Reflection of Light

Note: Both the angle of incident and angle of reflection must be measured
from the normal.
Laws of Reflection
The Law of reflection state that
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection; the ray
leaves the surface at the same angle as it arrives.

The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal all lie in the
same lane; all three could be drawn on the same flat iece of
aer.
Type of Mirror
Plane Mirror
!mages in lane mirrors
1. "igure to the right shows how, by reflecting light, a lane mirror
forms an image of a oint source of light such as a small light bulb.
#. The image forms in a mirror is
a. $right
b. %irtual
c. Laterally inverted
d. &ame si'e as the ob(ect
Steps to draw a ray diagram for an image in a plane mirror
Step 1
) *raw the virtual image. *istance of ob(ect + *istance of image ,
Step 2
) *raw # reflected rays, one from the image to the to of the eye and the other one
from the image from the bottom of the eye. ,
Step 3
) *raw the resective incident rays for the reflected rays you draw in ste
#. ,
Curved Mirror
-. . curve is art of a circle. Therefore
a. the centre of the circle will also be the centre of the
curve and is called the centre of curvature, and
b. the radius of the circle will be equal to the radius of the
curve, called the curvature radius.
mportant Terms
.ll rays arallel to the rincile a/is will focus at "
Centre of
curvature! C
The geometric centre of a hollow shere of which the
concave or conve/ mirror is a art.
Pole of mirror! P The centre oint on the curved mirror.
Principal a"is . line which asses through the centre of curvature, 0 and
the ole of a curved mirror, 1.
Radius of
curvature! r
*istance between the ole, 1 and the centre of curvature, 0.
Principal focus! # . oint through which all rays travelling arallel to the
rincial a/is converge to or aear to diverge from after
reflection by the mirror.
#ocal length! f The distance between the rincial focus, " and the ole of
the
curved mirror, 1.
$perture of mirror The ortion of the surface of the mirror that reflects light.
%&'ect distance! u *istance of ob(ect from the ole of the mirror, 1.
mage distance! v *istance of image from the ole of the mirror,
Drawing Ray Diagram for Concave Mirror
Rules in (rawing Ray (iagram
Rule No. 1
The ray of light through C will be reflected back through C.

Rule No. 2
The ray of light parallel to the principal axis will be reflected through
F.
Rule No. 3
The ray of light through F will be reflected parallel to the principal
axis.
Drawing Ray Diagram of a Convex Mirror
Rules in (rawing Ray (iagram
Rule No. 1
A ray towards C is reflected back along its own path.
Rule No. 2
A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected as if it came from F.
Rule No. 3
A ray towards F is reflected parallel to the principal axis.
Finding the Position and Size of the Image
-. .ny two rays are sufficient to fi/ the osition and si'e of the
image. Loo2 for the oint where the rays cross after reflection from the
mirror.
#. The intercetion of the two rays is the focus of the ray.
)"ample
The Ray Diagram and the Types of Image
The Ray (iagram and the Types of mage
The nature and size of the image formed by concave mirrors
depends on the distance of the obect from the mirror! as explained
in the following sections.
Refraction of Light
Refraction is the bending of a light ray at the boundary of two
medium as the light ray roagates from a medium to another with
difference otical density.
-. Light rays are bent when they ass at an angle in or out of
materials such as glass and water. The effect is called refraction.
#. Light assing into an otically denser medium is bent towards the
normal; light assing into an otically less dense medium is bent away
from the normal.
3. 4aterials such as glass, water and araffin are said to be otically
denser than air.
Refraction of Light Sne!!"s Law
The laws of refraction
-. The incident and refracted rays are on oosite sides of the
normal at the oint of incidence, and all three lie in the same lane.
". The value of sinisinr is constant for light assing from one given
medium into another. This is 2nown as &nell5s law.
&nell5s law states that the value of )sin i, 6 )sin r, is constant for light
assing from one given medium into another.
sinrsini+constant
Refractive inde"
-. The value of is called the refractive inde/ of the medium and it
gives you an indication of its light7bending ability.
n+sinisinrn+ refractive inde/
#. !n &14, when we say 8refractive inde/9, what we mean is the
absolute refractive inde/ of a substance. The absolute refractive inde/ of
a substance is the refractive inde/ where light ray travels from vacuum
)or air, into the substance.
Refractive nde" and the Speed of light
Refractive inde/ + seed of light in vacuumseed of light in medium
or
n+cv
) Note that the greater the refractive inde/ of a medium, the lower is the
seed of light. The more light is slowed, the more it is bent. ,
Real and $pparent (epth
-. The bending of light can give you a false imression of deth.
#. "igure to the left shows two rays of light leaving a oint on the
bottom of a swimming ool.
3. The rays are refracted as they leave the water. To the observer,
the rays seem to come from a higher osition, and the bottom loo2s
closer to the surface than it really is.
:. The real deth of the water and its aarent deth are mar2ed on
the diagram. These are related to the refractive inde/ of the water by the
following equation:
Refractive inde/ + real dethaarent deth
or
n+Dd
Summary*
Refractive inde/
n+sinisinr
n+Dd
n+cv
#at$ra! Phenomenon d$e to Refraction of Light
+ending of %&'ect in a ,lass
A straw in a glass with water looks bended or broken. This is due to
refraction of light
Shallower Swimming Pool
A swimming pool appears shallower than it actual is. This is
because the light from the pool is refracted away from the normal
when moving from water to the air.
$tmospheric Refraction and Setting sun
The setting sun looks oval in shape because the light from the sun
is refracted at different rate when passes through the atmosphere.
Twin-ling Star
The light of stars is refracted when passes through different region
in the atmosphere. The angle of refraction varies a little from time to
time. As a result! the stars look twinkling.
Total nternal Reflection and the Critical $ngle
-. !n figure )a, above, the light ray is refracted away from the
normal when moving from denser medium to less dense medium.
#. "igure )b, shows that, at a secific angle, the light ray is refracted
;<o from the normal. !t is refracted so much that it is only (ust able to
leave the water. !n such condition, the incident angle is called the critical
angle.
3. The critical angle is the angle of incident in an otically denser
medium for which the angle of refraction is ;<=.
:. !n figure )c,, the light ray stri2es the surface at an angle of
incidence greater than c. There is no refracted ray; the surface of the
water acts li2e a erfect mirror, and the ray is said to have been totally
internally reflected.
The ).uation Relates the Critical angle /c0 with the Refractive nde"
The critical angle can be calculated by using the following equation:
Re.uirements for Total nternal Reflection to occur1
-. The light ray must roagate from an otically denser medium to
an otically less dense medium.
#. The angle of incident must e/ceed the critical angle.
Phenomena Re!ated to Tota! Interna! Ref!ection
Mirage
-. The occurrence of mirage can be e/lained as follows.
#. The air on the road surface consists of many layers. >n a hot day,
the air near the ground has a low secific heat caacity, hence the
temerature increase faster.
3. The hot air becomes less dense than the cold air higher u.
:. . ray of light originated from the s2y is refracted away from the
normal as the light is travel from denser to less dense air.
?. .s the air asses through the lower layers, the angle of incidence
increases and the refracted ray is getting further away from the normal.
@. "inally, at a layer of air close to the road surface, the angle
incidence e/ceeds the critical angle. Total internal occurs and the light
ray bends uward towards the eye of the observer.
A. The observer sees the image of the s2y and the clouds on the
surface of the road as a ool of water.
Rain&ow
-. The sectrum of a rainbow is caused by total internal reflection in
the water drolets.
#. *ifferent angles of total internal reflection roduces different
colours.
Lenses
-. There are # tyes of lenses, namely the
a. 0onve/ lens
b. 0oncave lens
#. 0onve/ lenses are thic2est through the middle, concave lenses are
thic2est around the edge, but several variations on these basic shaes are
ossible, as shown in figure -.
3. Light rays assing through a conve/ or converging lens are bent
towards the rincial a/is, whereas rays assing through a concave or
diverging lens are bent away from the rincial a/is.
mportant Terms
%ptical
centre! P
Light assing through the central bloc2 emerges in the
same direction as it arrives because the faces of this bloc2
are arallel. 1 mar2s the optical centre of the lens.
Principle $"is The principle a"is of a lens is the line (oining the centres of
of curvature of its surfaces.
Principle
focus! F
The principle focus of a lens is the oint on the ricile
a/is to which all rays originally arallel and close to the
a/is converge, or from which they diverge, after assing
through the lens.
#ocal length! f The focal length of a lens is the distance between the
otical centre an the rincile focus.
"igure #: 0oncave Lenses
"igure -: 0onve/ Lenses
Rays of light can ass through a lens in either direction, so every lens has
two rincial foci, one on each side of the otical centre.
The Power of a Lens
-. The ower of a lens is defined as the recirocal of the focal length
in unit meter.
P+-f
mportant 2ote: f is in meter
#. The unit of ower is dioter )*,.
3. The relationshi of the ower with the thic2ness and tyes of lens are
shown in the diagram below.
Lens Power of the Lens
0onverging )0onve/, 1ositive
*iverging )0oncave, Negative
Thic2, with short focal length. Bigh
Thin, with long focal length. Low
Thinner C Lower 1ower C Longer "ocal Length
Thic2er C Bigher 1ower C &horter "ocal Length
)"ample:
The ower of a lens is labeled as D?*. Ehat is the focal length of the lens
)in cm,F !s this a concave lens or a conve/ lensF
$nswer:
P+-f)D?,+-ff+-?+<.#m + #<cm
The ower of the lens is ositive. This is a conve/ lens.
Convex Lens
Rules for (rawing Ray (iagram for Conve" Lenses
-. . light ray asses through the otical centre of the lens will not
be refracted.
#. . light ray arallel to the rincile a/is of the lens will be
refracted asses through the rincile focus.
3. . light ray asses through rincile focus will be refracted
arallel to the rincile a/is.
Characteristics of the mage #ormed &y a Conve" Lens
-. .s with a curved mirror, the osition and si'e of an image can be
found by drawing a ray diagram.
#. .ny two of the following three rays are sufficient to fi/ the
osition and si'e of the image.
3. The characteristics, osition and si'e of the image formed by a
conve/ lens deends on the ob(ect distance )u, relative to the focal length
)f,
Position of %&'ect* u 3 2f
Characteristics of the mage* Real, inverted, diminish
(istance of image* v G #f
Position of %&'ect* u 4 2f
Characteristics of the mage* Real, inverted, same si'e
(istance of image* v + #f
Position of %&'ect* f 5 u 5 2f
Characteristics of the mage* Real, inverted, magnified
(istance of image* v H #f
Position of %&'ect* u 4 f
Characteristics of the mage* 7
(istance of image* .t infinity
Position of %&'ect* u 5 2
Characteri
stics of the mage* %irtual, uright, magnified
Position of image* at the same side of the ob(ect
Concave Lens
Rules in (rawing Ray (iagram for Concave Lens
-. . light ray asses through the otical centre of the lens will not
be refracted.
#. . light ray arallel to the rincile a/is will be refracted away
from the rincile focus
3. . light ray moving towards the otical centre will be refracted
arallel to the rincile a/is.
Characteristics of the Image Formed %y a
Concave Lens
-. The image formed by a concave lens always has the same
characteristics, namely
a. virtual
b. uright
c. diminish
#. "igure below shows the ray diagram for the formation of image
of a concave lens.
The Lens ).uation
-. The following is the lens equation that relates the ob(ect distance
)u,, image distance )v, and the focal length.
-uD-v+-f
#. Ehen using the lens equation to solve roblem, it5s imortant to
note the ositive negative sign of u, v and f.
3. Table below give the conventional symbol and sign for u, v and f.
Positif 2egatif
u Real ob(ect %irtual ob(ect
v Real image %irtual image
f 0onve/ lens 0oncave lens
Linear Magnification
The linear magnification is a quantity that indicates the ratio of the height
of the image to the height of the ob(ect.
m+vu+hiho
m + linear magnification
u + distance of ob(ect
v + distance of image
hi + height of image
ho + height of ob(ect
Magnifying ,lass
-. 4agnifying glass is also 2nown as simle microscoe.
#. . magnifying glass is a single conve/ lens with short focal
length.
3. The image formed is
a. virtual,
b. magnified
c. uright
:. . magnifying glass enlarges the image of an ob(ect by increasing
the virtual angle at the eye when the ob(ect is viewed.
$ngular magnitude and apparent si6e
-. The angular magnitude of an ob(ect is the virtual angle at the eye.
!t is the angle the ob(ect subtends at the eye.
#. This angle determines the si'e of the image )aarent si'e,
formed on the retina and hence governs the aarent si'e of the ob(ect
Camera
#unctions
Conve" lens To focus the light of an ob(ect onto the film so that a
shar image can be roduced.
(iaphragm To control the si'e of the aerture and hence control
the amount of light move into the camera.
#ocusing Ring To ad(ust the distance between the lens and the film so
that the image is sharly focus on the film.
#ilm -. .cts as a screen for the image to form onto it.
#. 0hemical on it will react when e/osed to
light and roduce a hotograh.
Shutter >en when icture is ta2en to allow light move onto
the film.
The shutter seed is the length of time when the
shutter is oen. !t control the amount of light move
onto the film.
$perture >en when icture is ta2en to allow light move onto
the film.
The shutter seed is the length of time when the
shutter is oen. !t control the amount of light move
onto the film.
2ote*
-. The film, which is normally 2et in total dar2ness, contains a
light7sensitive chemical called silver bromide.
#. Ehen you ress the camera button, a shutter in front of the film
oens then shuts again, e/osing the film to light for a brief moment
only.
3. *ifferent intensities and colours of light across the image cause
varying chemical changes in the film, which can later be develoed,
5fi/ed5, and used in rinting a hotograh.
:. The image formed on the film is
a. Real
b. !nverted
c. &maller than the ob(ect.
Pro'ector
#unction
+ul& -. Bulb with high brightness is used.
#. The bulb must be laced at the centre of
curvature of the concave mirror.
Concave mirror -. The function of the concave mirror is to
reflect and focus light that shines on it to the
direction of the condenser.
#. This is to increase the brightness of the
image.
Condenser -. The condenser consists of two 1lano7conve/
lenses.
#. The function of the condenser is to focus all
the light that brightens the whole slide.
3. !t also acts as a heat insulator to sto heat
from the bulb so it does not soil the slide.
Slide -. The slide acts as the ob(ect.
#. !t is located at a distance between f and #f
from the ro(ector lens so that the image roduced is
real and magnified.
3. !t is urosely laced uside down so that the
image forms on the screen loo2s uright.
Pro'ector Lens -. The ro(ector lens ro(ects the image on the
screen that is laced a few meters away.
#. !t can be ad(usted to focus a shar image.
mage The image roduced is
-. real )it form on a screen,
#. magnified
3. inverted )&ince the slide is laced uside
down, hence the image loo2s uright,
$stronomical Telescope
$stronomical Telescope
%&'ective
lens
Lower ower
)ye lens Bigher ower
Position of
the o&'ect
.t infinity
2ature of
the image! 1
Real, inverted and magnified
Position of
the image!
11
.t the rincile focus of ob(ect lens, fo.
2ature of
the image! 2
%irtual, inverted and smaller in si'e.
(istance in
&etween the
two lens
-. The distance between the ob(ect lens and the eye
lens in a comound microscoe is equal to the sum of the
focal length )fo D fe,.
#. !f the distance between both lenses are bigger than
)fo D fe,, no image can be seen.
Magnificati m+"ocal length of the ob(ect lens, fo"ocal length of the ey
on of the
compound
microscope1
e lens, fm
Compound Microscope
Compound Microscope
Object lens #igher power
Eye lens $ower power
Position of the The obect is placed at a position between fo and "fo.
object
Nature of the
imae! "1
%eal! inverted and magnified
Position of the
imae! "1.
The first image! &1 must be placed between the
optical center of the eye lens with the eye lens
principle focus point! fe.
Nature of the
imae! "2
'irtual! inverted and magnified
#istance in
bet$een the
t$o lens
The distance between the obect lens and the eye
lens in a compound microscope is bigger than the
sum of the focal length (fo ) fe*.
&f the distance between both lenses are adusted to
less than
(fo ) fe*! no image can be seen.
Manification
of
the compound
microscope.
m+m-Im# +Beight of first image , I-Beight of ob(ectI
Beight of second image, I#Beight of first image , I- +B
eight of second image, I#Beight of ob(ect
m1 + $inear magnification of the obect lens
m2 + $inear magnification of the obect lens