REFLECTION

Introduction:

Light is a form of energy, which gives us the power of vision. Some common phenomena
associated with light are image formation by mirrors, the twinkling of stars, the beautiful
colours of a rainbow, bending of light by a medium and so on.
Objects like sun, lamp, candle emits light of their own and thus they are known as luminous
objects.
There are objects like table , chair etc. which are not luminous objects and still we are able to
see them and this happens because they reflect light which falls on them from a luminous object
like sun, lamp etc. and when this reflected light reaches our eyes we are able to see such non
luminous objects.
Light rays basically consist of electromagnetic waves which do not require any material medium
(like solid, liquid or gas) for their propagation.
Wavelength of visible light wave is very small and is of the order of 4×10−7m, to 8×10−7m.
Speed of light waves depends on the medium through which they pass as speed of light in air is
slightly less than the speed of light in vacuum 8×108m/s similarly speed of light in water and
glass is much less than that in air.
When light falls on the surface of an object it can either be absorbed, transmitted and reflected.
1] Absorbed:- If an object absorbs all the light falling on it , then it will appear
perfectly black for example a blackboard
2]Transmitted: - An object is said to transmit light if it allows light to pass through
itself and such objects are transparent.
3]Reflected:- If an object sends back light rays falling on its surface then it is said to
have reflected the light

Reflection of Light

The process of sending back light rays which fall on the surface of an object is
called REFLECTION of light.

(a) Silver metal is one of the best reflectors of light.

(b)Mirrors we use on our dressing tables in our home are plane mirrors.
(c)A ray of light is the straight line along which the light traveled and a bundle of
light rays are called a beam of light.

Laws of Reflection of light

1]The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and
2]The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the mirror at the point of incidence all lie
in the same plane.
These laws of reflection are applicable to all types of reflecting surfaces including spherical
surfaces.

Regular Reflection: Regular reflection is the reflection of light rays as they meet (fall on) a
smooth (uniform) and glittering surface, where the incident light rays are reflected in one
direction.

Irregular Reflection: when a beam of light falls on rough, unpolished surfaces such as wood,
paper etc. the light reflects in different directions. Such a reflection of light from an uneven
surface is called the irregular or diffused reflection.
1]Tabulate the Differences Between Regular Reflection of Light And Irregular Reflection of
Light.

Real and Virtual images

An image is formed when the light rays coming from an object meet at a point after
reflection from a mirror (or refraction from lens).
The images are of two types

1] Real Images:- Real images are formed when rays of light that comes from an object (or
source) meets at a point after reflection from a mirror (or refraction from a lens). Real images
can be formed on a screen and can be seen with the eyes.

2]Virtual images:- Virtual image is an image in which the outgoing rays from an object do not
meet at a point. It will appear to meet at a point in or behind the optical device (i.e., a mirror)
but they do not actually meet after reflection from a mirror (or refraction from a lens). A plane
mirror always forms virtual images.
2]Tabulate the Differences Between Regular Reflection of Light And Irregular Reflection of
Light.

Characteristics of images formed by mirrors:-

(a) Images formed by mirrors are always virtual and erect

(b) Size of image is always equal to the size of the object and the image is laterally inverted.
(c) The images formed by the plane mirror are as far behind the mirror as the object in front of
the mirror.

Lateral inversion:- If an object is placed in front of the mirror, then the right side of the object
appears to be the left side and left side of the object appears to be the right side of this image.
This change of sides of an object and its mirror image is called lateral inversion.
3] What is meant by ‘reflection of light’? Define the following terms used in the study of
reflection of light by drawing a labeled diagram:
(a)Incident ray (b) Point of incidence (c)Normal
(d) Reflected ray (e) Angle of incidence (f) Angle of reflection

The process of bouncing back off the light rays which fall on the surface of an object is called
reflection of light.

(a) Incident ray: This is the ray of light that falls on the mirror surface.

(b) Point of incidence: This is the point at which the incident ray falls on the mirror.

(c) Normal: The line at right angle to the mirror surface at the point of incidence is called normal.

(d) Reflected ray: The ray of light which is reflected back by the mirror is called the reflected rays.

(e) Angle of incidence: The angle made by the incident ray with the normal at the point of
incidence is called angle of incidence.

(f) Angle of reflection: The angle made by the reflected ray with the normal at the point of
incidence is called angle of reflection.

4] State the Uses of plane mirrors.

Spherical Mirrors:

The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror may be curved inwards or outwards.

Spherical mirrors are of two types
1] Concave mirror: - In a concave mirror reflection of light takes place at the concave surface or
bent-in surface as shown below in the figure.
2]Convex mirror:- In a convex mirror reflection of light takes place at the convex surface or bent
out surface as shown below in the figure

Commonly used terms about Spherical mirrors :-

1]Center of curvature: - The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror forms a part of a sphere. This
sphere has a center. This point is called the center of curvature of the spherical mirror. It is
represented by the letter C. Please note that the center of curvature is not a part of the mirror. It
lies outside its reflecting surface. The center of curvature of a concave mirror lies in front of it.
However, it lies behind the mirror in case of a convex mirror as shown above in the figure 2.

2]Radius of curvature: - 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.
3]Pole: - The center of a spherical mirror is called its pole and is represented by letter P as can be
seen in figure 2.

4]Principle axis: - Straight line passing through the pole and the center of curvature of a spherical
mirror is called principle axis of the mirror.

5]Aperture of the mirror: - Portion of the mirror from which reflection of light actually takes
place is called the aperture of the mirror. Aperture of the mirror actually represents the size of
the mirror.

Principal Focus and Focal Length of a Convex Mirror:

(a) What is meant by (i) principle focus of a convex mirror, and (ii) focal length of
a convex mirror?

(b) Draw diagram to show the action of convex mirror on a beam of parallel light
rays. Mark on this diagram principle axis, focus F, centre of curvature C, pole P
and focal length f, of the convex mirror.

(a) (i) Principal focus of a convex mirror: The principal focus of a convex mirror is a
point on its principal axis from which a beam of light rays, initially parallel to the
axis, appears to diverge after being reflected from the convex mirror.

(ii) Focal length of a concave mirror: The focal length of a convex mirror is the
distance from the pole (P) to its principal focus (F).

 There is a relationship between the radius of curvature R, and focal

length f, of a spherical mirror and is given by R=2f which means that that
 the principal focus of a spherical mirror lies midway between the pole
and centre of curvature.
Problems:
1] The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20 cm. What is its focal length?

2] Find the focal length of a convex mirror whose radius of curvature is 32 cm.

Ans. Radius of curvature R = 32 cm

3] Why do we prefer a convex mirror as a rear-view mirror in vehicles?

Ans. Convex mirror can cover a wider range and give erect and diminished
image. Hence convex mirror is used as a rear-view mirror to get wider field of view.

4] Name a mirror that can give an erect and enlarged image of an object.

Ans. Concave mirror.