Light – Reflection and Refraction

Light :

 Light is form of energy, which gives us the power of vision .

 In this Chapter, we shall study the phenomena of reflection and refraction

of light using the straight-line propagation of light. These basic concepts will
help us in the study of some of the optical phenomena in nature. We shall
try to understand in this Chapter the reflection of light by spherical mirrors
and refraction of light and their application in real life situations.

Basic terms
Light ray : It is a line in the direction of movement of light.
Beam : It is a bunch of rays of light.
REFLECTION OF LIGHT :

 The bouncing back of ray of light from a polished or shiny surface is called reflection.

Laws of reflection :

a) The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.

b) The incident ray, the normal to the mirror at the point of incidence and the reflected
ray, all lie in the same plane.

Note : These laws of reflection are applicable to all types of

reflecting surfaces including spherical surfaces.
Important terns related to light:

Object (Source) : Any object which emit light is considered as object.

objects are of two types :

a) Luminous object : Which emit light by their own.
Ex : Sun, Stars, Candle etc.
b) Non-Luminous object : Which cannot emit their own light.
Ex : Moon, Planets etc…

Image : An Optical appearance formed during reflection or refraction of light is called image.

Images are of two types :

a) Real : Images which are formed in front of the mirror and it can be obtained on
screen is called real image

b) virtual : Virtual images cannot obtained in screen.( formed behind the mirror.)
Mirror : A mirror is a surface that reflects almost all incident rays.
Mirror comes in two types:

a) Plane mirror ( flat surface ) : A plane mirror always forms virtual and erect image.

 The image formed in a plane mirror is always erect.

 The image formed on plane surface is always same size as object.
 The distance of image and that of object is equal from the mirror.

Erect image Laterally inverted

b) Spherical mirror : ( curved surface ) :

1) Concave mirror : Spherical mirror with reflecting surface curved inwards is called
concave mirrors
2) Convex mirrors : Spherical mirror with reflecting surface curved outwards is called
convex mirror.

Note : concave mirror --------- Converging mirror.

convex mirror --------- Diverging mirror.
Some important terms related to spherical mirror :
𝑥 𝑥1

P Radius of curvature C Radius of curvature P Principle axis

R

Convex Concave

𝑦1
𝑦
a) Principal axis : Line joining the pole and centre of curvature of the spherical mirror.

b) Pole : The geometrical central point of the reflecting spherical surface , denoted by P.

c) Aperture : The width of the reflecting surface 𝑥 𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑥1 𝑦1 .

d) Centre of curvature : The centre of the hollow glass sphere of which the spherical mirror
is a part is called as centre of curvature, denoted by C.

e) Radius of curvature : The distance between the pole and the centre of curvature
i.e., PC = R
f) Focus point : The point on the principal axis, where all parallel rays meet after reflection is
called as principal focus . Denoted by F .

g) Focus length : The distance between the pole and focus point i.e. PF = f .
Rules for obtaining images formed by spherical mirrors :

Rule 1 : A ray parallel to the principal axis , after reflection will pass through the principal
focus in case of a concave mirror or appears to diverge from the principal
focus in case of convex mirror.

Rule 2 : A ray passes through the principal focus of a concave mirror or a ray which is directed
towards focus of a convex mirror, after reflection, will emerge parallel to the principal
axis.
Rule 3 : A ray passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror or directed in the
direction of the centre of curvature of a convex mirror, after reflection, is reflected
back along the same path.

Rule 4 : A ray incident obliquely to the principal axis, towards a point P (pole of the mirror) on
the concave mirror or a convex mirror, is reflected obliquely.

Note : Any two of the following rays can be considered for locating the image.
Formation of different types of images by a concave mirror :
The type of image formed by a concave mirror depends on the position of object in front of
the mirror. There are six positions of the object.

a) Object is at infinity :

 Image formed at focus

 Real and inverted.
 Much smaller than object. (highly diminished)

b) Object beyond C :

 Image formed between F and C.

 Real and inverted
 Smaller than object.(diminished).
c) Object placed at C :

 Image formed beyond C

 Real and inverted
 Same size as object.

d) Object placed at F and C :

 Image formed beyond C.

 Real and inverted
 Larger than the object (magnified / enlarged)

e) Object placed at Focus :

 Image formed at infinity

 Real and inverted
 Highly magnified.
Object placed between pole and focus :

 Image formed behind the mirror.

 Virtual and erect.
 Larger than the object.
Uses of concave mirror :
 Mostly used in torches, search lights and vehicles headlight to get powerful parallel beams.
 Dentists use concave mirrors to see large image of the teeth of patients.
 Concave mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight to produce heat in solar furnance .
 Microscopes , Telescopes.

Formation of different types of images by a convex mirror:

a) Object is placed at infinity :

 image formed behind the mirror at focus
 Virtual and erect
 Much smaller than the object.

b) Object between P and infinity :

 Image formed at pole and focus(behind the mirror)
 Virtual and erect
 Smaller than object.
Uses of convex mirror :
 Used as rear-view mirror in vehicles
 They have a wider field of view as they are curved outwards.

Sign Conversions for reflection of spherical mirrors:

 The objects are always placed to the left of the mirror.

 All distances are measured from pole.
 Distance towards left of the pole are taken as negative .
 Distance towards right of pole are taken as positive.
 Distance measured perpendicular to an above the principal axis are taken as positive
vice - versa negative downwards.
Mirror formula :

In a spherical mirror, the distance from pole to object is called object distance (u). The
distance from pole to image is called image distance (v). The distance from focus to pole is
called focal length (f).

The relation between these three quantities given by the mirror formula, which is
expressed as a
1 1 1
𝑓
=𝑣+𝑢

Note : This formula applicable for all types of mirrors, example plane mirror, spherical
mirrors. In plane mirror focal length becomes infinite.
Magnification :

The ratio of height of image to height of object.

ℎ2
𝑚 = ℎ1 where m = magnification
h1 = Height of object.
h2 = height of image.

The magnification (m) is also related to the object distance (u) and image diatance (v). It can
be expressed as
ℎ2 𝑣
𝑚 = ℎ1 = − 𝑢
 Unit less quantity.
Refraction of light :

The bending of light when it goes from one medium to another obliquely is called
refraction of light. The refraction of light takes place when light enters from air to water.
Note:
The speed of light is different in different substances. The refraction of light is due to the
change in the speed of light on going from one medium to another. Thus when light goes
from one medium to another, its speed changes. And this change in speed of light causes
the refraction of light.

Medium :
A transparent substance in which light travels is known as a medium. Medium is divided
into two types :
a) Rarer medium : A medium in which the speed of light is more is known as rarer
medium
b) Dencer medium : A medium in which the speed of light is less is known as denser
medium.
Laws of reflection :

a) The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the interface, all lie on the same plane.
b) The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is constant.

 This law is also known as snell’s law of refraction

 This constant is the value of reactive index of the second medium with respect to the first.
Refractive index :
The refractive index of a medium is defined as the ratio of speed of light in vaccum to the
speed of light in any other medium.

we can solve numerical if we know the

speed of light in all mediums are known.
Otherwise, we can also find refractive index by using formul call
Example :

If light travels from air to water, the refractive index is derived from,
𝑐 8𝑚
𝑛 = =3∗
𝑣
10 𝑠 / 2 ∗ 108 𝑚/𝑠

n = 1.5

Or, by angles given given , then n = sini/sinr

n = Sin37/sin24
n = 1.5
Note :
Refractive index with respect to air is called absolute refractive index

Speed of light in air or vaccum is 3 ∗ 108 m/s .

Spherical lens : A lens is a transparent material bounded by two surfaces, of which one or
both the surface are spherical, form a lens

concave lens ------- Diverging

convex lens --------- converging

Convex lens : A lens may have two spherical surfaces, bulging outwards. Such a lens is called
a double convex lens or convex lens. Convex lens converges light rays . Hence it is called
converging lens.
 Concave lens :
A lens have two spherical surfaces, curved
inwards. In Concave lens light rays diverge . Hence
it is called diverging lens.

Convex lens :
A lens have two spherical surfaces ,
curved outwards . In Convex lens light rays
converges . Hence it is called converging lens.

:
Terms related to spherical mirrors:

Optical centre : Centre point of lens.

Focal length : The distance between the optical centre and the focal point.
Rule for obtaining images formed by spherical lenses:
Rule 1 :
A ray of light from the object, parallel to the
principal axis, after refraction from a convex lens,
passes through the principal focus on the other
side of the lens.

In the case of a concave lens, the ray appears

to diverge from the principal focus located on
the same side of the lens

Rule 2 :
A ray of light passing through a principal focus,
after refraction from a convex lens, will
emerge parallel to the principal axis.

A ray of light appearing to meet at the principal

focus of a concave lens, after refraction, will
emerge parallel to the principal axis.
Rule 3 :
A ray of light passing through the optical centre of a lens will emerge without any deviation.
Formation of different types of images by a convex lens :
a) Object places at infinity :
 Image formed at F2
 Real and inverted
 Highly diminished

b) Object placed at beyond 2F2

 Image formed between F2 and 2F
 Real and inverted
 Smaller than object(diminished).
c) Object placed between 2F1 :
 Image formed at 2F2
 Same size.
 real and inverted

d)Object placed between f1 and 2F1:

 Image formed beyond 2F2
 Larger than object
 Real and inverted.
e) Object at F1 :
 Image formed at infinity (parallel)
 real and inverted.
 Enlarged .

f) Object placed between optical centre and focus:

 Image formed at behind the lens
 Virtual and erect image.
 Larger than object.
Image formation of convex lens:
a) object placed at infinity
 Image formed at F1
 Virtual and erect.
 much smaller than object ( highly diminished )

b) Object between optical centre and infinity :

 Image formed between f1 and O.
 Virtual and erect
 Smaller than object.
Lens Formuala :
Lens formaula gives us the relationship between object distance (u), image distance (v)
and the focal length (f). The lens formula is expressed as

1 1 1
= −
𝑓 𝑣 𝑢

Magnification :
ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝑚= =
ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒
Power of lens :
The power of lens is defined as the reciprocal of its focal length represented by P.

1
𝑝=𝑓
Units : 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑚−1

This 1 diaopter is the power of a lens where focal length is 1 meter 1𝐷 = 1𝑚−1

It is converging and diverging capacity of a lens.

Power = +ve --------- convex lens

Power = -ve ---------- concave lens
Uses of lens :
•Convex lens is used in microscopes and magnifying glasses to subject all the light to a
•Convex lens is used as a camera lens in cameras as they focus light for a clean picture
•Convex lens is used in the correction of hypermetropia.

Uses of concave lens :

•In Daily Life. The uses of concave lenses in daily life are in the form of shaving glasses
•In Camera. ...
•In Flashlight. ...
•In Medical Equipment/ Lasers. ...
•In Binoculars. ...