a given rectangular
slab. If the angles of refraction, at this face are r1 and r2 in the two cases. Obtain the
relation between these two angles.
a
(3)
11. An object is kept at a distance of (i) 2 (ii) 2 a from a convex lens having focal
length of magnitude (a) Draw ray diagrams showing the formation of images formed in
the two cases.
12. A concave mirror is used to from an erect and enlarged image of a given object. Where
is the image located with respect to the mirror? Draw the corresponding ray diagram.