Light

Reflection of Light
 Reflection of Light

Laws of Reflection

Plane Mirror Convex Mirror Concave Mirror

Reflection of Light
 Reflection
• The light ray that strikes the
surface of the mirror is called
incident ray.
• The light ray that bounces off
from the surface of the mirror is
called reflected ray.
• The normal is a line
perpendicular to the mirror
surface where the reflection
occurs.
• The angle between the incident
ray and the normal is called the
angle of incidence, i.
• The angle between the reflected
ray and the normal is called the
angle of reflection, r.
 Reflection
• We describe the path of light as straight-line rays
• Reflection off a flat surface follows a simple rule:
– angle in (incidence) equals angle out (reflection)
– angles measured from surface “normal” (perpendicular)

surface normal
same exit ray
incident ray angle reflected ray
 The Laws of Reflection

The incident ray, the reflected ray

and the normal all lie in the same
plane.

The angle of incidence, i, is equal

to the angle of reflection, r.
 Characteristics of the Image formed by
Plane Mirror

A mirror with a flat rather than a curved surface is called a

plane mirror.

1. laterally inverted
2. same size as the object
3. upright
4. as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it

Notes:
Real image: Image can be seen on a screen
Virtual Image: Image that cannot be seen on a screen.
Characteristics of the Image formed by
Plane Mirror
LEFT- RIGHT REVERSAL
Image by Plane Mirror
Q: The word “ambulans” on an ambulance van is laterally
inverted. Do you know why?

A: The words will be read correctly in a rear view mirror of

another moving car in front.
 Reflection Vocabulary
• Real Image –
– Image is made from “real” light rays
that converge at a real focal point so
the image is REAL
– Can be projected onto a screen
because light actually passes
through the point where the image
appears
– Always inverted
 Reflection Vocabulary
• Virtual Image–
– “Not Real” because it cannot be
projected
– Image only seems to be there!
 Reflection Off a Rough Surface

Reflection off a smooth surfaces such as mirrors produces specular

reflection.
Reflection off rough surfaces such as uneven plastic is known as
diffuse reflection
 Diffuse Reflection

Reflection off a rough water surfaces known as diffuse reflection.

The reflection from the moving water does not show a clear image
of the villagers washing their clothing near the river.
Two Types of Curved Mirrors
Types of Curved Mirror
 Concave Mirrors
• Curves inward
• May be real or virtual image
 Concave Mirror

• The geometric centre of a concave mirror is called its pole.

• The centre of the sphere from which concave mirror was cut is called the
centre of curvature of the concave mirror.
• The distance from any point on the concave mirror to its centre of curvature is
called the radius of curvature of the concave mirror.
• An imaginary line passing through the centre of curvature and the pole of the
concave mirror is called principal axis of the concave mirror.
• The area of a concave mirror that is exposed to incident light is called the
aperture of the concave mirror.
• The length along the principal axis from the pole to the principal focus is
called the focal length of the concave mirror.
 Convex Mirror

• The geometric centre of a convex mirror is called its pole.

• The centre of the sphere from which the mirror was cut is called the centre of
curvature of the mirror.
• The distance from any point on the convex mirror to its centre of curvature is
called the radius of curvature.
• An imaginary line passing through the centre of curvature and the pole of the
mirror is called its principal axis.
• The reflected rays, when projected backwards, appear to meet at a point on the
principal axis. This point is called the principal focus. The length along the
principal axis from the pole to the principal focus is called the focal length.
• The area of a convex mirror that is exposed to incident light is called the
aperture. If the aperture of a convex mirror is small, then its focal length is
equal to half its radius of curvature.
Incident and Reflected Ray of Concave and Convex
Mirror
Rules for Construction of Ray Diagrams for Spherical Mirrors
Image Formation by Concave Mirror

Depending on the position of

the object in front of the
concave mirror, the position,
size and the nature of the
image varies.
Image Formation by Concave Mirror
Image Formation by Concave Mirror
Image Formation by Concave Mirror
Image Formation by Concave Mirror
 Image Formation by Concave Mirror

If an object is placed close to a concave mirror such that

the distance between the mirror and the object is less than
its focal length, then a magnified and virtual image is
formed.

Due to this property, concave mirrors are used in many

applications. A concave mirror can be used as a shaving
mirror, and by dentists to view clearly the inner parts of
the mouth.
Image Formation by Concave Mirror
Image Formation by Convex Mirror
 Application of Mirrors

Plane mirror acts as an anti-parallax error mirror in

electrical instruments such as the voltmeter and the
ammeter.
Application of Mirrors

Plane mirror
 Application of Mirrors

Plane mirror acts as an instrument for

checking teeth.
 Application of Mirrors

For make-up the lady’s face must be close to the

concave mirror. The object distance has to be less
than the focal length of the concave mirror.
Application of Mirrors

Periscope
 A kaleidoscope operates on the principle of
multiple reflection, where several mirrors are
placed at an angle to one another (usually
60°). Typically there are three rectangular
mirrors set at 60° to each other so that they
form an equilateral triangle. The 60° angle
generates an infinite regular grid of duplicate
images of the original, with each image
having six possible angles and being a mirror
image or not. As the tube is rotated, the
tumbling of the coloured objects presents
varying colours and patterns.
Application of Mirrors

This man is shaving with

the help of a concave
mirror. Its curved surface
makes the man's face seem
closer to him than it really
is.
 Application of Mirrors

Concave mirror acts as an light reflector in a

torchlight.
Reflector of a Torchlight
 Application of Mirrors

Concave Mirror: The reflecting telescope

 Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror

A convex mirror is also known as diverging mirror or the fish eye

mirror. The reflective surface of the convex mirror bulges towards
the light source. Convex mirrors reflect the light falling on them
outwards.

The image of the object formed by a convex mirror is always virtual.

Also the image formed is smaller than the actual size of the object.

Thus, major uses of convex mirror are in the areas where bigger
objects are to be viewed easily and in smaller size.
 Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror: Rear View Mirror

They are used as a rear view

mirror in vehicles because the
mirror can diverge a beam of
light and makes a virtual image.
And as the focal length and
radius of curvature of the
convex mirror are virtual the
image is always produced up
the right way and that too
smaller in size than the actual
size of the object. So the mirror
is able to give a wide view of
the field.
 Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror: Rear View Mirror

Two convex mirrors are placed back to back in order

to make a magnifying class.
 Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror: ATM Machine for Security

Convex mirrors are placed near

ATM’s so as to allow the bank
customers to check if someone
is behind them. This is a
measure of security taken
which helps in keeping
customer’s using ATMs safe
from robberies of cash
withdrawals or other valuables
or even their cards along with
the pin number. This also keeps
the identity of ATM user’s
secure.
 Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror: At Corner of Roads

Convex mirror are

also put on corners of
roads so that you can
see any cars coming
to avoid collisions
Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror: Sunglasses

Convex mirrors are also

used in making lenses of
sunglasses. This is done to
help reflect the light of sun
away from the eyes of the
person wearing the
sunglasses.
 Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror: At Hospital

Large hospitals, offices or

stores sometimes make use
of convex mirrors in order
to let people see what is
around a corner to avoid
people running into each
other and prevent
minor/major collisions.
Application of Mirrors

Convex Mirror
Refraction of Light
 Refraction of Light

The pencil looks as if it is bent.

This is because of refraction of light.
 Refraction of Light

Light travels in a straight line through transparent materials such as

air, water or glass.
If light passes through two material of different optical densities, it
will change direction at the boundary between them.
The light is bent.
Refraction of Light
 Why light is refracted?

• It is due to the change in the velocity of light as it

passes from one medium into another.
• Light travels slowly in glass (or water) than in air.
• When a light beam passes from air into glass, one
side of the beam is slowed before the other. This
makes the beam “bend”.
 Light ray bends toward the normal when the ray
travel from a less dense medium to a denser medium,
i > r.
 Light ray bends away from the normal as it travels
from a denser medium to a less dense medium, i < r.

Speed of light increases.

When a ray of light is incident normally to the
glass block, the refracted ray is unbent,
i = r = 0o
 Light ray travel much slower in a denser
medium.

When light ray travels from one medium to

another, its speed changes.

The change in speed of the light ray causes

the change of its direction.
The Laws of Refraction
 Snell’s Law

For light rays passing a vacuum into a given medium,

the refractive index, n for that medium is defined as:
Refractive Index
Refractive Index
Real Depth, Apparent Depth
 The twinkling of stars is due to
atmospheric refraction of starlight. Since
light bends towards the normal the
apparent position of the star is slightly
different from its actual position as it
passes through the atmosphere. Hence
the star appears slightly higher than its
actual position. Due to changing
condition of earth's atmosphere the
apparent position of the star changes
slightly and the intensity of light
reaching the eye also fluctuates. This
gives rise to the twinkling effect of the
star.
Summer sunset. Refraction by the atmosphere makes the
sun oval. The lower part is dimmer and more yellow
because its light has traveled through extra miles of dense
atmosphere and possibly dustier air which has absorbed
and reddened it.
Rays from the setting Sun (lower) are refracted by the atmosphere and
make it appear higher in the sky. The lower limb is lifted more than
the top, making its image oval.
Total Internal Reflection
Sparkling of diamonds
Critical Angle
 Critical Angle, c

The critical angle, c, is defined as the angle of

incidence (in the denser medium) when the angle of
refraction (in the less dense medium), r is 90 o.
Total Internal Reflection

If the angle of incidence is

increased further so that it
is greater than the critical
angle, (I > c):
- no refraction,
- all the light is totally in
the glass

This phenomenon is called

total internal reflection.
 Total Internal Reflection

Total internal reflection is the complete reflection of light

ray travelling from a dense medium to a less dense medium.

Total: because 100% of light is reflected

Internal: because it happen inside the glass / or denser
medium.
 The two conditions for total internal reflection
to occur are:

• light ray enters from a denser medium towards a less dense

medium
• the angle of incidence in the denser medium is greater then
the critical angle of the medium. (i > c).
Relationship between refractive index, n and
critical angle, c
 Example Question:

The critical angle for water is 49 .

0

Determine the refractive index of water.

Predict what will happen to the incident light ray
shown in the image. Support your answer with
calculations. (Refractive index of water is 1.3)
The diagram shows a light ray
entering in a glass prism. [Refractive
index of glass = 1.51]

a) Determine the critical angle of the

glass.

b) Draw the ray light after it passes

through a point P until the direction of
the ray of light unchanged.
The diagram shows a light ray
travelling from air into a glass
prism. What is the critical
angle of the glass?
 The sparkling of a diamond

A diamond has a high refractive

index.
The higher the refractive index, the
smaller the critical angle.
A small critical angle means total
internal reflection readily occurs.
Light is easily reflected inside the
diamond.
In this way, more light will be
confined within the diamond before
refracting out into the air.
Lens
 Understanding Lenses

Lenses are made of transparent material such

as glass or clear plastics.

They have two faces, of which at least one is

curved.
 Types of Lenses

Convex lens, also known as converging lens. It

is thicker at the centre of the lens.
 Types of Lenses

Concave lens, also known as diverging lens. It

is thinner at the centre of the lens.
 Focal Point and Focal Length of a Lens
(Convex Lens)

When light rays which are parallel and close to the principal axis
strikes on a convex lens, they are refracted and converge to a point,
F on the principal axis.This point is a focal point of the convex lens.
 Focal Point and Focal Length of a Lens
(Concave Lens)

When light rays are parallel to the principal axis fall on a concave
lens, they are refracted and appear to diverge from the focal point, F,
on the principal axis.
The focal length, f is the distance between the focal point
and the optical centre.

The optical centre, C is the geometric centre of the lens. It

is the point through which light rays pass through without
deviation.

The principal axis is the line passing through the optical

centre.
 A real image can be captured on a screen.

A virtual image cannot be captured on a screen.

A convex lens (f << focal length) forming a real, inverted image rather than
the upright, virtual image as seen in a magnifying glass
The Uses of Lenses in Optical
Devices
Magnifying glass / Simple Microscope

It consists of a single convex lens of short

focal length.

An object is placed at a position less than

the focal length of the lens.

The image formed is magnified, upright

and virtual.

The magnifying power increases if the

focal length of the lens is shorter.

A sharper and larger image is seen at the

near point of the eye. In general, the near
point is taken as 25cm.
 Compound Microscope

1. It consists of two powerful

convex lenses of short focal
lengths (5.0cm to 10.0cm).
2. The lens which receives light
rays from the object is called
the objective lens. The lens
which is used for viewing the
final image is called the
1. The object is placed at a distance between f0 and eyepiece lens.
2f0 so that the image formed is inverted, magnified 3. The focal length of the
and real in front of the eyepiece lens.
objective lens is f0 whereas
2. The position of the eyepiece lens is adjusted until
the position of the first image is less than f0 from the focal length of the
the eyepiece lens. eyepiece lens is fe.
3. The final image formed is inverted, magnified and
virtual.
 CAMERA

The convex lens is used to produce a real, inverted and diminished image on a
light sensitive film at the camera.

The diaphragm is used to adjust the size of the aperture, which control the amount
of light passing into the camera.

The shutter speed is used to control the exposure time when taking photographs.
Practices
Write down the 4 formulas that define
refractive index.
Prove that Ɵ1 = Ɵ3
2011 P1
2011 P1
2011 P1
2011 P1
2011 P1
2012 P1
2012 P1
2012 P1
2012 P1
2013 P1
2013 P1
2013 P1
2013 P1
2013 P1
2014 P1
2014 P1
2014 P1
2014 P2
2014 P2
2014 P2
2014 P2 Answer
 Compound Microscope

1. It consists of two powerful

convex lenses of short focal
lengths (5.0cm to 10.0cm).
2. The lens which receives light
rays from the object is called
the objective lens. The lens
which is used for viewing the
final image is called the
1. The object is placed at a distance between f0 and eyepiece lens.
2f0 so that the image formed is inverted, magnified 3. The focal length of the
and real in front of the eyepiece lens.
objective lens is f0 whereas
2. The position of the eyepiece lens is adjusted until
the position of the first image is less than f0 from the focal length of the
the eyepiece lens. eyepiece lens is fe.
3. The final image formed is inverted, magnified and
virtual.