M.E.

S INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA – QATAR

Notes 2024 – 2025

Section: Boys’/Girls’ Date:01.04.2024

Class & Div.: X (All Divisions) Subject: Physics
Lesson / Topic: LIGHT
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1. What is light?
Ans: Light is a form of energy, which enable us to see the object. An object reflects light that
falls on it. This reflected light when received by our eyes, enables us to see things.
2. What is meant by Reflection of light?

Ans: It is the phenomenon of bouncing back of light to the same medium on striking the surfaces
of any object. Reflection is of two types, Regular reflection and irregular reflection.
3. Explain the laws of reflection of light.
Ans:(i). The angle of incidence is always equal to angle of reflection. (< i = < r)
(ii). The incident, the reflected ray and the normal all lie in the same plane.

4. Describe the characteristics of image formed by plane mirrors.

Ans:1) Virtual (imaginary) &Erect (Virtual The image that do not form on a screen)
2) Laterally inverted (The left side of object appears on the right side of image)
3) The size of image is equal to that of object.
4) The image formed is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.

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 5. What are spherical mirrors?

Ans: Those mirrors, whose reflecting surfaces are spherical, are called spherical mirrors.
Spherical mirrors are of two types, (i) Concave mirror (ii) Convex mirror.
(i) Concave mirror: -
 A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved inwards, that is, faces
towards the centre of the sphere, is called a concave mirror.

(ii) Convex mirror.

 A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved outwards, is called a convex
mirror.

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 7. Explain the following terms related to spherical mirrors.

(i) Pole(P); (ii) Principle axis; (iii) Centre of Curvature (C); (iv) Aperture
(v) Radius of curvature of a spherical mirror(R); (vi) Principal focus(F) and focal length(f).
Ans:

(i) Pole (P): The centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror.
(ii) Principal axis: Imaginary straight line passing through the pole (P) and the centre of
curvature (C) of a spherical mirror.
(iii) Centre of Curvature (C): The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror forms a part of
asphere. This sphere has a centre. This point is called the centre of curvature.
(iv) Aperture: The diameter (width) of reflecting spherical surface.
(v) Radius of curvature of a spherical mirror(R): The radius of the hollow sphere of glass, of
which the spherical mirror is a part. (i.e. The separation between the pole and the centre of
curvature PC = R)
(vi) Principal focus(F): The point on the principal axis, where all parallel rays meet after
reflection.
(vii) Focal length (f): The length between the pole and focus point (i.e., PF = f)

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 Note: Relationship between focal length (f) and Radius of curvature (R). [f= 𝑹 ]
𝟐

8. The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20cm. What is its focal length?

Ans: Given, radius of curvature of the mirror (R ) = 20cm

Focal length (f)= 𝑅 f= 20 = 10 cm
2 2

9. Describe the rules for tracing images formed by spherical mirrors.

Ans: Rule: (i). A ray of light which is parallel to principal axis always pass through focus
or vice-versa.
Concave mirror

Convex mirror

Rule: (ii).A ray of light, which passing through centre of curvature (it is also known as
normal at the point of incidence on spherical mirror) will retrace it’s path
after reflection.

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 Rule: (iii).A ray of light falling on pole get reflected at the same angle on the other side of
principal axis. (A ray of light incident obliquely towards the pole of a mirror is
reflected obliquely after the reflection.)

Note: - A ray of light passes through centre of curvature is always act as normal at the point of
incidence. If we know the normal, we can draw angle of incidence and angle of reflection.

Home Work: A ray of light incident on a convex mirror as shown.

Redraw the diagram and complete the path of this ray after
reflection from the mirror. Mark angle of incidence and angle of
reflection.

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 10. Draw and explain the image formation by concave mirror.
1. Object at infinity
Position of image: At focus
Nature: Real and inverted
Size: Highly diminished
3. Object at C
Position of image: At C
Nature: Real and inverted
Size: Same size of the object
5.Object at F
Position of image: At infinity
Nature: Real and inverted
Size: Highly Enlarged
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2. Object beyond C
Position of image: Between F &C
Nature: Real and inverted
Size: Small
4.Object between C&F
Position of image: Beyond C
Nature: Real and inverted
Size: Enlarged
5.Object between F & P
Position of image: Behind the mirror
Nature: Virtual and erect
Size: Enlarged
 11. Explain the image formation of convex mirrors.

1. Object at infinity 2.Anywhere between infinity and pole of the mirror

Position of image: At Focus(F)

Nature: Virtual and erect
Position of image: Between P &F
Size: Highly diminished
Nature: Virtual and erect
Size: Very small

12. What are the uses of concave and convex mirrors?

Ans: Uses of Concave Mirror

1. In torches, search light and headlight of vehicle concave mirror is used as reflector.
2. Used to see large image of face as shaving mirror
3. Used by dentist to see large images of the teeth
4. Large concave mirror used to focus sunlight (heat) in solar furnaces.
5. Used in Reflecting type astronomical telescope.
Uses of Convex Mirror
1. It is used as a rear view mirror in vehicles.
2.It is used as reflector in street lamps.
3.They are used in magnifying glass, in securities and also used intelescopes .
13. Mention the types of mirror used as (i) rear view mirrors, (ii) having mirrors. List the reasons
to justify your answers in each case.
Ans: (i) Convex mirror - Convex mirror always forms virtual, small and erect image between the
pole and focus of an object placed anywhere in front of it. In addition, convex mirrors
provide a wider field of view of traffic behind him.
(ii) Concave mirror – Concave mirror forms an erect and enlarged image of the face when it
is held closer (between F & P) to the face.

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 14.Mention the sign convention for reflection by spherical
mirrors.Ans:1. The object is always placed to the left side of
mirror.
2. All distance should be measured from pole (P),
parallel to principal axis.
3. Take 'P' as origin. Distances measured
 Right of the origin (+ x - Axis) are taken
positive
 Left of the origin (– x-Axis) are taken negative
 Perpendicular to and above principal axis (+y-Axis) are taken positive
 Perpendicular to and below principal axis (–y-Axis) are taken negative

Note:-
TYPE OF MIRROR u v f R Height of Height of the image
the object
Real Virtual Real Virtual
Concave mirror - - + - - + - +
Convex mirror - No real + + + + No real +
image image
Homework:-What will be the signs of u, v and f for a convex mirror as per sign convention?

15.What is mirror formula?

Ans:The formula which gives the relation between object distance (u), the image distance (v)
1 1 1
and the focal length (f) of the mirror is known as mirror formula. [ v+ u= f ]

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 Mirror formula:
1 1 1 1 1 1
 v +u = fie.,image distance+object distance = focal length
size of image h' v
Magnification = = (or) Magnification =
size of object h u
If m>1, image is enlarged;
If m<1, image is diminished;
If m=1, Same size.
If m = +ve the image is virtual and if m= -ve the image is real.
R
f= where, ‘R’ is the radius of curvature. (or) R= 2f
2
16. An object of size 7cm is placed at 27 cm is front of a concave mirror of focal length 18 cm.

At what distance from the mirror should a screen be placed, so that a sharp focussed image
can be obtained? Find the size and the nature of the image.

Ans: Given, u =  27 cm,  = 18 cm ( It is concave), h = 7 cm

From mirror formula

1 1 1 1 1  1 1 1  1  3  2 1
     
v u f v (27) (18) v 18 27 54 54.

 v =  54 cm. The screen must be placed at a distance of 54 cm from the mirror in front
of it.
v  54
m   2.
u  27 The image is real, inverted and enlarged.

Size of the image h = m.h = (2)  7 cm =  14 cm. Thus, the image is of 14 cm length and
is an inverted image i.e., formed below the principal axis.
17. A concave mirror produces three times magnified (enlarged) real image of an object placed

at 10 cm in front of it. Where is the image of an object placed at 10 cm in front of it. Where
is the image located?
Ans:Distance of object from concave mirror u = 10 cm.

As magnification of image is 3 and image is real, hence m = 3

v
m
u Hence v  mu  (3)(10)  30cm Thus image is formed 30 cm in front of the
concave mirror.

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 18. An object is placed at a distance of 10 cm from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Find

the position and nature of the image.

Ans:A convex mirror has a positive focal length. Therefore,  = + 15 cm, u = 10 cm.

1 1 1 1  1  1 1 1 1 1 5
          

 15 v (10)


As f v u v 15 10 v 30

v = + 6 cm.
The image is formed 6 cm behind the mirror, it is virtual image.
19. An object 5 cm in length is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of a convex mirror of

radius of curvature 30 cm. Find the position of the image, its nature and size.
Ans: Given, Radius of curvature of mirror R = 30 cm,
= 𝑅 =30= 15 cm. It is a convex mirror. Therefore,  = + 15 cm,
2 2

u =  20 cm, h = 5.0 cm

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7
         
As v u f v  20 15 v 15 20 v 60
60
 cm
 v= 7 .

60
3 v
m  7 
The image is virtual, behind the mirror, and erect. u  20 7

As m = + 3< 1  It is erect(+ve) and diminished (m<1).

7
3 15
m.h   5cm  cm
The size of image, h = 7 7

Homework:-
1. 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Give the
location of image and magnification.( Ans v = +6.6cm, m = + 0.55,virtual, erect, diminished)
2. An object of size 5 cm is placed at a distance of 25cm from the pole of a concave mirror of
radius of curvature 30 cm . Calculate the distance and size of the image so formed . What will
be the nature of the image.(Ans v = -37.5 cm, hi= -7.5 cm, real , inverted, enlarged)

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