Light: Reflection and Refraction

Q1. What makes things visible?

Ans.) An object reflects light that falls in it. This reflected light, when received by
our eyes, enables us to see things. We are able to see through a transparent medium
as light is transmitted through it.

Q2. What do you understand by diffraction of light?

Ans.) If an opaque object on the path of light becomes very small, then light has
the tendency to bend around it and not walk in a straight line. This effect is known
as the diffraction of light. To explain this process, light is thought of as a wave.

Q3. State the properties of an image formed by a plane mirror.

Ans.) i. Image is always virtual and erect

ii. Size of image is equal to that of the object

iii. image is formed far behind the mirror as the object in front of it.

iv.. Image is laterally inverted.

Q4. Explain spherical mirrors in detail.

i. Mirrors whose reflecting surfaces are spherical are called spherical mirror.
ii. The centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is a point called the
pole (P). It lies on the surface of the mirror.
iii. The centre of curvature is the centre point of the sphere whose part forms the
spherical mirror. It lies outside the reflecting surface
iv. The Radius of Curvature is the radius of the sphere.
v. Principal axis is the straight line passing through the pole and at the centre of
curvature of a spherical mirror.