LIGHT: MIRROR

Reflection of Light
REFLECTION OF LIGHT
It is the bouncing back of light on a
surface of a medium. Only part of the
incident ray is being reflected by that
surface. The rest is either absorbed by
the object if it is an opaque object or
transmitted if the object is transparent
like water.
LAW OF
REFLECTION
1.States that the incident ray, the
reflected ray and the normal
are all lie on the same plane.
2.States that the angle of
incidence is equal to the angle
of reflection
SPECULAR OR
REGULAR
REFLECTION – light that
strikes a smooth, flat and shiny
surface, such as a mirror, a piece of
metal or undisturbed water is reflected
in one direction. It enables us to see an
image on the surface.
DIFFUSE REFLECTION
– light that is reflected by a
rough-textured or uneven
surface as wall, paper and cloth
is scattered in many different
direction. Diffuse reflection
allows us to see objects from
any angle.
Ehlay sees the reflection of
the clock without numbers in
a plane mirror. The image
formed by the hands of the
clock shows the time of 3:30.
What is the real time?
PLANE MIRROR
PLANE MIRROR - simplest
form of mirror which has a
flat reflecting surface.
 Do it quickly, but surely!
🞂Set up two plane mirrors with
flat edges at right angles with
each other
🞂Place a coin in front of the
adjacent mirrors
🞂Count the number of images at
varying angles
Number of Images Formed
Angle Number of
Images
180°
90°
60°
45°
30°
Number of Images Formed
Angle Number of
Images
180° 1
90° 3
60° 5
45° 7
30° 11
Multiple Reflections
Multiple images
are formed by the
reflection that
happens when
arranging at least
2 mirrors
Parallel mirrors
produced infinite
number of images
The mirror images (N) can
🞂

be determined using the

formula N=(360/angle
between the mirror)-1
🞂A plane mirror makes an
image of objects in front
of it; these images appear
to be behind the plane in
which the mirror lies.
Image Formed by Plane Mirror

🞂The image is virtual

🞂The image is upright
🞂The image formed has the
same size as the object
🞂The image is as far behind
the mirror as the object is
in front of the mirror
🞂The object and the image
is perpendicular to the
mirror
🞂The image is laterally
inverted (left-to-right
inversion)
TYPE OF IMAGE
1. VIRTUAL
- isone which seems to be
form by light coming from
the image but no light rays
actually pass through it
virtual

-Image cannot be
projected on a screen
-Always upright
TYPE OF IMAGE
2. REAL
- Formed by the actual
intersection of light rays
after encountering a mirror
real

- Can be projected on a
screen
- Always inverted
Uses of Plane Mirror
🞂Used to see ourselves
🞂Fixed on the wall of certain
shops to make them look larger
🞂Used as decorations
🞂Used in making periscopes
CURVED MIRROR
Curved Mirror
🞂mirror with a
curved reflective
surface
🞂convex (bulging
outward)
🞂concave (bulging
inward).
🞂Most curved mirrors have
surfaces that are shaped like
part of a sphere, but other
shapes are sometimes used in
optical devices.
 Convex mirror
🞂Also known as fish eye
mirror or diverging mirror, is a
curved mirror in which the
reflective surface bulges toward
the light source.
🞂Convex mirrors
formed images that are
always virtual, upright
and smaller than the
object
 Concave mirror
🞂Also known
as converging mirror,
has a reflecting surface
that bulges inward (away
from the incident light).
🞂Concave mirrors reflect
light inward to one focal
point. They are used to
focus light.
🞂Unlike convex mirrors,
concave mirrors show different
image types depending on the
distance between the object
and the mirror.
Uses of curved
mirror
Convex mirror
🞂lets motorists see
around a corner.
Convex Mirror
🞂used in some automated teller
machines as a simple and
handy security feature,
allowing the users to see what
is happening behind them.
Convex Mirror
🞂Used by some camera
phones to allow the user to
correctly aim the camera
while taking a self-portrait
Concave Mirror
🞂used in some
telescopes.
Concave Mirror
🞂used to provide a
magnified image of the
face for applying make-
up or shaving.
Convex Mirror
🞂Used as reflectors
in headlights and
searchlights
Concave Mirror
🞂Dentist’s head
mirror
 DID YOU KNOW?
🞂A one-way mirror, usually
known as half-silvered mirror,
is made by partially coating
glass so that it reflects some of
the light and allows the rest to
pass through.
🞂When used as window or
wall between two rooms, a
half-silvered mirror will
function as one-way mirror
if one of the rooms is
brightly lit and the other is
dim.
🞂It will appear to be an ordinary
mirror to anyone in the bright
room because a person sees
mostly the reflected light but it
will appear to be window to
anyone in the dim room because a
person sees mostly the
transmitted light.
parts of a curved mirror and their
description
Parts of a Symbol Description
curved Mirror

Vertex/ V The physical

pole centre of the
mirror
Centre of C The geometrical
Curvature centre of the
curved mirror
Principal F The midpoint of
Focus the line between
the vertex and
the center of
curvature
Focal length f The distance
between the focal
point and the
vertex
Parts of a Symbol Description
curved Mirror

Principal Line drawn through

axis/optical the center of
axis curvature & vertex of
the mirror

Aperture Diameter of the

reflecting surface,
width of the mirror
Ray diagram
1.A ray of light parallel to
the principal axis is
reflected through the
principal focus.
2. A ray of light passing
through the principal focus
is reflected parallel to the
principal axis.
3. A ray of light passing
through the center of
curvature is reflected back
along its own path.
Ray 1
Ray 2
Ray 3