Reflection of Light
Note: Both the angle of incident and angle of reflection must be measured from the
normal.
Laws of Reflection
1.
a.
Plane Mirror
Plane Mirror
Images in plane mirrors
1.
Figure to the right shows how, by reflecting light, a plane mirror forms an
image of a point source of light such as a small light bulb.
2.
The image forms in a mirror is
a.
Upright
b.
Virtual
c.
Laterally inverted
d.
Same size as the object
Step 1
Step 2
( Draw 2 reflected rays, one from the image to the top of the eye and the other one from the
Step 3
( Draw the respective incident rays for the reflected rays you draw in step 2. )
Curved Mirror
Curved Mirror
1.
a.
Centre of
curvature, C
Pole of mirror, P
Principal axis
A line which passes through the centre of curvature, C and the pole
of a curved mirror, P.
Radius of
curvature, r
Principal focus, F
Focal length, f
The distance between the principal focus, F and the pole of the
curved mirror, P.
Aperture of mirror
Object distance, u
Image distance, v
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.
Any two rays are sufficient to fix the position and size of the image. Look
for the point where the rays cross after reflection from the mirror.
The interception of the two rays is the focus of the ray.
Example
Refraction of Light
Refraction of Light
1.
Light rays are bent when they pass at an angle in or out of materials such as
glass and water. The effect is called refraction.
2.
Light passing into an optically denser medium is bent towards the normal;
light passing into an optically less dense medium is bent away from the normal.
3.
Materials such as glass, water and paraffin are said to be optically denser
than air.
Snell's law states that the value of (sin i) / (sin r) is constant for light
passing from one given medium into another.
Refractive Index
Refractive index
1.
The value of sin i/sin r is called the refractive index of the medium and it
gives you an indication of its light-bending ability.
n=sin i/sin r
n= refractive index
2.
1.
2.
3.
The rays are refracted as they leave the water. To the observer, the rays seem
to come from a higher position, and the bottom looks closer to the surface than it
really is.
4.
The real depth of the water and its apparent depth are marked on the
diagram. These are related to the refractive index of the water by the following
equation:
Refractive index = real depth/apparent depth
or
n=D/d
Summary:
Refractive index
n=sin i/sin r
n=D/d
n=c/v
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.
Atmospheric 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.
Twinkling 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.
1.
In figure (a) above, the light ray is refracted away from the normal when
moving from denser medium to less dense medium.
2.
Figure (b) shows that, at a specific angle, the light ray is refracted 90o from
the normal. It is refracted so much that it is only just able to leave the water. In
such condition, the incident angle is called the critical angle.
3.
The critical angle is the angle of incident in an optically denser medium for
which the angle of refraction is 90.
4.
In figure (c), the light ray strikes the surface at an angle of incidence greater
than c. There is no refracted ray; the surface of the water acts like a perfect mirror,
and the ray is said to have been totally internally reflected.
The Equation Relates the Critical angle (c) with the Refractive Index
The critical angle can be calculated by using the following equation:
Requirements for Total Internal Reflection to occur.
1.
The light ray must propagate from an optically denser medium to an
optically less dense medium.
2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
A ray of light originated from the sky is refracted away from the normal as
the light is travel from denser to less dense air.
5.
As the air passes through the lower layers, the angle of incidence increases
and the refracted ray is getting further away from the normal.
6.
Finally, at a layer of air close to the road surface, the angle incidence
exceeds the critical angle. Total internal occurs and the light ray bends upward
towards the eye of the observer.
7.
The observer sees the image of the sky and the clouds on the surface of the
road as a pool of water.
Rain Bow
1.
2.
Lenses
Lenses
1.
There are 2 types of lenses, namely the
a.
Convex lens
b.
Concave lens
2.
Convex lenses are thickest through the middle, concave lenses are thickest
around the edge, but several variations on these basic shapes are possible, as
shown in figure 1.
3.
Light rays passing through a convex or converging lens are bent towards the
principal axis, whereas rays passing through a concave or diverging lens are bent
away from the principal axis.
Important Terms
Optical centre, P
Principle Axis
Principle focus, F
Focal length, f
Rays of light can pass through a lens in either direction, so every lens has two
principal foci, one on each side of the optical centre.
Power of Lenses
The Power of a Lens
1.
The power of a lens is defined as the reciprocal of the focal length in unit
meter.
P=1/f
Important Note: f is in meter
2.
The unit of power is diopter (D).
3.
The relationship of the power with the thickness and types of lens are shown in the
diagram below.
Lens
Converging (Convex)
Positive
Diverging (Concave)
Negative
High
Low
Example:
The power of a lens is labeled as +5D. What is the focal length of the lens (in cm)?
Is this a concave lens or a convex lens?
Answer:
P=1/f
(+5)=1/f
f=1/5=0.2m = 20cm
The power of the lens is positive. This is a convex lens.
Convex Lens
1.
2.
A light ray parallel to the principle axis of the lens will be refracted passes
through the principle focus.
3.
A light ray passes through principle focus will be refracted parallel to the
principle axis.
Any two of the following three rays are sufficient to fix the position and size
of the image.
3.
The characteristics, position and size of the image formed by a convex lens
depends on the object distance (u) relative to the focal length (f)
Position of Object: u > 2f
Position of Object: u = 2f
Position of Object: u = f
Characteri
stics of the Image: Virtual, uprigh, magnified
Position of image: at the same side of the object
Concave Lens
Rules in Drawing Ray Diagram for Concave Lens
1.
A light ray passes through the optical centre of the lens will not be refracted.
2.
A light ray parallel to the principle axis will be refracted away from the
principle focus
3.
A light ray moving towards the optical centre will be refracted parallel to
the principle axis.
The image formed by a concave lens always has the same characteristics,
namely
a.
virtual
b.
upright
c.
diminish
2.
Figure below shows the ray diagram for the formation of image of a
concave lens.
When using the lens equation to solve problem, it's important to note the
positive negative sign of u, v and f.
3.
Table below give the conventional symbol and sign for u, v and f.
Positif
Negatif
Real object
Virtual object
Real image
Virtual image
Convex lens
Concave lens
Linear Magnification
The linear magnification is a quantity that indicates the ratio of the height of the
image to the height of the object.
m=v/u=hi/ho
m = linear magnification
u = distance of object
v = distance of image
hi = heigth of image
ho = heigth of object
Magnifying Glass
Magnifying Glass
1.
2.
3.
a.
b.
c.
4.
1.
The angular magnitude of an object is the virtual angle at the eye. It is the
angle the object subtends at the eye.
2.
This angle determines the size of the image (apparent size) formed on the
retina and hence governs the apparent size of the object
Functions
Convex lens
To focus the light of an object onto the film so that a sharp image can
be produced.
Diaphragm
To control the size of the aperture and hence control the amount of
light move into the camera.
Focusing Ring
To adjust the distance between the lens and the film so that the image
is sharply focus on the film.
Film
1.
2.
Shutter
Open when picture is taken to allow light move onto the film.
The shutter speed is the length of time when the shutter is open. It
control the amount of light move onto the film.
Aperture
Open when picture is taken to allow light move onto the film.
The shutter speed is the length of time when the shutter is open. It
control the amount of light move onto the film.
Note:
1.
2.
3.
4.
a.
b.
c.
Function
Bulb
1.
2.
Concave mirror
1.
Condenser
1.
2.
Slide
1.
2.
Projector Lens
1.
Image
Astronomical Telescope
Objective lens
Lower power
Eye lens
Higher power
At infinity
Magnification of the
compound
microscope.
Compound Microscope
Higher power
Lower power
The object is placed at a position between fo and 2fo.
Object lens
Eye lens
Position of
the object
Nature of the Real, inverted and magnified
image, I1
Position of The first image, I1 must be placed between the optical center of the eye lens with
the image, I1. the eye lens principle focus point, fe.
Nature of the Virtual, inverted and magnified
image, I2
Distance in
The distance between the object lens and the eye lens in a compound
between the
microscope is bigger than the sum of the focal length (fo + fe).
two lens
If the distance between both lenses are adjusted to less than (fo + fe), no
image can be seen.
Magnificatio m = m1m2
n of the
compound
= Height of first image ,I1 Height of second image, I2
microscope.
Height of object