Chapter1

Light Reflection and Refraction

→ Light is the form of energy that → Plane Mirror

provides sensation of vision.

Properties of Light

→ Electromagnetic wave ,so does not

require any medium to travel

→ Light tends to travel in straight line.

→ Spherical Mirror
→ Speed of light is maximum in vacuum
.It s value is 3×108m/s

Reflection

Bouncing back of light when it strikes on

a polished surface like mirror.

Laws of Reflection Properties of Image Formed by a Plane

Mirror

i. Virtual and erect.

ii. Size of image is equal to the size of

object.
iii. Image is formed as far behind the
mirror as the object is in front of it

Laws of Reflection iv. it is laterally inverted

i. Angle of incidence is equal to the Properties of virtual image

angle of reflection. 1) Virtual images are erect

ii. The incident ray the reflected ray 2) Virtual images appear to be on the

and the normal at the point of lens or the mirror itself

incidence , all lie in the same plane 3) Virtual images are formed due to
the imaginary intersection of light
There are 2types of mirrors
raysSpherical Mirrors →

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Mirrors whose reflecting surface is 4) Principal axis: The line joining the
curved.

→ There are two types of spherical

mirrors:

(i) Convex Mirror

pole and center of curvature.

5) Radius of Curvature(R) :The
distance between the pole and the
center of curvature

(ii) Concave Mirror

Common terms for Spherical mirrors

1) Aperture(xy): It is the effective

diameter of the spherical mirror. Principal focus of a concave mirror

2) Pole(P):The center of the spherical The point on the principal axis where light

mirror rays coming parallel to principle axis

converge after reflection
3)Center of Curvature(C) :The center of
the hollow glass sphere of which the
mirror was a part.

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Principal focus of a convex mirror

(iii) A ray passing through the centre of

curvature of a concave mirror or directed
The incident rays coming parallel to the
in the direction of the centre of curvature
principal axis after reflection appear to
of a convex mirror , after reflection ,is
diverge from a common point on the
reflected back along the same path.
principal axis

Rules for making ray diagrams by

spherical mirror

(i) A ray parallel to the principal axis , after

reflection , will pass through the principal
focus in case of a concave mirror or appear
to diverge from the principal focus in case (iv) A ray incident obliquely to the
of a convex mirror principal axis ,towards a point P (pole of
the mirror) ,on the concave mirror or a
convex mirror , is reflected obliquely .The
incident and reflected rays follow the law
so reflection at the point of incidence
(point P),making equal angles with the
(ii) A ray passing through the principal principal axis.
focus of a concave mirror or a ray which is
directed towards the principal focus of a
convex mirror , after reflection , will
emerge parallel to the principal axis.

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Ray diagrams for images formed by Image Position–Between ‘F’ and ‘C’
concave mirror
Nature of image–Real , inverted
(i) When object is at infinity
Size –Diminished

(iii) When object is at ‘ C ’

Image Position−At ‘F ’

Nature of image–Real , inverted

Size–Point sized or highly diminished Image Position– At ‘ C ’

(ii) When object is beyond ‘ C ’ Nature of image– Real, inverted

Size–Same size as that of object

Nature of image– Real , inverted

between c and f , real, inverted,diminished

(iv) When object is placed between ‘F’ and

‘C’
Size– Highly enlarged

(vi) When object is between ‘ P ’ and ‘ F ’

Image Position– Beyond ‘C’

Nature of image– Real, inverted

Size–Enlarged Image Position – Behind the mirror

(v) When object is placed at ‘ F ’ Nature of image – Virtual, erect

Image Position–At Infinity Size – Enlarged

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 Uses of Concave Mirror
(i) Used in torches and vehicles
RAY DIAGRAMS OF IMAGES headlights to get powerful parallel
FORMED BY CONVEX MIRROR beam of light.

(i) When Object Is Placed at Infinity (ii) Concave mirrors are used by
dentists to see large image of teeth
of patients.
(iii) Concave mirror is used as shaving
mirror to see a larger image of the
face
(iv) Large concave mirrors are used to
concentrate sunlight to produce
heat in solar furnace.

Uses of Convex Mirror

Image Position − At ‘F’ (i) Convex mirrors are used as rear

Nature of image – Virtual, erect view mirrors in vehicles because

Size – Point sized • they always give an erect and

(ii) When object is placed anywhere except diminished image
infinity
• they have a wider field of view.
(ii) Convex mirrors are used at blind
turns and on points of merging
traffic to facilitate vision of both
side traffic.

New Cartesian Sign Convention

(i) The object is always placed to

Image Position – Between ‘P’ and ‘F
the left of the mirror.
Nature of image– Virtual, erect
Size – Diminished
 (ii) All distances parallel to the • If ‘m’ is negative, image is inverted
principal axis are measured from the and real.

pole of the mirror. • If ‘m’ is positive, image is erect and

virtual.
(iii) All distances measured to the • If m = 1, image is equal to object.
right are taken as positive and those
• If m > 1, image is enlarged.
measured to the left are taken as
• If m < 1, image is diminish
negative.
• If ‘m’ is ‘+ve’ and less than 1, it is a
(iv) Distance measured perpendicular convex mirror
to the principal axis and upwards are • If ‘m’ is ‘+ve’ and more than 1, it is
taken as positive. a concave mirror.
• If ‘m’ is ‘-ve’, it is a concave mirror.
(v) Distances measured perpendicular
Optical density
to the principal axis and downwards
Optical density of a medium determines
are taken as negative
the speed of light through that medium.
• Object distance = ‘u’ is always optical density ∝ 1 / speed of light
negative. Rarer medium – speed of light increases
• Focal length of concave mirror = -ve (lesser optical density)

• Focal length of convex mirror = +ve Denser medium – speed of light decreases
(higher optical density)
Mirror formula Order of optical density
1 1 1
𝑓
=𝑣+𝑢 Air ‹water ‹ Glass ‹ Diamond

Where, Refraction of Light

f = Focal length • The phenomenon of change in the

path of light or bending of light when
v = Image distance it travels from one medium to another
u = Object distance of different optical density is called
refraction of light. The basic causes of
Magnification refraction is the change in speed of
It is the ratio of the height of light as it goes from one medium to
image to the height of object. another.

m = Height of image/Height of Laws of Refraction

object
1. The incident ray, the refracted ray
⇒ m = hi/ho and the normal to the interface of
two transparent media at the point
Also, m = -v/u
 of incidence, all lie in the same Refraction through a Rectangular
plane. Glass slab
2. the ratio of sine of angle of
incidence to the sine of the angle
of refraction is constant, for the
light of a given color and for the
given pair of media. The law is
also known as Snell’s law of
refraction.
Cause of refraction
speed of light different in different Absolute refractive index
media: i.e. more in rarer medium The refractive index of a medium
and comparatively less in denser with respect to vaccum is called
medium. So when light enters a absolute refractive index of the
denser medium, its speed reduces medium.
and it bends towards the normal
𝐶
and when it enters rarer medium. Nmed = 𝑉
𝑚𝑒𝑑
Its speed increases and it bends
away from the normal. C= speed of light in vaccum
Example of refraction of light
v- speed of light in that medium)
• The bottom of a pool or tank or pond
containing water appears to be raised or nm =c/v m
due to refraction of light which takes
place when light rays pass from the
pool of water into the air
• The letters appears to be raised when
viewed through a glass slab placed
over the documented because of
refraction of light
• A pencil partially immersed in water Relative refractive index
appears to be bent because of the
refraction of light coming from the part The relative refractive index
of pencil that is immersed inside water between a pair of media is the ratio
of their absolute refractive index.
• A lemon kept in water in a glass
tumbler appears to be bigger than its n21→ refractive index of medium
actual size, when viewed from the 2 w. r .t medium 1
sides.
n21= n2/n1=v1/v2
Lens
There are two types
• Convex or converging lens
 • Concave or diverging lens RULES FOR IMAGE FORMATION
BY CONVEX LENS
(i) A ray of light parallel to principal
axis of a convex lens always pass
through the focus on the other side
of the lens.

Definitions related to lenses

Optical centre
The centre point of a lens is known as its
optical centre. It is represented by O (ii) A ray of light passing through the
principal focus will emerge parallel to
principal axis after refraction.

Centre of curvature
The centre of the two imaginary spheres of
which the lens is a part are called centres
of curvature of the lens. Its is represented
by C. A lens has two curvature with
respect to its two curved surface . (iii) A ray of light passing through the
Radi of curvature optical center will emerge without any
deviation.
The radii of the two imaginary spheres of
which the lens is a part are called radii of
curvature of lens .A lens has two radii of
curvature
Principal focus
It is the point on principal axis at which
the rays coming parallel to the principal RAY DIAGRAMS OF IMAGE
axis ,converge on the other side of lens or FORMED BY CONVEX LENS
appear to meet on the same side of lens
after refraction from the lens (i) When object is at infinity

Focal length of lens Image position – At ‘F 2’

The distance between focus and optic Nature of image – Real, inverted
centre of lens is called focal length of lens Size – Point sized or highly diminished
(ii) When object is beyond ‘2FI’ (v) When object is at ‘FI’
Image Position – Between ‘2F2’ and F2 Image Position- At Infinity
Nature of image- Real , inverted Nature of image – Real , inverted
Size- diminished Size – Highly enlarged

(iii) When object is at ‘2FI’

Image position – At ‘2F2’
(vi) When object is between ‘F1’ and
Nature of image- real, inverted optical centre

Size – same as that of object Image Position – On the same side of the
lens as object
Nature of image – Virtual and erect
Size – Enlarged

(vi) When object is between ‘2FI’ and F

Image Position – Beyond 2F2
Nature of image – Real and inverted RULES FOR IMAGE FORMATION
Size – enlarged BY CONCAVE LENS
 (i) An incident ray of light coming Size – Point sized or highly diminished
from the object parallel to the
principal axis of a concave lens
after refraction appears to come
from its focus.

(ii)When object is placed anywhere except

infinity
(ii) A ray of light appearing to Image Position – Between ‘F’ and ‘O’
meet at the principal focus of a
Nature of image – Virtual, erect
concave lens will emerge
parallel to principal axis. Size – Diminished

(iii) A ray of light passing through the

optical centre of a lens will emerge
without any deviation.

Ray Diagrams of Images Formed by a

Concave Lens
(i)When object is placed at infinity
Image Position − At ‘F1’
Nature of image – Virtual, erect
1/𝑓= 1/𝑣−1/𝑢 -------- Lens formula It is defined as the reciprocal of focal
length in meter.
Magnification
The degree of convergence or divergence
𝑚= 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒/𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒
of light rays is expressed in terms of
𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡
power.
= ℎi/ℎo = 𝑣/𝑢 Power (P) =1/f
Power of a lens Unit of power = diopter (D)