Light, Shadow and Reflection

Q1. What are 'rays' and 'beams'? Represent them diagrammatically.

Ans. Ray:
A ray is just a single ray of light and is shown by an arrow.

Beam:
Beam is a bunch of parallel rays of light.

Q2. List the conditions needed for a shadow to form.

Ans. Following conditions are needed for the formation of a shadow:
1. A light source
2. An opaque obstacle (Object)
3. A screen on which shadow will form.

Q3. List three characteristics of a shadow.

Ans. Characteristics of a shadow:
1. It is always black in colour, regardless of the colour of the object used to form the
shadow.
2. It only shows the shape or outline of the object and not the details.
3. The size of a shadow varies depending on the distance between the object and the
source of light and the distance between the object and the screen.
Q4. What do you understand by diffused reflection?

Ans. Diffused reflection:

When light rays fall on rough surfaces, the reflected rays will travel in different directions.
This type of reflection is known as irregular or diffused reflection. The diffused reflection
does not obey the laws of reflection.
Q5. Define the following.

a. Source of light
An object that emits light is called a source of light.
Example: Natural sources of light -Sun, firefly
Artificial sources of light- candle. Bulb, torch, tube light etc.
b. Shadow
1. When opaque objects are placed in the path of the light, a dark portion is
formed on the back side of the object. This dark portion is called shadow.
2. When opaque object blocks the path of the light, shadow is formed on the
opposite side of an light source.
c. Lateral inversion
1. When an object is placed in front of a plane mirror, the right side of the
object appears to be on the left side of the image and left side of the object
appears to be on the right side of the image. This is called lateral inversion.
2. Lateral inversion is the effect produced by a plane mirror in reversing images
from left to right.
Example: The word AMBULANCE is written in laterally inverted text in front of
the vehicle so that the person looking in the rear-view mirror may read it and
give way.
Q6. Explain how materials are classified as transparent, translucent, and opaque.
Depending on the way the materials allows the light to pass through them, the
materials can be classified into three groups:
(1) Transparent material
(2) Translucent material
(3) Opaque material

a. Transparent material
A material that allows all light to pass through it is called transparent material.
Example: Air, clear glass, clean water etc.
a. Translucent material
A material that allows some light to pass through it is called translucent
material.
Example: Butter paper, frosted glass etc
b. Opaque material
A material that do not allow light to pass through it is called opaque material.
Example: Wood
Q7. With the help of a diagram, explain the difference between reflection from a rough
surface and reflection from a smooth surface.

Reflection from a rough surface

When a parallel beam of light rays falls on a rough surface, the rays will reflect in
different directions. This type of reflection is known as irregular or diffused reflection.
Reflection from a smooth surface
When a parallel beam of light rays falls on a plane and smooth surface, the reflected
rays are parallel. This type of reflection is known as regular reflection.

Q8. Explain lateral inversion.

Lateral inversion
It is the effect produced by a plane mirror in reversing images from left to right.
When an object is placed in front of a plane mirror, the right side of the object
appears to be on the left side of the image and left side of the object appears to be
on the right side of the image. This is called lateral inversion.
Example:

Mirror
Application of lateral inversion
The word AMBULANCE is written in laterally inverted text in front of the vehicle so
that the person looking in the rear-view mirror may read it and give way.

Q9. Differentiate between the image and shadow of an object.

Image Shadow
Image is formed by the reflection of light rays by
Shadow is formed by the obstruction of
an object.
light by an opaque object.
Image has the colour of the object.
Shadow is always black.
An image gives the details as well as the outline of
Shadow gives only the outline of the
the object.
object.
Image undergoes lateral inversion.
It does not undergo lateral inversion.

Q10. What is a pin-hole camera? Explain how an image is formed in a pin-hole camera.

A pinhole camera is a device used to form the image of an object.

It consists of a box with a very tiny hole on one of its sides. Light falls on the hole and an
inverted image is formed on the side opposite to the hole.