LIGHT: REFLECTION AND REFRACTION
CHAPTER NOTES
REFLECTION
Reflection of Light: The phenomenon of bouncing back of light into the same
medium by the smooth surface is called reflection.
Incident light: Light which falls on the surface is called incident light.
Reflected light: Light which goes back after reflection is called reflected light.
The angle of incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
An angle of reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
Laws of Reflection
(1) The incident ray, reflected ray and the normal all lie in the same plane. Angle of
incidence = Angle of reflection
[∠i=∠r]
(2) The incident ray, reflected ray and the normal line all lie on the same plane
Mirror: The surface which can reflect the light is a mirror.
Plane Mirror: If the reflecting surface is a plane then the mirror is plane.
Image Formation by a Plane Mirror
The image formed by a plane mirror is always virtual and erect.
Object and image are equidistant from the mirror.
Height of the object and image are equivalent
Image formed by a plain mirror is laterally inverted
Spherical Mirror: If the reflecting surface is part of the hollow sphere then the mirror
is a spherical mirror.
The spherical mirror is of two types:
Convex mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is convex. It diverges the light
so it is also called a diverging mirror.
Concave mirror: In this mirror reflecting surface is concave. It converges the
light so it is also called converging mirror.
Important Terms Related to Spherical Mirror
Pole (P): The midpoint of a spherical mirror.
Centre of curvature (C): The centre of the sphere that the spherical mirror was a part of.
The radius of curvature (R): The distance between the centre of curvature and the
spherical mirror. This radius will intersect the mirror at the pole (P).
Principal Axis: The line passing through the pole and the centre of curvature is the main
or principal axis.
Concave Mirror: A spherical mirror with a reflecting surface that bulges inwards.
Convex Mirror: A spherical mirror with a reflecting surface that bulges outwards.
Focus (F): Take a concave mirror. All rays parallel to the principal axis converge at a
point between the pole and the centre of curvature. This point is called the focal point or
focus.
Focal length(f): Distance between pole and focus.
Characteristics of Concave Mirrors
1. Converging Mirror: Magnification and Image Formation: When a concave mirror is placed
very close to the object, it forms a magnified, erect, and virtual image. The image
appears larger than the actual object and is upright. The virtual image is formed as the
reflected rays appear to diverge from a point behind the mirror.
2. Changing Distance and Image Properties: As the distance between the object and the
concave mirror increases, the size of the image decreases. Eventually, at a certain
distance, the image transitions from virtual to real. In this case, a real and inverted image
is formed on the opposite side of the mirror.
3. Versatile Image Formation: Concave mirrors have the ability to create images that can
vary in size, from small to large, and in nature, from real to virtual. These characteristics
make concave mirrors useful in various applications such as telescopes, shaving mirrors,
and reflecting headlights.
Image Formation by Concave Mirror
Object at Infinity
A real and inverted image is formed at the focus when the object is placed at infinity.
The size of the image is significantly smaller than that of the object.
Object Beyond the Centre of Curvature
When the object is positioned beyond the centre of curvature, a real image is formed
between the centre of curvature and the focus. The size of the image is smaller
compared to that of the object.
Object at the Centre of Curvature or Focus
When the object is placed at the centre of curvature, or the focus, a real image is
formed at the centre of curvature. The size of the image remains the same as that of
the object.
Object Between the Centre of Curvature and Focus
If the object is located between the centre of curvature and the focus, a real image is
formed behind the centre of curvature. The size of the image is larger compared to
that of the object.
Object at the Focus
When the object is positioned exactly at the focus, a real image is formed at infinity.
The size of the image is much larger than that of the object.
Object Between the Focus and the Pole
Placing the object between the focus and the pole results in the formation of a virtual
and erect image. The size of the image is larger compared to that of the object.
Concave Mirror Image Formation Summary
S. Nature of
Position of Object Position of Image Size of Image
No Image
Highly Real and
1 Object at Infinity At the Focus
Diminished Inverted
Object Beyond the Centre of Between the Centre of Real and
2 Diminished
Curvature Curvature and Focus Inverted
Object at the Centre of Curvature Real and
3 At the Centre of Curvature Same Size
or Focus Inverted
Object Between the Centre of Behind the Centre of Real and
4 Enlarged
Curvature and Focus Curvature Inverted
Real and
5 Object at the Focus At Infinity Highly Enlarged
Inverted
6 Object Between the Focus and the Behind the Mirror Enlarged Virtual and
Pole Erect
Uses of concave mirror-
1) In search lights, torches, and headlights of car, solar furnace, by dentist and
in shaving mirror
Characteristics of Convex Mirrors
1. Diverging Mirror: A convex mirror is commonly referred to as a diverging mirror
because when light rays strike its reflecting surface, they diverge or spread out. Unlike
concave mirrors, convex mirrors cause light rays to diverge from a
specific focal point.
2. Virtual, Erect, and Diminished Images: Regardless of the distance between the object
and the convex mirror, the images formed are always virtual, erect, and diminished. The
image appears upright, smaller than the actual object, and behind the mirror. When
traced backwards, the virtual image is formed by the apparent intersection of diverging
rays.
3. Wide Field of View: One of the significant characteristics of convex mirrors is their ability
to provide a wide field of view. Due to the outwardly curved shape, convex mirrors can
reflect a broader area compared to flat or concave mirrors. This property makes them
useful when a larger perspective is required, such as in parking lots, intersections, or
surveillance systems.
4. Image Distance and Size: Convex mirrors always produce virtual images closer to the
mirror than the object. The image formed by a convex mirror appears diminished or
smaller than the object. This reduction in image size allows a greater expanse of
thereflected scene to be captured within the mirror’s field of view.
Image Formation by Convex Mirror
Object at Infinity
When the object is positioned at infinity, a virtual image is formed at the focus of the
convex mirror. The size of the image is significantly smaller than that of the object.
Object at a Finite Distance
When an object is placed at a finite distance from the mirror, a virtual image is
formed between the pole and the focus of the convex mirror. The size of the image is
smaller than compared to that of the object.
Concave Mirror Image Formation Summary
S. No Position Of Object Position of Image Size of Image Nature of Image
1 At Infinity At the focus F, behind the mirror Highly diminished Virtual and Erect
2 Between Infinity and the Pole Between P and F, behind the mirror Diminished Virtual and Erect
Uses of convex mirror-
Rear view mirror in automobiles and in parking traffic signals
Write these questions at the back of your class work
1)How do convex mirrors work?
2)How do concave mirrors work?
3)Give examples of concave and convex mirrors.
4)What is the difference between a concave mirror and a convex mirror?
5)Can you distinguish concave and convex mirrors without touching them?
6)Can concave mirrors form virtual images?
7)What is the advantage of using a convex mirror?
8)Why concave mirror is used in following cases
(i)solar furnace
(ii)By dentist/ in shaving mirror
9)Why convex mirror is used in rare view mirror even though it produces
diminished image
