CLASS 10 NOTES LIGHT -REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

Study of light is called OPTICS.

WHAT IS LIGHT?
LIGHT is electromagnetic radiation ,a form of energy, within a certain portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum. The word usually refers to visible light detected by our eyes and
needed to see things around us.
LIGHT helps us to see objects from which it comes or from which it is reflected.
Objects ( both natural and artificial) which are sources of light are called luminous
objects.Eg-Sun,stars,fire,firefly,candle,bulb,torch etc.
Objects which do not emit light themselves but only reflect or scatter light that falls
on them are called non-luminous objects.Eg- table,book etc.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

The electromagnetic spectrum is the full range of electromagnetic radiation, differing by

frequency or wavelength but all travel at the same speed.
Uses of electromagnetic waves in our daily life.
1) Radio waves- for TV/mobile communication,Broadcasting
2) Microwaves -Bluetooth,Ovens ,WLAN
3) Infrared-Night vision goggles,heat therapy, in space to map interstellar dust
4) Visible light-Visual perception,rainbow colours, photosynthesis
5) UV rays-used to sterilise water ,bats detect UVrays
6) X rays-in imaging in medical field
7) Gamma rays-in medical field to kill cancer cells
1,2,3 are low energy radiations and safe to use.
5,6,7 are high energy radiations and highly penetrative.

Nature of light
Light travels at a speed of 3 x 108 m/s.
Light travels in a straight line (rectilinear propagation of light). If an opaque object
is put in its path it casts a shadow.
Light needs no medium ,it travels in vacuum.
Light actually has dual nature.
Wave theory-Light consists of electromagnetic waves (transverse waves) which do
not require a medium for propagation.Phenomenon of diffraction,polarisation (As
given by Huygens and Maxwell)
Particle theory- Light is composed of particles(photons) which travel in a straight
line at a very high speed.(as given by Einstein and Newton).
Scientists have demonstrated that light has dual nature i.e both wave and particles.
This is called the Quantum theory.The phenomenon of reflection and refraction of
light and casting of shadow of objects by light can be explained by this theory.

NOTES
When light falls on a surface ,the following may happen-
Reflection / Refraction/ Absorption
Optical medium- A substance through which light can travel without much loss of
intensity is known as optical medium. It may be homogeneous or heterogeneous
Light ray- The path of light is called a light ray shown by an arrow indicating the
direction.
Beam of light-A group of light rays originating from a source in some definite
direction..
The 3 types are-

REFLECTION-It is the bouncing back of light, in the same medium,when it strikes a

surface

LAWS OF REFLECTION
1-Incident ray, reflected ray,and normal lie on the same plane.
2-The angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection.
Characteristics of images in a plane mirror.
1-Nature of image is virtual and erect.
2-Height of the object is equal to height of image.
3-Object distance is equal to image distance.
4- Image undergoes lateral inversion.

Q1-What is the angle of incidence of a ray if the reflected ray is at an angle of 90° to
the incident ray?
A1-Here, the angle of reflection is 90°. As we know, according to the laws of
reflection that angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
Here, the angle between the incident ray and reflected ray is 90°.
i.e., ∠i + ∠r = 90° Since, ∠i = ∠r
We can write, ∠i + ∠i = 90°
⇒ 2∠i = 90°
⇒ ∠i = 45°
Angle of incidence = 45°.

Q2-Two mirrors meet at right angles. A ray of light is incident on one at an angle of
30° . Draw the reflected ray from the second mirror.
ANSWER

Q3- How many images would be formed if two mirrors are kept at an angle of
i) 90 ii) 120 iii) 60 iv) 45
A3- (360/Q) -1 where q=angle between the mirrors.
i)(360/90)-1=3 ii) ( 360/120)-1=2 iii) (360/60)-1=5 iv) (360/45)-1=7

Regular reflection-The reflected rays are parallel to each other.

Diffused reflection-The reflected rays are not parallel to each other as the surface
has irregularities. Each ray however still obeys the laws of reflection.
Optical image-The reproduction of an object by light rays after reflection or refraction
which differs from its true position is known as optical image.
Real Image-If the rays after reflection actually converge at a point, the image is said
to be real.It can be obtained on the screen .
Virtual image-If the rays do not actually meet , but appear to meet when produced
backwards ,the image is virtual.It cannot be obtained on the screen .

Spherical mirror-A part of a hollow sphere whose inner or outer surface has been
polished.

Pole- The midpoint or centre of the reflecting surface is called the pole of the mirror.
Centre of curvature-Its the centre of the hollow sphere of which ,the mirror is a part.
Radius of curvature -It is the radius of the sphere.
Principal axis-The line joining the pole and the centre of curvature is called principal
axis.It extends on both sides.
Linear aperture -The distance M,N between two extreme points on the periphery of
the spherical mirror is called the linear aperture.
Angular aperture-The angle which the periphery of the spherical mirror makes at the
centre of curvature is called angular aperture.It is denoted by (θ) .
Paraxial rays-The rays parallel and close to the principal axis and making very small
angles of incidence are called paraxial rays.
Marginal rays-The rays which are away from the principal axis and strike the mirror
near the boundary are called marginal rays.
Principal focus
a) Concave mirror-The principal focus of a concave mirror, is a point on the
principal axis at which the incident rays,parallel to the principal axis ,meet
after reflection Principal focus of a concave mirror is real.A parallel beam of
light converges after reflection ,therefore it's called a converging mirror.
b) Convex mirror -The principal focus of a convex mirror, is a point on the
principal axis at which the incident rays,parallel to the principal axis ,appear to
meet after reflection Principal focus of a concave mirror is virtual. A parallel
beam of light diverges after reflection ,therefore it's called a diverging mirror.

Relation between radius of curvature and focal length of a spherical mirror.

For a spherical mirror, having small aperture, the principal focus lies exactly midway
between the poles and centre of curvature.Focal length of a spherical mirror is equal
to half of its radius of curvature.
F=R/2
Rules for obtaining and construction of images formed by a spherical mirror( both
concave and convex) Diagrams can also be taken from textbook
1) 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 of convex mirror.

2) A ray passing through the principal 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

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.

4) A ray incident obliquely to the principal axis towards the point P (pole) on the
concave or convex mirror is reflected obliquely.The incident and reflected rays
follow the laws of reflection at the point of incidence,making equal angles
with the principal focus
Image formation in a concave mirror.

Case1 WHEN OBJECT IS AT INFINITY

Nature of image
At Focus
Real and inverted
Highly diminished (point sized)

Case 2 When object is beyond centre of curvature

Nature of image
Between Focus and Centre of curvature
Real and inverted
Diminished (smaller than the object)

Case 3 When object is placed at C

Nature of image
At C
Same size as object
Real and inverted

Case 4 When object is placed between C and F

Nature of image
Image formed beyond C
Enlarged
Real and inverted

Case 5 When object is placed at F

Nature of image
At infinity
Highly Enlarged
Real and inverted

Case 6 When object is placed between P and F

Nature of image
Behind the mirror
Enlarged
Virtual and erect
Image formation in a convex mirror.

Case1 When object is at infinity

Nature of image
At F behind the mirror
Virtual and erect
Highly diminished

Case2 When object is between mirror and

infinity
Nature of image between Pole and Focus
Behind the mirror
Virtual and erect
diminished

Uses of concave mirrors

Used as shaving mirrors to give an enlarged image of the face.
They are used by dentists to see the large image of teeth of patients
Used as reflectors in torches,vehicle headlights,and searchlights.A lighted bulb is
placed as a focus of a concave mirror to produce a powerful beam of light rays.
Concave dish antennas are used to receive TV signals from distant communication
satellites.
Used in solar cookers to focus the Sunlight.
Uses of convex mirrors
They are used in rear view mirrors in vehicles to see the traffic.They are used as i)
they produce an erect image ii)they produce a diminished or smaller image ,giving a
wider field of view.
They are also used in blind corners on roads,as well as shop security mirrors.

How to distinguish between a concave / convex/plane mirror

By Touch (If the reflecting surface is)
Plane -Its a plane mirror
Concave -depression in the middle
Convex- Projected or bulged outwards in the middle.
By seeing the image
Plane - If the image formed is erect and the same size.
Concave -If the image is erect and magnified when close to the object and image
changes on moving it away (becomes inverted)
Convex-If the image is erect and small in size .

Cartesian sign convention for spherical mirrors

Sign convention-The process.by which the sign (positive or negative) is determined.
According to Cartesian sign convention ;-
i) The object is always placed to the left of the mirror. This implies that the light from
the object falls on the mirror from the left hand side.
ii) All the distances measured to the right of the origin (along +axis) are taken as
positive while those measured to the left of the origin (along -x axis) are taken as
negative.
iii) Distances measured perpendicular to and above the principal axis(along +y axis)
are taken as positive.
iv) Distances measured perpendicular to and below the principal axis(along - y axis)
are taken as negative.
NOTE- Focal length of concave mirror is -ve and convex mirror is +ve.
At least two rays are at least needed to draw the ray diagram for locating the position
of the image.

MIRROR FORMULA
1/v + 1/u =1/f
where v=image distance
u= object distance
f= focal length
Magnification in mirror formula
Oym=h’/h= -v/u
where h’=image height
h =object height
m = magnification
Magnification m is +ve i.e h’ and h have same sign.( Image is virtual and erect)
m is -ve, i.e h’ is -ve,(image is real and inverted)
If m is greater than 1 image is enlarged
m is equal to 1 image of the same size.
M is less than 1 image is diminished.

CONCAVE CONVEX
MIRROR MIRROR

1 Focal length (f) -ve +ve

2 Object distance (u) -ve -ve

3 Image distance (v) +ve

-ve(except
6th case)

4 Object height +ve +ve

5 Image height -ve(except +ve

6th case)

6 Radius -ve +ve

7 Magnification +ve (image -ve(image

is is
virtual/erect real/inver
) ted)

Numericals
Textbook example 10.1 & 10.2