Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
Light is a form of energy. Light is needed to see things around us.
Light enables us to see objects from which it comes or from which it is reflected.
The objects like the sun, other stars, electric bulb, tube light, candle and fire etc., which
emit their own light are called luminous objects.
Those objects which do not emit light themselves but only reflect the light which falls on
them, are called non-luminous objects.
We can see the non-luminous objects because they reflect light (received from a
luminous objects)
Light travels in straight lines.
Nature of Light: There are two theories about the nature of light: wave theory pf light
and particle theory of light.
1. Wave theory of light: Light consist of electromagnetic waves which do not
require a material medium (like solid, liquid or gas) for their propagation. Speed
of light is 3 × 10⁸ m/s).
2. Particle theory of light: According to particle theory of light, light is composed of
particles which travel in a straight line at very high speed.
After so many experiments it has been demonstrated that light has a dual nature:
light exhibits the properties of both waves and particles (depending on the situation
it is in).
Reflection of light:
The process of sending back of the light rays which fall on the surface of an object, is
called reflection of light.
The objects having polished, shining surfaces reflect more light than objects having
unpolished, dull surfaces.
Silver metal is one of the best reflectors of light.
In our diagrams, a plane mirror is represented by a straight line having a number of
short, oblique lines on one side.
A ray of light is the straight line along which light travels.
A bundle of light rays is called a beam of light.
Reflection of Light from Plane Surfaces: Plane Mirror
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
The ray of light which falls on the mirror surface is called the incident ray.
The point at which the incident ray falls on the mirror is called the point of
incidence.
The ray of light which is sent back by the mirror is called the reflected ray.
The normal is a line at right angle to the mirror surface at the point of
incidence.
The angle of incidence is the angle made by the incident ray with the normal
at the point of incidence.
The angle of reflection is the angle made by the reflected ray with the
normal at the point of incidence.
Laws of Reflection of Light:
1. First Law of Reflection: According to the first law of reflection of light: The incident ray,
reflected ray and the normal (at the point of incidence), all lie in the same plane.
2. Second Law of Reflection: The angle of reflection is always equal to the angle of
incidence.
A ray of light which is incident normally (or perpendicularly) on a mirror, is reflected back
along the same path (because the angle of incidence as well as angle of reflection for
such a ray of light are zero).
Regular and Diffuse Reflection of Light:
In regular reflection, a parallel beam of incident light is reflected as a parallel beam in
one direction. Regular reflection of light occurs from smooth surfaces like that of a plane
mirror (or highly polished metal surfaces).
In diffuse reflection, a parallel beam of incident light is reflected in different directions.
Example: rough surfaces like paper, cardboard, chalk, table, chair, walls and unpolished
surfaces.
Objects and Images:
Anything which gives out light rays (either its own or reflected by it) is called an object.
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
The objects can be of two types- very small objects (called point objects) or large objects
(called extended objects).
Image is an optical appearance produced when light rays coming from an object are
reflected from a mirror.
Real and Virtual Images:
The image which can be obtained on a screen is called a real image, Example- image
formed on cinema screen.
The image which cannot be obtained on a screen is called a virtual image. A virtual is
just an illusion. Example- image of our face in a plane mirror.
Lateral Inversion:
When an object is placed in front of a plane mirror, then the right side of object appears to
become the left side of image and the left side of object appears to become the right side of
image. This change of sides of an object and its mirror image is called lateral inversion.
Characteristics of an image formed by a plane mirror:
1. The image formed is virtual (It cannot be received on a screen).
2. The image formed is erect (It is same side up as the object).
3. The image formed is of same size as the object.
4. The image formed is at the same distance behind the mirror as the object is fromt of the
mirror.
5. The image formed is lateral inverted.
Numericals:
An incident ray makes an angle of 350 with the surface of a plane mirror. What is the
angle of reflection?
Answer = Angle of incidence = 900 −350 = 550
David is observing his image in a plane mirror. The distance between the mirror and
his image is 4m. If he moves 1m towards the mirror, then the distance between David
and his image will be:
Answer = David moves 1m towards the mirror.
Distance of David from mirror will be = 4-1=3m
Distance between David and his image = 3m +3m
= 6m
A ray of light is incident on a plane mirror at an angle of 30 0 . What is the angle of
reflection?
Answer: 300
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
A ray of light strikes a plane mirror at an angle of 400 to the mirror surface. What will
be the angle of reflection?
Answer: 900 – 400 = 500, Angle of reflection= angle of incidence = 500
If an object is placed at a distance of 1o cm in from of a plane mirror, how far would it
be from its image?
Answer: 20 cm
A ray of light strikes a plane mirror such that its angle of incidence is 30 0. What angle
does the reflected ray make with the mirror surface?
Answer: 900 - 300 = 600
Reflection of light from Curved Surfaces: Spherical Mirrors
A Spherical mirror is that mirror whose reflecting surface is the part of a hollow sphere of glass.
The spherical mirrors are of two types: Concave Mirrors and Convex Mirrors
A Concave mirror is that spherical mirror in which the reflection of light takes place at
the concave surface (or bent-in surface).
A Convex mirror is that spherical mirror in which the reflection of light takes place at the
convex surface (or bulging- out surface)
Centre of Curvature, Radius of Curvature, Pole and Principal Axis of a Spherical Mirror:
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
The Centre of Curvature of a spherical mirror is the centre of the hollow sphere of glass
of which the mirror is a part.
The Centre of Curvature of a concave mirror is in front of it but the centre of curvature
of a convex mirror is behind it.
The radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is the radius of the hollow sphere of glass
of which the mirror is a part.
The centre of spherical mirror is called its pole.
The straight line passing through the centre of curvature and pole of a spherical mirror is
called its principal axis.
That portion of a mirror from which the reflection of light actually takes place is called
the aperture of the mirror.
Principle focus and Focal Length of a Concave Mirror:
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
The principal focus of a concave mirror is a point on its principal axis to which all the
light rays which are parallel and close to the axis, converge after reflection from the
concave mirror.
A Concave mirror has a real focus. The focus of a concave mirror is in front of the mirror.
The focal length of a concave mirror is the distance between its pole and principal focus.
The principal focus of a convex mirror is a point on its principal axis from which beam of
light rays, initially parallel to the axis, appears to diverge after being reflected from the
convex mirror.
A Convex mirror has virtual focus. The focus of a concave mirror is situated behind the
mirror.
Relation between Radius of Curvature and Focal Length of a Spherical Mirror:
The focal length of a spherical mirror is equal to half of its radius of curvature.
F = R/2
Numerical:
If the radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is 20 cm, what is its focal length?
Answer = F = R/2
= 20/2 = 10cm
Rules for obtaining Images formed by Concave Mirror:
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
Rule 1: A ray of light which is parallel to the principal axis of a concave mirror, passes through its
focus after reflection from the mirror.
Rule 2: A ray of light passing through the focus of a concave mirror becomes parallel to the
principal axis after reflection. (reverse case of rule 1)
Rule 3: A ray of light passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror is reflected
back along the same path.
Unit III- Natural Phenomena
Chapter 1: Light- Reflection and Refraction
Rule 4: A ray of light which is incident at the pole of a concave mirror is reflected back making
the same angle with the principal axis.
