LAWS OF REFLECTION

1. The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection. (i=r)

2. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the reflecting surface all lie in the same plane.

Normal
Incident Ray Reflected
Ray
Angle of Angle of
Point of Incidence Reflection
Incidence mirror

Figure 1. Representation of how light is reflected from a flat surface

Incident Ray: the ray of light coming from the light source towards a mirror.
Point of Incidence: the point at which incident ray strikes a mirror.
Normal: a line that is perpendicular through the point of incidence.
Angle of Incidence: the angle formed between the incident ray and normal.
Reflected Ray: the ray of light which leaves or bounces off the mirror
Angle of Reflection: the angle formed between the reflected ray and normal.

HOW IMAGES ARE FORMED

Image
- a representation or a replica of an object.
- formed when multiple rays of reflection converge or meet at a certain point.

Object Image
Mirror
Figure 2. How image is formed in a mirror

FORMS OF IMAGE
Images formed in our eyes is upside down. This is due to the shape of the cornea of the eyes. When
reflection of light pass through the cornea, an inverted image is then form in the retina. The reason why see
things upright is because the brain interprets the image upright via the optic nerve.

Images formed in a mirror is classified into two: virtual image and real image.
Virtual Image:
- formed when light rays do not actually intersect after reflection, but they appear to diverge from
the mirror.
- cannot be formed on a screen.
- formed an erect or upright replica with respect to the object.
Examples: Images formed in plane mirror and convex mirror.
 Eye

True Reflection

Virtual Reflection

Object Light from the Image

object
Mirror
Figure 3. Formation of Virtual Image in a Plane Mirror

In figure 3, the light rays released by the object towards the mirror are being directly reflected to the eye.
In this case, light rays don’t actually intersect to each other. In reality, there is no image formed in the mirror.
What we see is the image formed in our eyes that is being interpreted by the brain. The reason why we see a
virtual image is because our eyes “virtually reflect” or project the image somewhere behind the mirror.

Real Image:
- formed when light rays actually meet after reflection.
- can be formed on a screen.
- formed an inverted or upside-down replica with respect to the object.
Examples: Images formed in a concave mirror.
Images formed in the retina of the eyes.

Light ray from the object

Object
Principal Axis Center of Focal
Curvature Point
Image
(Can be seen through
a screen)
Reflected rays from the
Mirror

Concave Mirror
Figure 4. Formation of Real Image in a Concave Mirror

In figure 4, an object is being placed at the principal axis beyond the center of curvature and focal point.
When the object releases rays of light towards the mirror, these rays are then reflected back to the same side
below the principal axis where intersection of rays happens thus, creating a real image of an object in an
inverted manner.
Real image is formed on the same side of the object and not somewhere behind the mirror. The only way
you see a real image is if the intersected rays strike through a screen.