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Reflection and Mirrors

The document provides an overview of the laws of reflection and the types of reflection, including regular and diffuse reflection. It explains the functioning of mirrors, particularly plane and concave mirrors, and their ability to form real and virtual images. Additionally, it covers the characteristics of convex mirrors and offers exam tips related to ray diagrams and image identification.

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2 views21 pages

Reflection and Mirrors

The document provides an overview of the laws of reflection and the types of reflection, including regular and diffuse reflection. It explains the functioning of mirrors, particularly plane and concave mirrors, and their ability to form real and virtual images. Additionally, it covers the characteristics of convex mirrors and offers exam tips related to ray diagrams and image identification.

Uploaded by

lilcreepycactus
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reflection and Mirrors

Lesson 2
Law of reflection

 The angle of the light coming in is same as angle exiting


2 types of Reflection

 Almost all objects can reflect light

 Sunlight bounce from objects so we can see.

 But not all objects reflect equally


Regular Reflection

 The surface of water without wind

 It can form an image of the tree

 Image: a copy of an object formed by


reflected or refracted rays

 Smooth, shiny surfaces can all do this


Diffuse Reflection

 A piece of cloth

 Tiny bumps causes the lights to bounce


randomly

 An image cannot form

 The image is spread out until unrecognizable


 Another word for spread out is diffused
Microscopic differences
Make a chart

 Write down 3 materials for each type on your notebook

 Write 1 material which is in between the two types.


Mirrors

 Mirrors are smooth surfaces which reflects light

 The simplest type of mirror is the plane mirror


 Flat sheet of glass with silver or other metal on the back

 Plane Mirrors forms a virtual image


 The object appears to be at a place, but not actually there
How a mirror works

 We can use the law of reflection

 First draw the actual light path

 Then extend the light into the mirror


 This will give us the virtual image
Lets practice with a mirror

|
Concave mirror

 Concave = bending inwards


 Think “cave” when imagining concave mirror

 It will cause parallel light to meet at a point after reflection – focal


point
Concave mirrors are weird

 They can form both real and virtual images


 Real images can be projected, and up-side down
 Optical axis: the symmetrical axis of the mirror or lens
How to draw light diagram from
concave mirror?
 Draw 1 parallel ray called A
 Draw 1 ray going through the focal point called B

 Ray A will be reflected in a way which goes through the focal point
 B will be reflected which cause it to become parallel
2 cases with the concave mirror

 1: if object further than the focal point: real image is produced

 Real images form when light rays actually meet:

 Real images are usually upside down!

 The further away the object, the smaller the image


Concave mirror - Real image


)
2 cases with the concave mirror

 2: if object closer than the focal point: virtual image is produced

 virtual images form when light rays meet behind the mirror:

 Virtual images are usually rightside up!

 Virtual image of convex mirror always larger than object


Concave mirror - Virtual image


)
Rules of light diagram - Summary

 1. Lights which are parallel will go towards to the focal point


 2. Lights which crosses the focal point will be come parallel
 2.5. Light crossing C (which is twice of focal length) will come back to
C

 3. Images forms when light rays meet each other

 4. If image is in front of the mirror it is real


 5. If image is behind the mirror it it virtual
Convex Mirrors

 They bend opposite to concave mirrors

 They only form virtual images and are always smaller than the object

 Usually not tested because they are confusing


Convex mirror - Virtual image


(
Exam tips

 We will usually need to know how to draw a ray diagram

 We will also need to know if an image is real or virtual

 We need to know if image is larger or smaller than the object

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