Reflection of Light

Objectives
At the end of the session, I will be able to:
1. explain clearly the image formed in a plane mirror;
2. identify correctly the different properties of light in
plane mirrors;
3. differentiate concave mirror from convex mirror; and
4. describe the location, size, and orientation of the
images formed by curved mirrors.
 Reflection
is the bouncing back of light into
the same medium it has been
traveling after striking a surface
LAW OF REFLECTION
incident ray – ray that strikes the surface
reflected ray – ray that rebounds from the surface
normal – a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence
angle of incidence (θi) – angle between the incident ray & the normal
angle of reflection (θr) – angle between the reflected ray & the normal

The incident ray, the

reflected ray, and the
normal to the surface all lie
in the same plane, and
the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.
 MIRRORS & REFLECTION OF LIGHT
incident rays incident rays incident rays

reflecting side reflecting side reflecting side

Plane Mirror Concave Mirror Convex Mirror

incident rays
Plane Mirror
• an object with smooth
reflecting side
surface producing
specular reflection of light
• a mirror with a flat
reflective surface
The image has the
same size as the
object (no
magnification).
mirror
The image is up-right
but Laterally Inverted
(Left / Right)
Image is at the same distance
from mirror as the object
M
IR
R
O
R

Object Distance, do = 10 cm Image Distance, di = -10 cm

Plane mirrors form
virtual images.
 The image has the same size as
ize the object (no magnification)
The image is up-right but Laterally
ttitude
Inverted (Left / Right)

ocation Image is at the same distance

from mirror as the object
ype Plane mirrors form virtual images
Plane Mirrors
Concave Mirror
(Converging)

Convex Mirror
(Diverging)
✓ It is a curved mirror in which the
reflective surface bulges away from
the light source.
✓ It is called Converging Mirror
because the parallel incident rays
converge or meet/intersect at a
focal point after reflection.
✓ It is a curved mirror in which the reflective
surface bulges towards the light source.
✓ It is called Diverging Mirror because the
parallel incident rays diverge after
reflection. When extending the reflected
rays behind the mirror, the rays converge
at the focus behind the mirror.
 Center of Curvature, C
- the center of the sphere of
which the mirror is part. Its
distance from the mirror is
known as the radius

Vertex, V
- the center of the mirror

Focal Point/ Focus, F

- the point between the center
of the curvature and vertex. Its
distance from the mirror is
known as the focal length, f.
RAY DIAGRAM
is a diagram that traces the path that light takes in order for a person
to view a point on the image of an object. On the diagram, rays (lines
with arrows) are drawn for the incident ray and the reflected ray.

The ‘Four P – F ray

Principal Rays’ F – P ray
in Curved C – C ray
Mirrors V ray
P – F ray
F – P ray
C – C ray
V ray
The following are ray diagramming steps using the ‘Four Principal Rays’ in
determining the position and the nature of the image of an object formed by
concave mirror and convex mirror.

1. From the object, draw the first ray (P – F ray). From the same point
on the object, draw the second (F – P ray), third (C – C ray), and
fourth (V ray) rays.
2. The intersection of the four rays is the image point corresponding
to the object point. For example, if you started diagramming from
the tip of the arrow-shaped object, the intersection of the reflected
rays is also the tip of the arrow-shaped image. Thus, you can
determine completely the position and characteristics of the image.
3. For a convex mirror, light rays diverge after reflection and
converge from a point that seems to be behind the mirror (virtual
focus); but the procedure for locating images is the same as for
concave mirror.
 Are you L-O-S-T after Reflection?
Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
Farther than the
Center of Curvature
At the Center of
Curvature
Between the Center
of Curvature and the
Focal point
At the Focal point
Between the Focal
point and the Center
of the mirror (Vertex)

CONVEX
All locations
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
Farther than between C inverted reduced real
the Center and F
of Curvature
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
At the at C inverted same real
Center of
Curvature
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
Between the beyond C inverted enlarged real
Center
of Curvature
and the
Focal point
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
At the Focal No Image Formed
point
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
Between the behind upright enlarged virtual
Focal the mirror
point and
the Center
of the mirror
(Vertex)
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONVEX
Between the between upright reduced virtual
Focal F and V
point and
the Center
of the mirror
(Vertex)
 How does the location of the
object affect the characteristics
and location of the image
formed in a concave mirror?
Convex mirror?
 Image
Location of Location Orientation Size Type
Object (upright or (same, reduced (real or virtual)
inverted) or enlarged)
CONCAVE
Farther than the farther than the
Center of Curvature between C and F inverted reduced
center of curvature
At the Center of at the center of
Curvature at C inverted same
curvature
Between the Center between the center
of Curvature and the of curvature and the beyond C inverted enlarged
Focal point focal point
At the Focal point No Image Formed
Between the Focal
behind
point and the Center upright enlarged virtual
of the mirror (Vertex) the mirror

CONVEX
All locations between
upright reduced virtual
F and V
What type of mirror do dentists
usually use to clearly see the
images of our teeth? Why?
What kind of curved mirror do you see
in most of the department stores? Why
do they use such kind of mirror?