Detailed Notes: Light - Reflection and Refraction
Part 1: Introduction to Light
What is Light?
Light is a form of energy that enables us to see objects.
It travels in straight lines. This property is called the rectilinear
propagation of light.
It is an electromagnetic wave and does not require a medium to
travel.
Speed of light in a vacuum (c) is approximately 3 x 10⁸ m/s.
Part 2: Reflection of Light
Reflection is the phenomenon of light bouncing back after striking
a surface.
Laws of Reflection:
First Law: The angle of incidence (∠i) is equal to the angle of
reflection (∠r). (∠i = ∠r)
Second Law: The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to
the surface at the point of incidence, all lie in the same plane.
(Key Terms: Incident Ray, Reflected Ray, Normal, Angle of
Incidence, Angle of Reflection)
Mirrors:
Plane Mirror:
Image Properties:
Virtual (cannot be formed on a screen) and Erect (upright).
Same size as the object.
The image is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.
Laterally inverted (left appears right and vice-versa).
Spherical Mirrors: Mirrors with a curved reflecting surface.
Concave Mirror: Reflecting surface is curved inwards (like the
inside of a spoon). It is a converging mirror.
Convex Mirror: Reflecting surface is curved outwards (like the
back of a spoon). It is a diverging mirror.
Terminology for Spherical Mirrors:
Pole (P): The center of the reflecting surface of the mirror.
Center of Curvature (C): The center of the sphere of which the
mirror is a part.
Radius of Curvature (R): The distance between the Pole and the
Center of Curvature (P to C).
Principal Axis: The straight line passing through the Pole and the
Center of Curvature.
Principal Focus (F): The point on the principal axis where rays
parallel to the principal axis either converge (concave mirror) or
appear to diverge from (convex mirror) after reflection.
Focal Length (f): The distance between the Pole and the Principal
Focus (P to F).
Relationship: f = R / 2
Rules for Drawing Ray Diagrams:
A ray parallel to the principal axis passes through the focus (F)
after reflection (for concave) or appears to come from the focus
(for convex).
A ray passing through the focus (F) becomes parallel to the
principal axis after reflection.
A ray passing through the center of curvature (C) reflects back
along the same path.
A ray striking the pole (P) reflects such that the angle of incidence
equals the angle of reflection (∠i = ∠r) with respect to the
principal axis.
Image Formation by Spherical Mirrors:
Position of Object (Concave Mirror) Position of Image Size of
Image Nature of Image
At Infinity At Focus (F) Highly diminished, point-sized Real &
Inverted
Beyond C Between F and C Diminished Real & Inverted
At C At C Same size Real & Inverted
Between C and F Beyond C Enlarged Real & Inverted
At Focus (F) At Infinity Highly enlarged Real & Inverted
Between P and F Behind the mirror Enlarged Virtual & Erect
Position of Object (Convex Mirror) Position of Image Size of Image
Nature of Image
At Infinity At Focus (F), behind Highly diminished Virtual & Erect
Anywhere between P and Infinity Between P and F, behind
Diminished Virtual & Erect
Sign Convention (New Cartesian Sign Convention):
The pole (P) is the origin.
The principal axis is the x-axis.
Distances are measured from the pole.
Distances in the direction of incident light are positive (+).
Distances against the direction of incident light are negative (-).
Heights above the principal axis are positive (+).
Heights below the principal axis are negative (-).
Therefore, for mirrors: u is always negative. f is negative for
concave, positive for convex.
Mirror Formula and Magnification:
Mirror Formula: 1/v + 1/u = 1/f
u = object distance
v = image distance
f = focal length
Magnification (m): m = h'/h = -v/u
h' = height of image, h = height of object
If m is negative, the image is Real & Inverted.
If m is positive, the image is Virtual & Erect.
If |m| > 1, the image is enlarged.
If |m| < 1, the image is diminished.
If |m| = 1, the image is the same size.
Part 3: Refraction of Light
Refraction is the phenomenon of the bending of light as it passes
from one transparent medium to another. This happens because
the speed of light is different in different media.
Laws of Refraction:
First Law: The incident ray, the refracted ray, and the normal to
the interface of the two media at the point of incidence, all lie in
the same plane.
Second Law (Snell's Law): The ratio of the sine of the angle of
incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is a constant, for a
given pair of media and color of light.
sin(i) / sin(r) = constant = n₂₁ (Refractive Index of medium 2 w.r.t.
medium 1)
Refractive Index (n):
The measure of how much a medium can bend light.
n = Speed of light in vacuum (c) / Speed of light in medium (v)
Optically Denser Medium: Higher refractive index, light travels
slower.
Optically Rarer Medium: Lower refractive index, light travels
faster.
Rule of Bending: When light enters a denser medium, it bends
towards the normal. When it enters a rarer medium, it bends
away from the normal.
Spherical Lenses:
Convex Lens: Thicker at the center, thinner at the edges. It is a
converging lens.
Concave Lens: Thinner at the center, thicker at the edges. It is a
diverging lens.
(Terminology is similar to mirrors, but with an Optical Centre (O)
instead of a pole, and two foci, F₁ and F₂).
Image Formation by Lenses: (Rules are analogous to mirrors)
Position of Object (Convex Lens) Position of Image Size of Image
Nature of Image
At Infinity At Focus F₂ Highly diminished Real & Inverted
Beyond 2F₁ Between F₂ and 2F₂ Diminished Real & Inverted
At 2F₁ At 2F₂ Same size Real & Inverted
Between F₁ and 2F₁ Beyond 2F₂ Enlarged Real & Inverted
At Focus F₁ At Infinity Highly enlarged Real & Inverted
Between O and F₁ On same side as object Enlarged Virtual & Erect
Position of Object (Concave Lens) Position of Image Size of Image
Nature of Image
At Infinity At Focus F₁, on same side Highly diminished Virtual &
Erect
Anywhere between O and Infinity Between O and F₁, on same side
Diminished Virtual & Erect
Lens Formula and Magnification:
Sign Convention: Same as mirrors, but the origin is the Optical
Centre (O).
Lens Formula: 1/v - 1/u = 1/f (Note the minus sign!)
Magnification (m): m = h'/h = v/u (Note there is no minus sign!)
Interpretation of m (positive/negative, >1/<1) is the same as for
mirrors.
Power of a Lens (P):
The ability of a lens to converge or diverge light rays.
It is the reciprocal of the focal length in meters.
P = 1 / f (in meters)
Unit: Dioptre (D).
Power of a convex lens is positive (+).
Power of a concave lens is negative (-).
