Chapter 8

Light and Optics

The Use of Mirrors
• A real image is an image that forms
on a screen
• a virtual image is an image that
cannot be formed on a screen.
• Our image forms behind the
mirror , not on the mirror screen.
• The image formed by a plane mirror
is a virtual image.
Usage of concave mirrors
Plane
Mirror
A plane mirror helps
a dancer to correct
his movement.

A plane mirror
makes a living
room look
spacious.
Concave
Mirror A concave mirror
helps to magnify
the image to make
it easier for
someone to apply
make up.

A concave mirror is used

by a dentist to see the
patient’s teeth so that
the image looks bigger
and closer.
Usage of convex mirrors
 Convex mirror
1) A convex mirror is used as a safety feature at
dangerous corner of a road.
2) Convex mirrors at the supermarket can help a
shopkeeper to see every corner of the supermarket of
the supermarket to prevent theft.

Usage of convex mirrors

 Optical Instruments
that Apply the
Concept of Reflection
of Light
• Optical instruments are
invented by scientists based
on the concept of light
reflection to enhance the
ability of human senses.
 PERISCOPE
• Periscope is an instruments used in
submarines to observe the sea surface.
• Periscope works by using the concept of
reflection of light.
• Light from the sea surface is hit through
the top mirror and is reflected.
• The light is then reflected again at the
second mirror, right into the eye of the
observer in the submarine.
 Kaleidoscope
• Kaleidoscope is a toy made using plane
mirrors.
• With this toy, you can create various amazing
patterns.
• These patterns are obtained due to the
repeated reflection of the image of the objects
inside the kaleidoscope.
• Therefore , the number of image seen is more
than the number of object.
 Situation 1:

• We can use a periscope to see

the scenery behind the wall.
It is dangerous to walk on this path because
we cannot see anything around the corner.

We can fix convex mirrors at dangerous

corner.
It is good if I can see things behind me to
avoid accidents.

You can fix a convex mirror on the bike

to see things behind you.
 8.2 Properties of light
Light travels in straight
lines.
We can see the
movement of light in a
light show.
Properties of Light

1. Light is a form of energy

2. Light travels at a speed 300 000 000 m/s

3. Light travel in straight lines

Have you even wondered how shadows are
formed?

1.Sunlight travels in straight

lines.
2. Umbrella is an opaque object,
therefore the sunlight cannot
pass through it.
3. When light is blocked by an
opaque object, a shadow is
formed behind the opaque
object.
Reflection of light
1. Light can be reflected
2. Reflection is the bouncing of light off a surface on
which the light falls
3. A smooth and shiny opaque surface, like a plane
mirror, reflects nearly all the light rays that fall on it

When you look in the mirror, you can see

an image of yourself
4. According to the Law of Reflection:-
i. The incident ray, reflected ray and the
normal are all on the same plane

normal

incident reflected
ray ray

plane mirror
ii. the angle of incidence is equal to the angle
of reflection

normal

angle of angle of
incidence reflection
incident reflected
ray ray

plane mirror
5. The knowledge of the reflection of light is used in
the following instruments
i. the periscope – used in submarines to see
the situation on the surface of the sea

Light coming
from the candle
hits the first
mirror and
reflects it to the
second mirror.
The reflected
light will then
enter your eyes
6. The light ray is reflected when it is directed towards
the plane mirror. The characteristics of the image
formed are as follows:-
i. virtual (cannot be formed on a screen)
ii. vertical
iii.of the same size as the object
iv.the distance of the image behind the mirror is the
same as the distance of the object in front of the
mirror
v. laterally inverted
 8.4 Refraction of Light
The illusion below occur as a
result of the change in the
direction of movement of light
travels through two mediums of
different densities.

This phenomenon is known as

refraction of light.
Refraction of light
1. Light does not pass through opaque objects, but it
will pass through anything that is transparent
2. Any substance that light passes through is called
medium such as air, water and glass

3. When light travels from one transparent medium to

another at an angle, it will bend. This effects is
called refraction.
4. The following shows the three situations of the
movement of light rays through two different media
a)

(less dense medium)

(less dense medium)

(denser medium)
(denser medium)
b)

(less dense medium)

(denser medium)
c)

(less dense medium)

(denser medium)
Why does a pencil look
bent in a glass of water?
Daily phenomena of refraction of light are shown
below:

Pencil in a
glass of water
appears bent
A fish in a
river will look
as if it is closer
in the water
due to
refraction too
Fish appears to be much shallower than its
real location due to the refraction of light .
•The coin
cannot be seen
in P
•The coin can
now be seen
appears to be
closer to the Q
P
surface in Q
The refraction of light when light rays pass
through mediums of different densities
 • The light ray is not refracted when the
incident ray is parallel to the normal and
moves from a more dense medium to a less
dense medium.
The light ray is not refracted when
the incident ray is parallel to the
normal and moves from a less
dense medium to a more dense
medium.
Dispersion of Light
 Do you know why the components of colour in a
rainbow can be seen when light passes through a glass
prism?

• White light consists of seven components of colour. Each

component of colour travels at a different speed in a medium.
• For example, red light has the highest speed, so red light is
refracted the least.
• However, violet light has the lowest speed, so violet light is
refracted the most.
 Dispersion of white light by a glass prism

When a white light ray is directed to a prism, the white light

will be separated into its components of colour. This is because
the different colours in the white light bend towards the
normal at different angles when entering the prism.
 •When the different
colours leave the
glass prism, they
are refracted away
from the normal.

• The different colours are dispersed in an

order that is known as a spectrum.
• The spectrum of white light consists of
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet color
THE FORMATION OF RAINBOW
When sunlight enters rain
droplets in the sky, the white
light will be refracted and
dispersed into seven different
 8.6 Scattering of Light
•Why does the sky appear blue at midday and reddish in the
evening

Blue Sky
Reddish sky
•The two natural phenomena are caused by the scattering of
light.
•Scattering of light occurs when light is reflected in all
directions by cloud or particles in the air
Scattering of Light During
Midday
 During Sunset
• During sunset, the sun is at the horizon
.
• Red and orange light are less scattered
and will go through the atmosphere to
reach your eyes.
• Other coloured lights such as blue light
are scattered away.
• Therefore, the sky looks reddish during
sunset.
• Objects with secondary colours
(yellow, magenta or cyan) reflect
the light of same colour.
• The light of primary colours which
form the secondary colour.
A yellow object reflects yellow,
red and green colours. The
overlap of red and green lights
causes the object to appear
yellow.
Black objects appear black because they
absorb colours in white light.

• Black objects absorb all colours in white light.

• No coloured lights are reflected.
• Therefore, the objects appear black
Usually,colour filters are used to
understand the principle of subtraction.
 Secondary colour filters
• Allow only the light of the same colour
and the light of primary colours which
form the secondary colour to pass
through. Light of other colours are
absorbed.
Difference between Addition and Subtraction
of Light

• Addition and subtraction of light are two difference

principles of light
• The addition of light is the mixing of primary colour
lights to produce secondary colour lights
• Subtraction of light occurs when an opaque object
reflects the light of same colour and absorbs the
light of the other colours.
 Examples of Addition and Subtraction of
Light

Examples 1
Colour television
Example 2 Coloured lights on stage

• Photograph 8.16 Coloured lights play a role on the

stage during a performance
• Example 3 Coloured lights in • Example 4 Coloured lights at
a stadium KLCC

• Photograph 8.17 Coloured • Photograph 8.18 Coloured lights in

lights in a stadium the fountain in front of KLCC