Class 10 Science Notes: Light - Reflection and Refraction
1. **Light** is a form of energy that enables us to see objects.
2. **Reflection of Light**: Bouncing back of light when it strikes a smooth surface.
- Laws of Reflection:
a. Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
b. Incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.
3. **Real Image**: Formed when rays actually meet after reflection or refraction. It can be obtained
on a screen.
4. **Virtual Image**: Formed when rays appear to meet after reflection or refraction. It cannot be
obtained on a screen.
5. **Spherical Mirrors**:
- Concave Mirror: Reflecting surface is curved inward.
- Convex Mirror: Reflecting surface is curved outward.
6. **Image Formation by Concave Mirror**:
- Depends on the object's position relative to the focal point.
7. **Uses of Mirrors**:
- Concave: Reflectors, torches, shaving mirrors.
- Convex: Rearview mirrors.
8. **Refraction of Light**: Bending of light when it passes from one medium to another.
- Laws of Refraction:
a. Incident ray, refracted ray, and normal lie in the same plane.
b. Snell's Law: n = sin i / sin r
9. **Refractive Index**: Ratio of speed of light in vacuum to speed in the medium.
10. **Lenses**:
- Convex Lens: Thicker at center, converging lens.
- Concave Lens: Thinner at center, diverging lens.
11. **Image Formation by Lenses**:
- Can be real or virtual depending on object distance.
Questions and Answers
Q1. What is the law of reflection?
A1. The law states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and both rays lie in
the same plane.
Q2. What is the principal focus of a concave mirror?
A2. It is the point on the principal axis where parallel rays of light converge after reflection.
Q3. What is refraction of light?
A3. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to change in
speed.
Q4. State Snell's law.
A4. Snell's law states that the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of
refraction is constant for two given media.
Q5. What is the use of convex mirrors?
A5. Convex mirrors are used in vehicles as rearview mirrors because they provide a wider field of
view.
Q6. Define refractive index.
A6. Refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium.
Important Formulas
Formulas Related to Light (Class 10):
1. Mirror Formula:
1/f = 1/v + 1/u
where,
f = focal length
v = image distance
u = object distance
(Sign convention is important)
2. Magnification (Mirror):
m = -v/u
m = h'/h
where,
h' = height of image, h = height of object
3. Lens Formula:
1/f = 1/v - 1/u
4. Magnification (Lens):
m = v/u
m = h'/h
5. Refractive Index:
n = speed of light in vacuum / speed of light in medium
n = sin(i) / sin(r)
where,
i = angle of incidence, r = angle of refraction
6. Relationship between Refractive Indices:
n1 * sin(i) = n2 * sin(r)
Important Sign Conventions:
- Distances measured against the direction of incident light are taken as negative.
- Distances measured in the direction of incident light are taken as positive.
