LIGHT Page # 35

BEAM OF LIGHT
A bunch of light rays or bundale of rays at a point is called beam of light.

A divergent beam of light A convergent beam of light

HOW WE SEE ?
When a light ray is falling (strike) on the surface of any object which reflect and reached to our eyes.
Due to this our eyes feel a sensation then we see the object.

REFLECTION OF LIGHT
When rays of light falls on any object it return back in the same medium from the surface this
phenomenon is called reflection of light. Due to reflection of light we can see all the nature.

INCIDENT RAY
The ray of light which falls on a polished surface (or a mirror) is called the incident ray of light.

REFLECTED RAY
The ray of light which gets reflected from a polished surface (or a mirror) is called the reflected ray of
light.

NORMAL
The normal is a line at right angle to the reflecting surface.
plane normal to mirror
y
in

ra
ci

ed
de

i r
ct
nt

fle
ra

re
y

O
mirror reflecting surface

LAWS OF REFLECTION
(i) The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the surface at the point of incidence all lie
in the same plane.
(ii) The angle of incidence (  i) is always equal to the angle of reflection (  r) i.e.  i =  r

normal normal normal

y

y
y

in

in
ra

ra
in

ra

cid

cid
cid

ed

ed
ed

en

en

i r i r
en

i r
ct

ct
ct

tr

tr
fle

fle
tr

fle

ay

ay
re

re
ay

re

O O O
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MIRROR

Mirror at the hair dresser shop

A smooth, highly polished reflecting surface is called a mirror.
When a glass plate is polished on one sided with reflecting material such silver or nickel then is
becomes a mirror.
From the reflecting surface of mirror there are two types of mirror.
(i) Plane mirror (ii) Spherical or curved mirror
(i) Plane mirror : A highly polished plane surface is called a plane mirror or if a flat (totally plane) surface
of a glass plate is polished one side of reflecting material is called plane mirror.

Incident Reflected
ray ray

Plane mirror

Polished part

(ii) Spherical mirror : A mirror whose polished, reflecting surface is a part of hollow sphere of glass is
called a spherical mirror. For a spherical mirror, one of the two curved surfaces is coated with a thin
layer of silver followed by a coating of red lead oxide paint. Thus one side of the spherical mirror is
made opaque and the other side acts as a reflecting surface.
For the polishing side there are two type of spherical mirror.
(A) Convex mirror (B) Concave mirror

hollow hollow reflecting

sphere sphere surface
reflecting
surface

Concave mirror Convex mirror

(A) Concave (Converging) mirror : A spherical mirror whose inner hollow surface is the reflecting
surface.
(B) Convex (diverging) mirror : A spherical mirror whose outer bulging out surface is the reflecting
surface.
FORMATION OF IMAGE IN A PLANE MIRROR
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R
(h) Focal length : The distance between the pole (P) and the focus (F) is called focal length (f) and f 
2
(i) Focal plane : An imaginary plane passing through the focus and at right angles to the principal axis.
(j) Real image : When the rays of light after getting reflected from a mirror (or after getting refracted
from a lens) – actually meet at a point, a real image is formed. A real image can be obtained on a
screen.
(k) Virtual image : When the rays of light after getting reflected from a mirror (or after getting refracted
from a lens) appear to meet at a point, a virtual image is formed. Such an image can only be seen
through a mirror (or a lens) but cannot be obtained on a screen.
Differences between Real and Virtual Images
Real Image Virtual Image
It can be taken on the screen. It cannot be taken on the screen.
The rays of light after reflection or The rays of light after reflection or
refraction meet at a point. refraction appear to meet at a point.
It is always inverted. It is always erect but laterally inverted.

MULTIPLE REFLECTIONS
A plane mirror forms an image of an object placed before it. This is the result of a single reflection of
light. What happens if the object is placed between two mirrors that are at an angle to each other ?
Let us find out.
Each of the mirrors will form an image due to reflection.
Each of these images is formed by a single reflection. These
images are laterally inverted. In addition, an image is formed
at the edge where the mirrors meet. This image is formed
by rays that get reflected twice. As a result, this image is
not laterally inverted. So, the left and right sides of the
arrow and the word 'left' appear the correct way round in
this image.

NOTE :The number of images of an object placed between two mirrors can be found from the following
formula.
360°
Number of images = –1
angle between mirrors
When the angle between the mirrors is 90°, the number of images is (360°/90°) – 1 = 4 – 1 = 3.
Similarly, when the angle is 60°, the number of images is (360°/60°) – 1 = 6 – 1 = 5.
KALEIDOSCOPE
The keleidoscope is a device that uses reflections to produce patterns. It consists of mirrors inclined
to each other. The mirrors form multiple images of objects in front of them. This creates beautiful
patterns, which change when the keleidoscope is rotated or shaken.
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SOLVED PROBLEM S
1. Distinguish between real and virtual image.
Ans. Differences :

Real Image Virtual image

(a) The rays actually meet at a point (a) The rays donot meet at a point.

(b) The image can be obtained on a (b) The image cannot be obtained on a
screen. screen.

2. How many plane mirror strips do we use in a kaleidoscope. At what angle are they inclined with respect
to each other?
Ans. The kaleiodscope uses a set of three equal size plane mirror strips. The three strips are inclined to
each other at angles of 60° each.

3. What is short sightedness? How is it corrected?

Ans. A person with shorts sight can see nearly objects but not far away objects. It can be corrected by
using a concave lens.

4. What is long sightedness? How is it corrected?

Ans. A person with long sight can see far away objects clearly but cannot see nearby object clearly. It can
be corected by using a convex lens.

5. Why should children take milk and eat carrots?

Ans. Milk, carrots and yellow fruits are rich in vitamin A, which is very essential for the eyes to maintain
good vision.

6. Is the moon a luminous body? How are we able to see the moon?
Ans. The moon is non-luminous. We are able to see the moon because it reflects the sunlight falling on it.

7. Two mirrors meet at right angles. A ray of light is incident on one at an angle of 30° as shown in fig.
Draw the reflected ray from the second mirror.

30°

30°
30°
Ans. 60° 0°
60° 3
30°

8. How are we able to see objects?

Ans. The lens focuses the light on the back of the eye on the retina. Retina contains several nerve cells
which transmit the sensations to brain through the optic nerve. We are then able to see the objects.
9. What are cones and rods? What are their function?
Ans. Cones are the nerve endings which are sensitive to colour light. They help us to distinguish between colours.
Rods are the nerve ending which are sensitive to bright light.
 LIGHT Page # 43
18. Describe the construction of a kaleidoscope.
Ans. To make a kaleidoscope, get three rectangular strips of glass 15 cm long and 4 cm wide each. Join
them together to form a prism. Fix them with a few thick chart papers in a slightly long circular tube.
Close one end of the tube by a cardboard disc having a hole in centre. At the other end touching the
mirrors fix a circular plane glass sheet. Invert the tube and place some broken small pieces of coloured
bangles on the glass plate. Close this end of the tube by a ground glass plate.

19. Explain how you can take care of your eyes.

Ans. We can take care of our eyes in the following ways –
(a) have a regular check up. (b) if advised, use suitable spectacles.
(c) avoid too much or too little sight. (d) wash your eyes frequenctly with clean water.
(e) always read at the normal distance for vision.
20. Boojho stands at A just on the side of a plane mirror as shown in figure. Can he see himself in the
mirror? Also can he see the image of objects situated at P, Q and R?
A (Boojho) P Q

Ans. Yes, Boojho can see his image. Yes, he can see the objects situated at P, Q and R.
A(Boojho)
P
Q
R

21. (i) Find out the position of the image of an object situated at A in the plane mirror (fig).
(ii) Can Paheli at B see this image? (iii) Can Boojho at C see this image?
(iv) When Paheli moves from B to C, where does the image of A move?
B (Paheli)
Ax
 C (Boojho)

A B (Paheli)
C (Boojho)
r
i
Ans. (i)

A'
Image of A

(ii) Yes Paheli can see the image of A.

(iii) Yes, Boojho can see this image.
(iv) When Paheli moves from B to C, the image of A will move from B to C.
 LIGHT Page # 45

39. The most popular resource for visually 52. Column-A

challenged persons is Braille. (A) The line joining the centres of curvature
of the two
40. Two mirrors inclined to each other do not give
multiple images. (B) A ray of light, passing through it, does
not
41. Braille is a system of writing using six raised (C) Real, inverted image of the same size
dots and helps the visually challenged to read. as the object
(D) A virtual, erect and diminished image
42. The spectrum of white light has seven colours.
for all position of the object
43. Droplets of water split sunlight to form a (E) An optical instrument using two convex
spectrum known as rainbow. lenses of
Column-B
44. A diet rich in vitamin D is useful for the eyes. (i) Object at the '2F' point surfaces of a
lens.
45. The basic cause of refraction is the change in
the speed of light as it goes from one medium (ii) Concave lens
to another. (iii) Principal Axis
(iv) Compound Microscope
46. The final refracted ray (the emergent ray),
(v) Optical centre short focal length
coming out of a parallel faced glass slab, is
bent with respect to the incident ray.
53. Diffused reflection, Regular reflection formation
of image.
47. An incident ray always bends away from the
normal when it passes from one transparent
54. Kaleidoscope, periscope, Mirror.
medium into another.

48. A coin, kept at the bottom of an empty dry 55. Cones, retina, Iris.
cup, appears to 'rise up' when some water is 56. Iris, Cornea, retina
poured into the cup.
57. Sun, moon, glowworm, tubelight.
49. If the yellow light alone, coming out of a glass
prism, is made to fall on to another glass prism, 58. Spectrum, prism, reflection, dispersion.
it will again get split into orange and green
colours. 59. Focus, cornea, iris, pupil.

50. All reflection produce image . 60. Real, virtual, plane mirror, laterally, inverted.

51. Column-A Column-B 61. Plane mirror, kaliedoscope, periscope, prism.

(A) Image in a plane mirror
62. Concave mirror, convex mirror, plane mirror.
(i) Angle of reflection
63. What is a luminous object?
(B) Left appearing right in a plane mirror
(ii) Formation of images by 64. Define angle of incidence.
inclined mirros
(C) Angle of incidence 65. Define angle of reflection.
(iii) used as looking glass 66. What is meant by normal to the surface?
equals
(D) Kaleidoscope (iv) Lateral inversion 67. Can a real image be obtained on a screen?
(E) Plane mirror (v) Virtual and erect
68. Is a virtual image inverted?
(vi) Angle of refraction
69. An incident ray makes an angle of 30° with the
miror. What is the angle of incidence?