Class 10 Science - Light (Notes)
Reflection of Light:
The phenomenon where light rays return to the same medium upon striking a surface is known as
reflection.
Laws of Reflection:
1. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the surface at the point of incidence all lie in
the same plane.
2. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Properties of Image Formed by a Plane Mirror:
- Virtual and erect
- Laterally inverted
- Same distance behind the mirror as the object is in front
- Same size as the object (magnification = 1)
Spherical Mirrors:
- Concave mirror: Reflecting surface curved inwards.
- Convex mirror: Reflecting surface curved outwards.
Important Terms:
- Pole (P): The center of the reflecting surface.
- Centre of Curvature (C): Center of the sphere of which mirror is a part.
- Radius of Curvature (R): Distance between pole and center of curvature.
- Principal Axis: Line joining pole and center of curvature.
- Principal Focus (F): Point where rays parallel to principal axis converge or appear to diverge.
- Focal Length (f): Distance between pole and focus.
- Aperture: Diameter of reflecting surface.
Refraction of Light:
The change in direction of light as it passes from one medium to another is called refraction.
Laws of Refraction:
1. The incident ray, the refracted ray, and the normal at the point of incidence all lie in the same
plane.
2. Snell's Law: (sin i / sin r) = constant.
Refraction through Glass Slab:
- Angle of incidence = Angle of emergence
- Lateral shift occurs
Spherical Lenses:
- Convex lens: Thick at the middle, converges light.
- Concave lens: Thin at the middle, diverges light.
Important Terms:
- Optical Center (O): Point where light passes undeviated.
- Principal Axis: Line through centers of curvature.
- Principal Focus (F): Point where rays parallel to axis meet (convex) or appear to diverge
(concave).
- Focal Length (f): Distance between optical center and focus.
- Aperture: Diameter of effective surface.
Lens Formula:
1/f = 1/v - 1/u
Where,
- u = object distance
- v = image distance
- f = focal length
Magnification:
m = hi / ho = v / u
Power of Lens:
P = 100 / f (in cm)
SI Unit: Dioptre (D)
