11.

Reflection of Light
1. गतीचे नियम
Ø Mirrors and types of mirrors Ø Spherical mirrors and images
formed by them Ø Magnification due to spherical mirrors

1. What is light?
Can you recall? 2. What is meant by reflection of light? Which are the different
types of reflection?
Light is an agent which gives us information about what is happening in our surroundings.
We can enjoy various wonders of nature like the sunrise, sunset and rainbow only because
there is light. It is only because of light that we can see the lush green vegetation, colourful
flowers, deep blue skies in the day, stars shining in the dark night sky in the beautiful world
around us. We can see the man-made objects in our surroundings as well. Light is actually
electromagnetic radiation which causes the sensation of vision.
Light reflects differently from the various surfaces around us. We have already learnt
that the reflection from smooth, flat surfaces is regular reflection while rough surfaces reflect
light irregularly.
Mirror and types of mirrors

Can you tell? What is a mirror?

An introduction to scientists
We need polished surfaces for
The German
reflecting light. This is because polished
scientist Justus von
surfaces absorb less light and so maximum
Liebig coated the plane
light gets reflected.
surface of a piece of
In scientific language, a surface which ordinary glass with
reflects light and creates clear images is silver metal and made
called a mirror. A mirror is a reflecting the first mirror. Such a
surface. mirror is called a
We use various types of mirrors in our silvered glass mirror.
daily life. Mirrors are of two types: plane
mirrors and spherical mirrors.

Plane mirror - Plane mirrors are used in various activities

in our day to day life. A mirror is made by coating the back
surface of a flat and smooth glass piece with a thin, reflecting
film of aluminium or silver. To protect this reflecting film and
to make that side opaque, another coat of a substance like
lead oxide is given over it.

Can you recall? What are the laws of reflection of light? 10.1 Plane mirror

115
 We see a clear image of ourselves when
we stand in front of a mirror in our house. To
understand how an image is formed in a mirror Incident Reflected
let us first consider an image formed by a point ray ray
source. Light rays travel in all directions from
such a source. Several of these rays fall on the
mirror, get reflected and reach our eyes. Due to
reflection, they appear to be coming from a
point behind the mirror. That point is the image Plain mirror
of the point source.
As figure 11.2 A shows, light rays falling
A. Rays falling on a mirror normal
perpendicularly on the mirror are reflected to its surface
back in the perpendicular direction.
Figure 11.2 B shows a point source O in O M1 Image O1
front of the plane mirror M1M2. Incident rays Object
OR1 and OR2 get reflected according to the
laws of reflection along paths R1S1 and R2S2
respectively. When these reflected rays are R2
extended behind the mirror, they meet at O1.
When seen from E, the rays appear to be R1
coming from O1. Other rays starting from O
also get reflected and appear to be coming S2
from O1. Thus, point O1 is the image of point O.
The reflected rays do not actually meet. S1
Hence, such an image is called a virtual E
image. The perpendicular distance of the Eye M2
image from the mirror is equal to the
B. Image of a point source formed by a mirror
perpendicular distance of the source from
the mirror. M1
If we use an extended source instead of a P1
P
point source, an image is formed of every point
of the source, thereby forming an extended
image of the whole source. As shown in figure
11.2 C, an extended source PQ is kept in front
of the mirror M1M2. The images of P and Q are
Q1
formed at P1 and Q1 respectively. Similarly, Q
images of all points between P and Q are
formed between P1 and Q1 resulting in the M2
image P1Q1 of the entire extended source. C. Image of an extended source formed by a
The image formed by a plane mirror is of the mirror
same size as the source. 11.2 Formation of images by a mirror
1. If we hold a page of a book in front of a mirror, we see laterally
inverted letters in the mirror. Why does it happen?
Can you tell? 2. Which letters of the English alphabet form images that look the
same as the original letters?
116
 The image of a word appears laterally inverted in the mirror. The image of every
point on the word is formed behind the mirror at the same distance from the mirror as the
point itself. This is called lateral inversion.
When a person stands in front a plane mirror,
Use your brain power ! how is the image formed? What is the nature of the
image?
Place two plane mirrors at an angle of 900 to each other. Place a
Try this small object between them. Images will be formed in both mirrors.
How many images do you see?

Now change the angle between the mirrors

as given in the following table and count the
number of images each time. How is this
number related to the measure of the angle?
Discuss this relationship.

Angle Number of
images
120० 11.3 Mirrors at right angles to each other
90०
60० 3600
n= -1
45० A
n = number of images, A = angle between
30० the mirrors

1. Check if the number of images that you obtained for different values of angles is
consistent with the above formula.
2. If we keep the mirrors parallel to each other, how many images will we see?
Statement: In order to see the full image of a person standing in front of a mirror, the
minimum height of the mirror must be half the height of the person.
Proof : In figure 11.4, the point at the top of the head, the eyes and a point at the feet of a
person are indicated by H, E and F respectively. R and S are midpoints of HE and EF
respectively. The mirror PQ is at a height of NQ from the ground and is perpendicular to
it. PQ is the minimum height of the mirror in order to obtain the full image of the person.
For this, RP and SQ must be perpendicular to the mirror. Find out why, by studying the
figure 11.4.
Minimum height of the mirror
PQ = RS
= RE + ES HE EF HF
= + = = Half of the person’s height
2 2 2

117
 M
H H1
R R1
P
E

Q
S S1

F F1
N

11.4 A plane mirror and the full image of a person

Spherical mirrors

Observe and discuss. You must have seen the mirrors

displayed in the Laughing Chamber in a
fair. Your face appears distorted in these
mirrors. Why does this happen? These
mirrors are different from the mirrors we
have at home. They are curved. The
images formed by curved mirrors are
different from those formed by plane
mirrors. Because of this we do not see the
familiar images in these mirrors.
The rear view mirrors in cars, which
enable drivers to see the vehicles coming
from behind, are curved mirrors.

11.5 Laughing Chamber

Try this If we cut a rubber ball into two parts as shown

in figure 11.6, we can see that each of the two parts
A has two types of surfaces.
Generally, spherical mirrors are parts of a
hollow glass sphere like the part B in the figure. The
B inner or outer surface of this part is coated with a
shiny substance to produce a spherical mirror.
Reflection of light takes place either from its outer
or inner surface. Thus, there are two types of
spherical mirrors as described below.
11. 6 Creation of spherical mirrors
118
A. Concave mirror
If the inner surface of the spherical mirror is the reflecting surface, then it is called a
concave mirror.
B. Convex mirror
If the outer surface of the spherical mirror is the reflecting surface then it is called a
convex mirror.
Terms related to spherical mirrors
Pole : The centre of the mirror surface is called its pole. P is the pole of the mirror in figure
11.7.
Centre of curvature : The centre of the sphere of which the mirror is a part, is called the
centre of curvature of the mirror. C is the centre of curvature of the mirror in the figure.
Radius of curvature

Centre of curvature
A

M
P Pole of the mirror
Principal focus C F

11.7 Terms related to spherical mirrors

Radius of curvature : The radius of the sphere of which the mirror is a part, is called the
radius of curvature of the mirror. The length CP or CA in the figure is the radius of curvature
of the mirror.
Principal axis : The straight line passing through the pole and centre of curvature of the
mirror is called its principal axis. PM is the principal axis of the mirror in the figure.
Principal focus : Incident rays which are parallel to the principal axis of a concave mirror,
after reflection from the mirror, meet at a particular point in front of the mirror on the
principal axis. This point (F) is called the principal focus of the concave mirror. In the
case of a convex mirror, incident rays parallel to the principal axis, after reflection, appear
to come from a particular point behind the mirror lying along the principal axis. This point
is called the principal focus of the convex mirror.
Focal length : The distance (f) between the pole and the principal focus of the mirror is
called the focal length. This distance is half of the radius of curvature of the mirror.

What is the difference between the principal

Use your brain power !
focus of the concave and convex mirrors?
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Drawing the reflected rays

Try this
How do we determine the direction
that an incident ray will take after reflection
A from a spherical mirror? In figure 11.8,
M MN is a spherical mirror and ray AQ is
incident on it. CQ is a radius and therefore
Q is perpendicular to the mirror at Q. Thus,
angle AQC is the angle of incidence.
C According to the laws of reflection, angle
P of incidence and angle of reflection are of
the same measure. Thus, while drawing
the reflected ray QB, angle CQB must be
N B equal to the angle AQC.

11.8 Drawing the reflected rays.

We can study the images produced by spherical mirrors by drawing ray diagrams. A
ray diagram is the depiction of the path taken by light rays. To draw a ray diagram, we
use the following rules, which are based on the laws of reflection of light. (See figure
11.9).

Rule 1 : If an incident ray is parallel to the principal axis then the reflected ray passes
through the principal focus.
Rule 2 : If an incident ray passes through the principal focus of the mirror, the
reflected ray is parallel to the principal axis.
Rule 3 : If an incident ray passes through the centre of curvature of the mirror, the
reflected ray traces the same path back.

Incident ray Incident ray

Incident ray

C F C F C F
Reflected
P P
ray
Reflected ray P
Reflected ray

Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3

11.9 Rules for drawing ray diagrams

120
Images formed by a concave mirror
Material : Candle or glass lamp, two cardboard boxes, large card-
Try this board sheet, white paper, concave mirror, metre ruler, wooden block.

Action : Take the cardboard box,

large enough to hold the candle or
lamp. Cut off one side and place the
candle inside. Cut out an arrow Cardboard
box
shaped slit from one side, so that we
get an arrow shaped light source. Concave mirror
Make a screen of size 20 cm x30 cm
by sticking a white paper on the
cardboard sheet and set it up
vertically with the help of the wooden
block. Fix the mirror vertically on
the other cardboard box by making a Metre scale
slit on its top surface. 11.10 Images formed by a plane mirror
Place the screen near a window and place the mirror in front of it such that the image
of the sun or some far away object forms clearly on the screen. Measure the distance
between the screen and the mirror in this situation. This is the focal length of the mirror.
Set up the experiment as shown in figure 11.10, in a dark room. Place the mirror near
the 0 mark on the metre scale. Place the screen in front of it and place the light source in
between the two so that the distance between the mirror and the source is a little more than
the focal length of the mirror.
Obtain a clear image of the source on the screen by moving the screen along the metre
scale and perpendicular to it. The image will be inverted and larger than the source. As the
image is obtained on the screen, it is a real image.
Now move the source away from the mirror so that the distance between the two is
greater than twice the focal length of the mirror. Get a clear image on the screen by
moving it towards the mirror. The image is inverted, smaller than the object and real.

M M
Observe

S A1
A A S
B1 P Q
C
C B F F B P B1
R
Q
T A
1
N N
A. B.
11.11 Images obtained in a concave mirror
121
 As shown in figure 11.11 A, an object AB is placed between the focus and the centre
of curvature of the concave mirror MN. The incident ray AQ, starting from A, and going
through the focus F, becomes parallel to the principal axis after reflection and returns
along QR. The incident ray AS, parallel to the axis, after reflection passes through the
focus and returns along the path ST. It cuts the reflected ray QR at point A1. Thus, the
image of A is formed at A1. The point B is situated on the principal axis and so its image
will also be on the axis and will be directly above A1. Thus the image of B is at B1. The
images of points between A1 and B1 will be formed between points A1 and B1. Thus, the
image of object AB is A1B1.
From this we see that when the object is placed between the focus and the centre of
curvature of the mirror, the image is formed beyond the centre of curvature. This image is
larger than the object and is inverted. As the reflected rays actually cross each other, the
image is a real image and can be obtained on a screen.
In figure 11.11 B, an object AB is placed between the pole and focus of the mirror.
The incident ray AQ is parallel to the principal axis and the incident ray AS is in the
direction joining A with the centre of curvature. The figure shows how these rays get
reflected and form the image A1B1 of the object. This image is behind the mirror, erect and
larger than the object. As the reflected rays do not actually meet but appear to come
together behind the mirror, the image is a virtual image.
The position and type of the image produced by a concave mirror when an object is
placed at different distances from it are given in the following table.

Images formed by concave mirrors

No. Position of the Position of the image Nature of Size of the

object image image
1 Between pole and Behind the mirror Erect, virtual Magnified
focus
2 At the focus At infinity Inverted, real Very large
3 Between focus and Beyond the centre of Inverted, real Magnified
centre of curvature curvature
4 At the centre of At the centre of Inverted, real Same as the
curvature curvature object
5 Beyond the centre Between the centre of Inverted, real Diminished
of curvature curvature and focus
6 At a very large At focus Inverted, real Point image
(infinite) distance

Website for more information www.physicsclassroom.com

122
 Draw ray diagrams and determine the position and type of
Try this images formed by a concave mirror when the object is placed at
(1) Focus (2) Centre of curvature (3) Beyond the centre of
curvature and (4) At an infinite distance. Tally your answers with
the information given in the table.
Image formed by a convex mirror
Figure 11.12 shows an object AB kept in front of a convex mirror MN. Incident rays
AQ, starting from A and travelling parallel to the axis and AR going towards the centre of
curvature are shown. How these get reflected and form the image A1B1 can be understood
from the figure. It is clear that the image is smaller than the object, behind the mirror and
erect. As the reflected rays do not actually cross one another, the image is a virtual image.

The nature of the image formed

by a convex mirror does not depend M
on the distance of the object from the A Q A1
mirror. These images are always
virtual, smaller than the object and
R
situated behind the mirror. B P B1 F C

N
11.12 Image formed in a convex mirror

Divergence and convergence of light

A. Take 5 sticks from a matchbox. Arrange

Try this
them so that their heads come together
at a point. In this arrangement, the
heads of the matchsticks are said to
have converged.
B. Now arrange the sticks so that their
uncoated ends are together at a point.
The heads are spread apart. In this
arrangement, the heads are diverging
from the point.
11.13 Divergence and convergence

A concave mirror is also called a focusing mirror. This is because, as shown in figure
11.14 A, parallel rays get focused after reflection in this mirror. The size of the image
produced by these mirrors can be larger or smaller than the object, depending upon the
distance of the object from the mirror.
123
 A convex mirror is also called a dispersing mirror. This is because, as shown in figure
11.14 B, parallel incident rays get dispersed after reflection in this mirror. The size of the
images produced by these mirrors is always smaller than the size of the objects.
How will you find out if a mirror is concave or convex?
The special mirror which is used for shaving is a concave mirror. When held close to
the face, it gives vertical and larger image of the face. If the same mirror is taken farther
away from the face, the image gets smaller and smaller.
The mirrors used in cars and motorcycles are convex mirrors. In these mirrors the
image of a face is erect and smaller and it remains erect but becomes smaller and smaller
when the mirror is taken away from the face. As a result we can see the images of the
surroundings also in the mirror. Thus, we can determine the nature of the mirror by studying
the images produced by them.
When the light rays coming from an object enter our eyes, we can see the object
because, while passing through the lenses in our eyes, the rays converge, and the image of
the object forms on the retina of our eye. This image, formed by the light rays actually
converging at a point, is a real image. A real image can be obtained on a screen.

Concave mirror
The image produced by a plane mirror
is a virtual image. This image is produced
at a point from which the reflected light
rays appear to diverge (figure 11.2 B). This
image cannot be obtained on a screen as . F P
the rays do not actually meet there. C
When light rays collect at a point after
A
reflection from a spherical mirror, they are
said to converge there. When we want to
bring light rays together at a point, a Focal length
converging light beam is used. Doctors use
such a beam to converge light on a tooth,
ear, nose, etc. Equipment using solar Convex mirror
energy also use converging light.

When light rays starting from a point

spread out after reflection by a spherical
mirror, light is said to have diverged. When P F
.
C
we want light rays to spread out from a
source, a divergent beam is used, as for
example, in street lamps. B

Focal length

11.14 Concave and convex mirror

124
 Uses of concave mirrors
1. Barber shop, dental hospital – If the object is placed between the pole and focus of
the mirror, an erect, virtual and magnified image is obtained
2. Torch and head lamps of vehicles- The source of light is kept at the focus of the
mirror. Thus, a parallel beam of light is obtained.
3. Flood lights- The source of light is placed a little beyond the centre of curvature of
the mirror. This gives a bright beam of light.
4. Various equipment using solar energy - Sun rays reflected by a concave mirror
come together in the focal plane.
Uses of convex mirrors
1. Mirrors on the sides of cars are convex mirrors
2. Big convex mirrors are fitted at gate and in square.

According to the Cartesian Direction of incident rays Y axis

sign convention, the pole of the
mirror is taken as the origin. The Distances
upward
principal axis is taken as the (positive +) Distances on the left Distances on the right
X- axis of the frame of reference. (negative -) (positve +)
X axis
The sign conventions are as
follows. Distances Principal axis
1. The object is always kept on down
ward
the left of the mirror. All (negative-)
distances parallel to the
principal axis are measured
from the pole of the mirror.
2. All distances measured 11.15 Cartesian sign conventions
towards the right of the pole
are taken to be positive, while those measured towards the left are taken to be negative.
3. Distances measured vertically upwards from the principal axis are taken to be
positive.
4. Distances measured vertically downwards from the principal axis are taken to be
negative.
5. The focal length of a concave mirror is negative while that of a convex mirror is
positive.

Mirror formula Mirror formula

We get the correct values of distances
by using the Cartesian sign convention.
The object distance (u) is the distance of 1 1 1
v + u = f
the object from the pole, while the image
distance (v) is the distance of the image
from the pole. The relationship between This formula is valid for all spherical
the object distance, image distance and the mirrors, for all positions of objects, under
focal length (f) is called the mirror formula. all circumstances.
125
Magnification due to spherical mirrors
The magnification due to a spherical mirror is given by the ratio of the height of the
image (h2) to the height of the object (h1). This tells us how large the image is as compared
to the object.
Height of the image h2 v
Magnifiction M = = . From this it can be shown that M= - u
Height of the object h1
As the object is always kept above the principal axis, its height is always taken to be
positive. For virtual images, the height is positive while for real images, it is negative. As
the object is kept on the left of the mirror, its distance (u) is always negative.
Determine the sign of magnification in each of the 6 cases in the
Try this table on page 122 using both formulae and verify that they are the
same.
Solved examples
Example : Rajashree wants to get an inverted image of height 5 cm of an object kept at
a distance of 30 cm from a concave mirror. The focal length of the mirror is 10 cm. At
what distance from the mirror should she place the screen ? What will be the type of the
image, and what is the height of the object?
Given :
Focal length = f = - 10 cm, object distance = u = - 30 cm ,
height of the image = h2 = -5 cm
Image distance = v = ?, height of object = h1 = ?
According to the mirror formula
Magnification
h2 v
1 1 1 M= =-
v + u =f h1 u
uh
1 1 1 h1 = - 2
v = f -u v
(- 30) (-5)
1 1 1 h1 = -
v = -10 --30 - 15
h1 = (-2) (-5)
1 -3 + 1
v = 30 h1= 10 cm
The height of the object is 10 cm. Thus,
1 -2 the image will be real and diminshed.
v = 30
1 1
v = -15 cm Rajashree has to place the screen 15 cm to the left of the mirror.

v = -15
126
 Always remember
The image in front of the mirror which can be obtained on a screen is called a real
image. For any position of the object, a convex mirror always produces an erect
diminished image (which is smaller than the object) and is situated behind the mirror.
The image which is behind the mirror and thus cannot be obtained on a screen is
called a virtual image. The magnification of such an image is less than 1.

Exercises
1. Answer the following questions. the mirror is 15 cm. At what distance
a. Explain the difference between a from the mirror should a screen be
plane mirror, a concave mirror and a kept so as to get a clear image? What
convex mirror with respect to the type will be the size and nature of the
and size of the images produced. image? (Answer: 37.5 cm and
b. Describe the positions of the source 10.5 cm. Image is real)
of light with respect to a concave b. A convex mirror has a focal length of
mirror in 1.Torch light 18 cm. The image of an object kept
2. Projector lamp 3. Floodlight in front of the mirror is half the height
c. Why are concave mirrors used in of the object. What is the distance of
solar devices? the object from the mirror?
d. Why are the mirrors fitted on the (Answer: 18 cm)
outside of cars convex? c. A 10 cm long stick is kept in front of
e. Why does obtaining the image of the a concave mirror having focal length
sun on a paper with the help of a of 10 cm in such a way that the end
concave mirror burn the paper? of the stick closest to the pole is at a
f. If a spherical mirror breaks, what distance of 20 cm. What will be the
type of mirrors are the individual length of the image?
pieces?
(Answer: 10 cm)
2. What sign conventions are used for
reflection from a spherical mirror? 6. Three mirrors are created from a
single sphere. Which of the following
3. Draw ray diagrams for the cases of
- pole, centre of curvature, radius of
images obtained in concave mirrors as
curvature, principal axis - will be
described in the table on page 122.
common to them and which will not
4. Which type of mirrors are used in the
be common?
following?
Periscope, floodlights, shaving mirror,
kaleidoscope, street lights, head lamps
of a car.
5. Solve the following examples Project :
a. An object of height 7 cm is kept at a Make a kaleidoscope and make a
distance of 25 cm in front of a presentation in the class about how
concave mirror. The focal length of it works.
²²²
127