CHAPTER 9

Light – Reflection and Refraction

 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.
 phenomena associated with light such as image formation by mirrors, the twinkling of stars,
the beautiful colours of a rainbow, bending of light by a medium
 light seems to travel in straight lines. a small source of light casts a sharp shadow of an opaque
object points to this straight-line path of light, usually indicated as a ray of light

If an opaque object on the path of light becomes very small, light has a tendency to bend
around it and not walk in a straight line – an effect known as the diffraction of light. . To
explain phenomena such as diffraction, light is thought of as a wave, light often behaves
somewhat like a stream of particle

REFLECTION OF LIGHT
Reflection is the bouncing back of light rays on striking the surface

A highly polished surface, such as a mirror, reflects most of the light falling on it.
laws –
(i) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and
(ii) The incident ray, the normal to the mirror at the point of incidence and the reflected ray, all
lie in the same plane.
Image formed by a plane mirror is always virtual and erect. The size of the
image is equal to that of the object. The image formed is as far behind the mirror
as the object is in front of it. Further, the image is laterally inverted

SPHERICAL MIRRORS
 A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved inwards,
i.e, faces towards the centre of the sphere, is called a concave mirror.
 A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved outwards, is called a
convex mirror. The schematic representation of these mirrors is shown

Types Of Images
We have two types of images:
1. real images 2. virtual images

Real Image:
 It is that which is formed when reflected rays actually meet at a certain point.
 It is always inverted.
 can be obtained on screen.
 Virtual Image:
 It is that which is formed when reflected rays do not meet actually but appear to meet at a certain
point.
 It is always erect.
 It can’t be obtained on a screen.

1. Aperture: It is the part of a spherical mirror from which the reflection actually occurs.
2. Centre of curvature: It is the centre of the spherical mirror.
3. Principal Axis: The line passing straight through C.
4. Pole: It is the point where Polar axis strikes the mirror.
5. Focus: It is the point where all reflected rays meet or appear to meet.
6. Focal Length: The distance between focus and pole.

F=R
2 (focal length is always half of radius)

ray diagram for the concave mirror:

Object between P & F

Object at F

: Object between F and C

 Object at C

Object beyond C

: Object at infinity

Images formed by Convex Mirror

1. Object anywhere at p. axis
 object at infinity

Uses of concave Mirror

 It is used in torches: It produces a powerful beam of light rays that converge at
infinity.
 It is used in making solar devices: It converges all the rays so when solar rays
converge, they increase the temperature at that converging point.
 It is used as shaving mirror: When face is placed between the pole and the focus, it
gives virtual, erect and magnified image.
 It is used by dentist to see cavities: When the tooth is placed within the focus it gives
virtual and erect image.

Uses of Convex Mirror

1.
1.
 It is used as rear view mirror: It gives virtual and diminished image. It covers a wide view and the
image formed is within the focus.

mirror Formula
 Linear Magnification is defined as the height of image to the height of the object.

Magnification = height of img

height of obj

Sign convention for concave mirror

U= negative
F= negative
V= positive (v-e)
V= negative (r-i)
M= negative (v-e)
M= negative (r-i)

Sign convention for convex mirror

U(object distance)= negative

F= positive
V= positive (real-inverted)
V( image distance)= negative (virtual-erect)
Magnification (M)= positive (v-e)
M= negative (r-i)

 Rarer medium- We can define rarer medium as the medium which has less density and speed of
light is more. Example: air is rarer than water.
 Denser Medium- It is that which has more density and speed of light is lesser in it. Example: water is
denser than air.

Incident Ray: The ray that strikes the surface.

Point of Incidence: Point where the incident ray strikes the surface.
Refracted Ray: The ray that changes its path when it travels from one medium to another.
Normal Ray: The perpendicular drawn to the point of incidence.
Angle of Incidence: Angle between incident ray and the normal ray.
Angle of Refraction: Angle between refracted ray and the normal ray.