Physics: Form four

Chapter Four: Reflection of light

Reflection of light is the bouncing back of light rays from a surface. Or reflection
of light is the phenomenon due to which a beam of light travel through a certain
medium on striking surface, bounces off from it in some other direction.

Common characteristics of light

1. Light is an invisible energy which on rebounding from the surface of matter
causes sensation of vision.
2. Light travels along a straight line path, but is an electromagnetic wave which
is transverse in nature.
3. Light produces shadows, when obstructed by opaque objects.
4. Light gets reflected back from polished or smooth surfaces, such as mirror,
polished metals, still water, etc.
5. Light gets refracted when it travels from one medium to another medium.
6. Light travels from transparent medium to another transparent medium.
7. The velocity of light in a vacuum is 3 x108 m/s.
8. During the change in velocity of light, its frequency remains the same, but
the wavelength changes.

Types of Reflection of light

There are two types of reflection, depending upon the nature of surface on which
the light falls.

1. Regular reflection or specular reflection

2. Irregular reflection or diffused reflection

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General definitions about reflection
Mirror: A smooth polished surface from which regular reflection can take place.

Kinds of mirrors: there are two kinds of mirrors.

1. Plane mirror
2. Curved mirror
3. Incident ray
4. Point of incidence
5. Reflected ray
6. Normal
7. Angle of incidence
8. Angle of reflection
9. Glance angle of incidence
10.Glance angle of reflection

Laws of reflection
1. First law of reflection: The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal
(at the point of incidence) all lie on the same plane.
2. Second law of reflection: The angle of incidence is always equal to the
angle of reflection. (˂ i = ˂ r).

Types of images
There are two types of images, virtual image and real image.

1. Virtual image:

The virtual image is always erect, laterally inverted and cannot be taken on screen.

2. Real image:

The real image is always inverted and can be taken on screen.

Difference between virtual and real image

Virtual image

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 1. The rays of light after reflection appear to meet at some other point or
appear to diverge from some other point.
2. It cannot be taken on a screen.
3. It is always erect, but laterally inverted.

Real image

1. The rays of light after reflection or refraction actually meet at some other
point.
2. It can always be taken on a screen.
3. It is always inverted.

Images formed by plane mirrors

The image formed by a plane mirror has the following characteristics or properties:

1. Virtual.
2. Erect.
3. Same size as the object.
4. Laterally inverted.
5. As far behind the mirror as the object is in front.
6. Plane mirrors produce images that have a magnification of 1.

Uses of plane mirrors

1. Looking glass.
2. Barbers.
3. Solar cookers.
4. Reflecting periscope.

Reflecting periscope
A periscope is a device used to view an object over the top of an obstacle.

Uses of reflecting periscope

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 1. To see above the head of crowds.
2. Soldiers in trench warfare.
3. Submarines under water to view objects on the surface of the water.

Reflection of light at curved surface

Reflection of light from curved surface (spherical mirrors). The spherical mirrors
are two types: -

1. Concave mirrors ( Converging mirror)

2. Convex mirror (Diverging mirror)

General definitions for spherical mirrors

1. Spherical mirror
2. Concave mirror
3. Convex mirror
4. Pole
5. Centre of curvature
6. Radius of curvature
7. Principal axis
8. Principal focus
9. Focal length

Graphical construction of images formed in spherical

mirrors
Concave mirrors

1. A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected through the principal focus.
2. A ray passing through the principal focus is reflected parallel to the principal
axis.
3. A ray passing through the centre of curvature is reflected back along its own
path or retrace its path.
4. A ray striking the pole is reflected so that the incident ray and the reflected
ray make the same angle with the principal axis or the angle of incident at
(p) is equal to the angle of reflection.

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Formation of image in a concave mirror for different
positions of the object
1. When the object beyond the centre of curvature, the image is:
a) Real
b) Inverted
c) Diminished
d) B /w c and f, in front of the concave mirror
2. When the object is at the centre of curvature the image is : -
a) Real
b) Inverted
c) Same size as the object.
d) PppAt C
3. When the object is in between the centre of curvature and the
principal focus, the image is : -
a) Real
b) Inverted
c) Magnified
d) Beyond C
4. When the object is at the principal focus , the image is : -
a) Real
b) Inverted
c) Magnified
d) At infinity
5. When the object is in between the principal focus and the pole, the
image is : -
a) Virtual
b) Upright ( erect )
c) Magnified ( Enlarged )
d) Behind the mirror
6. When the object is at infinity, the image is : -
a) Real

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 b) Inverted
c) Diminished
d) At F

Formation of an image in a convex mirror

Convex mirror

1. A ray parallel to the principal axis seems to be diverged from the principal
focus.
2. A ray which seems to be passing through the focus is reflected by the mirror
so it is parallel to the principal axis.
3. A ray which travels along the centre of curvature of a convex mirror, after
reflection retraces its path.
4. A ray striking the pole is reflected so that the incident ray and the reflected
ray make equal angles with the principal axis.

Formation of image in a convex mirror for different

positions of the object.
Formation of image when the object is at infinity, the image is:

1. The image is virtual

2. The image is erect
3. The image is diminished
4. The image is formed at principal focus behind the convex mirror

Formation of image, when the object is at a finite distance from the pole, the
image is:

1. The image is virtual

2. The image is erect
3. The image is diminished

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 4. The image is always formed between pole and principal focus, behind the
convex mirror

Uses of spherical mirrors

Uses of concave mirrors

1. Concave mirrors are used as shaving mirrors.

2. Concave mirrors are used as reflectors in torches, vehicle head – lights and
search lights to get powerful beams of light.
3. Concave mirrors are used as doctors head – mirrors to focus light coming
from a lamp on to the body parts of a patient ( such as eye, ear, nose, throat,
etc. )
4. Concave dishes are used in TV dish.
5. Large concave mirrors are used in the field of solar energy to focus sun’s
rays for heating solar furnaces.

Uses of convex mirrors

1. Convex mirrors are used as rear – view mirrors in vehicles ( like cars, trucks
and buses) to see the traffic at the rear side ( or back side)
2. Big convex mirrors are used as shop security mirror. Because they give us a
wide field of view.

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