What is Optics?

OPTICS
 The study of how light behaves
Properties of light:
1. Reflection

deals with the behavior of light and

other electromagnetic waves
What is Optics?
the branch of optics for which
the raystudy
 The description is adequate
of how light behaves
is called geometric optics
Properties of light:
1. Reflection

the branch dealing specifically

with wave behavior is called
physical optics.
What are Light Rays?
 Imaginary lines that follow single beams of
light
 Light rays travel in straight lines
A ray of light is an extremely
narrow beam of light.
All visible objects emit or reflect
light rays in all directions.
Our eyes detect light rays.
 We see images when
light rays
converge in our eyes.

converge: come together

The bouncing of light back into the
same medium it has been traveling
after striking a surface .
 REFLECTION OF LIGHT

 Part of the light coming from a source,

passing through the air, and touching a
boundary of a medium, such as a plane
glass is reflected.
 The rest of the light enters into the
medium and is partially absorbed and
partially transmitted.
Factors that affect light reflection

 The kind of medium the object is

made of,
 The smoothness of the surface of
an object or medium, and
 The angle at which the light strikes
on the surface.
 The two rays with reflection:
1. Incident Ray: ray coming from object
that strikes the surface
2. Reflected Ray: ray bouncing off from
the surface
Normal – a line perpendicular to the surface.

Angle of incidence, Ɵi - the angle between the

incident ray and the normal.

Angle of reflection Ɵr - the angle between the

reflected ray and the normal.
 Two kinds of reflection

Regular or
specular
reflection
Diffuse
reflection
 Regular or specular reflection
 Reflection from a smooth surface.
 When a group of parallel rays strike a smooth
surface, the reflected light rays are almost
parallel to each other.

Incident ray Reflected rays

 Diffuse Reflection
 When a group of parallel
light rays strikes a rough
or granular surface, the
normal for at the point of
incidence is different for
each ray, thus their
reflected rays will be
scattered in different
directions.
 The exact form of the
reflection depends on the
structure of the surface.
 Diffuse reflection are common than regular reflection.
 Applications of reflection
 A small room can be illuminated by a single bulb
because of diffuse reflection.
 Pages of books should be rough not glossy to
enable us to read (diffuse reflection).
 Road have rough surfaces for an easier night
driving (diffuse reflection)
 Regular reflection is an important principle in
reflecting telescopes.
 Nuisance of regular reflection
 Glossy pages makes a book difficult to read.
 Wet roads are smooth that produces glare
 The Laws of Reflection

 1. The angle of incidence is equal to the

i = r
angle of reflection.
 Example: if a ray came in at an angle 50°
from the normal, it would be reflected at the
same angle, 50°
 Sample Problem 6.1
 A ray of light is incident on a surface at 330
from the normal. Find the angle between the
incident ray and reflected ray.
 Given: Ɵi = 330
 Solution: Ɵi = Ɵr, so it
follows that Ɵr = 33 .
0 660

Therefore, the angle

330 330
between the incident ray
and the reflected ray is 660.
 Laws of Reflection
 2. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and
the normal to the reflecting surface lie
on the same plane.
Mirrors reflect light rays.
 Mirror and Reflection of Light
A mirror is any surface that is smooth to
produce regular reflection of light incident
upon it.

It is possible image
to see images
in mirrors.
object
KINDS OF MIRROR

Plane Spherical

Concave Convex
Kinds of mirrors
A plane mirror is a mirror
with flat surface.

A concave mirror curves

inward in the direction of
the incident ray.

A convex mirror bulges

outward to the incident
ray.
• Ordinary mirror used at home.
• Used by architects or interior designers
to make room appear bigger
What is an Image?
 All light rays are brought together at
one point
 Images differ from objects –
 an object is real…an image is not
 Types of Images
1. Real images: A real image is one which can
be visualized on a screen and is formed by
actual intersection of reflected rays.
 It is formed in front of the mirror and always
upside down (inverted) relative to the object.

2. Virtual Image: A virtual image cannot be

formed on a screen and is produced by rays
which only seem to come from the image.
 It is formed behind the mirror and is always
upright
Plane Mirror Images
How do we see images in mirrors?

object image

Light reflected off the mirror converges

to form an image in the eye.
• Straight/
Plane mirror

• Extended
Reflected
Rays make
up image

• Behind the
mirror
Upright Inverted
Lateral Inversion
 Image where left and right are swapped.
 The left of an object becomes the right of
an image.
 oriented
IMAGE FORMED do= di
BY A PLANE
from left to MIRROR
right

same size as upright

the object
hi = h o
Virtual
If you want to see your full image in a plane mirror, the
minimum size of the mirror should be one half of your
height positioned at any distance from you and its base
must be positioned at one half the distance between
your feet and your eye.
Number of images formed when 2 plane
mirrors are arranged at an angle with each
other.
 Spherical Mirrors
 Spherical Mirror : A curved mirror formed
by a part of a hollow glass sphere with a
reflecting surface.
 Two types of spherical mirrors:
 Concave mirror: a curved mirror with the
reflecting surface on the hollow side.
 Curved inward reflective surface
 Used to magnify
• Produces Real and Virtual Images
o depend on object’s distance from the surface of
the mirror and the focal length.
Concave
Concave
• Reflection
• Curved inward reflective surface

• Produces Real and Virtual Images

o depend on object’s distance from the surface
of the mirror and the focal length.
• Examples:
Shaving mirrors,
make up mirrors,
and dentist
mirrors.
 Convex Mirror : a curved mirror
with the reflecting surface on the
outer side.
 It bulges outward to the incident
ray.
 Image is small or reduced in size
 Image is upright
 Image is located behind the convex
mirror
Convex
Convex
• Reflection
• Image is small or reduced in size
• Image is upright
• Image is located behind the convex
mirror
Ex. Shiny Christmas ball, the rearview
mirrors in cars, and the wide range mirror
in supermarkets.
 Spherical mirror Images

 Convex Mirror images – virtual, upright and

smaller than the object.
 Concave Mirror Images – real or virtual
(depending on the distance between the mirror
and the object).
 Larger, the same size or smaller
Spherical Mirror
Terminology
Center of Curvature (C) is the center of
the sphere from where the mirror was
taken.
Vertex (A) is the center of the mirror. It is
sometimes called the pole of the mirror.
Radius of curvature ( R ) is the radius
of the sphere from where the mirror
was taken.
 Aperture (AB) refers to the width of the
mirror.
Principal axis or optical axis, is a
straight line joining C and V.
The principal focus (F) is the point where the
reflected rays meet as in the case of a
converging mirror (concave mirror) or the
point where the reflected ray seems to come
from behind a diverging mirror (convex
mirror).
Since there is an actual
meeting of reflected rays in
concave mirrors, the
principal focus is real.

In convex mirrors, the reflected

rays spread out and never
come to a focus. However,
when reflected rays were
extended, they would appear
to come from a single point
behind the mirror, thus the
principal focus of a convex
mirror is virtual.
SPHERICAL MIRROR & RAY
DIAGRAMMING
 The characteristics of the image
formed by a spherical mirror can be
determined using geometric optics.
 The method involves drawing rays
emanating from one or more points
on an object.
 The Law of Reflection applies and
certain key rays are defined.
 KEY RAYS
 Ray 1: A chief ray, or radial ray, is a
ray that is incident through the center
of curvature (C). This ray is reflected
back along its incident path, through
C.
Ray 2:A parallel ray is a ray that is
incident along a path parallel to the optic
axis and is reflected to the focal point (F).
 Ray 3: A focal ray is a ray that passes
through (or appears to go through) the focal
point and is reflected parallel to the optic
axis.
 Ray 4: A vertex ray is a ray passing through
the vertex of the mirror, is reflected at an
equal angle on the opposite side of the
principal axis.
Ray Diagramming:
DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM FOR A CONCAVE MIRROR
Example 1
Draw a ray that travels
1 parallel to the axis
towards the mirror and
reflects through the focal
point in front of the mirror.

F F
2 Draw a ray that travels
through the focal point in
front of the mirror and
reflects parallel to the
axis.
DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM FOR A CONCAVE MIRROR
Example 2
1

F F

Draw a ray that travels Draw a ray that reflects off

parallel to the axis
towards the mirror and 2 the centre of the mirror at
the same angle it was
reflects through the incident.
focal point in front of
the mirror.
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

The first ray comes in parallel to the optical

axis and reflects through the focal point.
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

The first ray comes in parallel to the optical axis

and reflects through the focal point.
The second ray comes through the focal point and
reflects parallel to the optical axis.
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

The second ray comes through the focal point

and reflects parallel to the optical axis.
A real image forms where the light rays
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE 2)

•
F
optical axis
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE 2)

•
F
optical axis

The first ray comes in parallel to the optical

axis and reflects through the focal point.
 CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE 2)

•
F
optical axis

The first ray comes in parallel to the optical axis and reflects
through the focal point.
The second ray comes through the focal point and reflects parallel
to the optical axis.
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE 2)

•
F
optical axis

The second ray comes through the focal point and

reflects parallel to the optical axis.
The image forms where the rays converge. But they
CONCAVE MIRROR
(EXAMPLE 2)

•
F
optical axis

A virtual image forms where the sight rays

converge.
DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM FOR A CONVEX MIRROR
Example 1
1

F F
Draw a ray that travels Draw a ray that travels
parallel to the axis towards towards the focal point
the mirror and reflects in a behind the mirror and
direction that makes it look reflects parallel to the
like it originated at the focal axis.
point behind the mirror.
DRAWING A RAY DIAGRAM FOR A CONVEX MIRROR
Example 2
1

2
F F
Draw a ray that travels Draw a ray that travels
parallel to the axis towards towards the focal point
the mirror and reflects in a behind the mirror and
direction that makes it look reflects parallel to the
like it originated at the focal axis.
point behind the mirror.
 CONVEX MIRRORS
(CURVED OUT)

•
F
optical axis

Light rays that come in parallel to the optical axis reflect from
the focal point.
The focal point is considered virtual since sight lines, not light
rays, go through it.
CONVEX MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis
CONVEX MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

The first ray comes in parallel to the optical axis

and reflects through the focal point.
 CONVEX MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

The second ray comes through the focal point and reflects
parallel to the optical axis.
 CONVEX MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

The light rays don’t converge, but the sight lines do.
 CONVEX MIRROR
(EXAMPLE)

•
F
optical axis

A virtual image forms where the sight lines converge.

 EXAMPLE
 Determine the image formed by (a) concave
mirror (b) convex mirror when the object is at
the following locations:
a) beyond C
b) at C
c) between C & F
d) at F
e) between F and the vertex of the mirror

(V)
MIRROR EQUATION

q (di )is the distance of the image

p (do )is the distance of the object
h (ho )is the height of the object
h’ (hi )is the height of the image

f is the focal length

 From the ho and hi shown in the figure,
you can arrive at the first equation,
h’ ═ q - f h’ ═ q
h f or h p
Equation 1
Equation 2
Combining equation 1 and 2

q - f ═ q equation 3

f p
Rearranging Equation 3
q - 1═ q q ═ q +1 q ═ q +1
 MIRROR EQUATION
1 ═ 1 + 1 or
f p q

Where:
f is the focal length of the mirror
p or d o is the distance of the object from the mirror
q or d i is the distance of the image from the mirror
 MAGNIFICATION

where:
is the magnification
is the height of the object

is the height of the image

 SIGN CONVENTION
 is (+) for concave mirror and (-) for
convex
 If is (+), the image is located in front
of the mirror (real image)
 If is (-), the image is located behind
the mirror (virtual image)
 If M is (+), the image is upright
 If M is (-), the image is inverted
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. An object is placed 36.0 cm in front of a concave
mirror of focal length 22.5 cm. (a) What is the
radius of curvature of the mirror? (b) Where is
the image of the object located? (c) characterize
the image.
2. A candle with a flame 1.5cm tall is placed 5.0 cm
in front of a concave mirror. A virtual image is
produced that is 10 cm from the vertex of the
mirror. (a) Find the focal length and radius of
curvature of the mirror. (b) How tall is the image
of the flame?
3.A mirror at an amusement
park shows anyone who stands
2.5 m from it an upright image
three times the person’s height.
What is the mirror’s radius of
curvature? What kind of mirror
is it?
 Evaluation
A. Answer the following questions as precise & concise as
you can.
1. The word AMBULANCE in ambulance vehicles is written
inverted from left to right. Why?
2. Differentiate regular and diffused reflection and the cause
for the difference.
3. Compare and contrast concave & convex mirrors by
a. describing the reflection of light rays incident on
the mirror
b. the location of its focal point
c. the image formed by the mirrors
B. Determine the image formed when the
following letters/numbers are placed before a
plane mirror.

_______________________ 1. 245

_______________________ 2. PHYSICS

_______________________ 3. rearview mirror

C. INSTRUCTION: Determine the kind of mirror used in the
following situations. In the case of concave mirrors, identify the
location of the object.

_______________________ 3. reflecting telescope

_______________________ 4. security mirrors in malls

_______________________ 5. “vampires without reflection” in a

horror booth

_______________________ 6. mirror used by dentists in viewing the

patient’s tooth
 D. Problem-Solving
1. A concave mirror has a radius of curvature of
30 cm. If an object is placed (a) 45 cm, and
(b) 10 cm from the mirror, where is the
image formed and what are its
characteristics?
2. An object is 30 cm in front of a diverging
mirror that has a focal length of 10 cm.
Where is the image and what are its
characteristics?