Chapter 9

Chapter 9
Light – Reflection and Refraction
 Reflection: The phenomenon of bouncing back of light rays in the same

medium on striking the smooth surface is known as reflection of light.
 Laws of Reflection:
 The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
 The incident ray, the normal to the mirror at the point of incidence and the
reflected ray, all lie in the same plane.
Note: These laws of reflection are applicable to all types of reflecting surfaces
including spherical surfaces.
 Nature of image:
(I) Virtual image: The image which cannot be taken on a screen is called
virtual image. Virtual image is always erect image.
 Example: When some object is placed very close to the concave mirror or
in front of plane mirror, we get image behind the mirror which we cannot
get on any screen. Such image is called virtual image.
 Actually, the image is not present behind the mirror. A virtual image
forms when reflected or refracted light rays diverge.
(II) Real image: The image which can be taken on a screen is called real
image. Real image is always inverted image.
 Example: When some object is placed beyond the focal point of the
concave mirror, we get image in front of the mirror which we can receive
on any screen. Such image is called real image.
 Real images are the type of images that are formed due to the
convergence of light rays at a point after being reflected or refracted
from a mirror or lens.
 Image formation by plane mirror:
 Nature: Virtual and erect
 Size: same as the size of object
 Position: same as the distance of object from mirror.
 Image is laterally inverted.
 Types of mirror: (i) Plane mirror (ii) Spherical Mirror
 Spherical mirror: A spherical mirror is a mirror that has the shape of a piece
cut out of a spherical surface whose inward or outward surface is reflecting.
 Types of Spherical mirror:
(a) Concave mirror: A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved
inwards, that is, faces towards the centre of the sphere, is called a concave
mirror.
(b) Convex mirror: A spherical mirror, whose reflecting surface is curved
outwards, is called a convex mirror.
 Example: The curved surface of a shining spoon could be considered as a
curved or spherical mirror. The surface of the spoon curved inwards can be
approximated to a concave mirror and the surface of the spoon bulged
outwards can be approximated to a convex mirror.
 Definitions of important terms:
(1) Pole (P): The centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is a point
called the pole. It lies on the surface of the mirror.
(2) Centre of curvature (C): The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror forms a
part of a sphere. This sphere has a centre. This point is called the centre of
curvature of the spherical mirror.
 Note: the centre of curvature is not a part of the mirror. It lies outside its
reflecting surface.
 The centre of curvature of a concave mirror lies in front of it and it lies
behind the mirror in case of a convex mirror.
(3) Radius of curvature (R): The radius of the sphere of which the reflecting
surface of a spherical mirror forms a part, is called the radius of curvature of the
mirror.
(4) Principal axis: An imaginary straight line passing through the pole and the
centre of curvature of a spherical mirror is called the principal axis.
 Principal axis is normal to the mirror at its pole.
(5) Focal point (F): A number of rays parallel to the principal axis are falling on a
spherical mirror. After reflection they are all meeting/intersecting at a point or
appear to come from a point on the principal axis of the mirror. This point is
called the principal focus or focal point of the spherical mirror.
 Focal point of concave mirror: A number of rays parallel to the principal
axis are falling on a concave mirror. After reflection they are all
meeting/intersecting at a point on the principal axis of the mirror. This point
is called the principal focus or focal point of the concave mirror.
 Focal point of convex mirror: A number of rays parallel to the principal
axis are falling on a convex mirror. The reflected rays appear to come from a
point on the principal axis. This point is called the principal focus or focal
point of the convex mirror.
(6) Focal length (f): The distance between the pole and the principal focus of a
spherical mirror is called the focal length.
(7) Aperture: The diameter of the reflecting surface of spherical mirror is called its
aperture.
 Relation between f and R: For spherical mirrors of small apertures, the radius
of curvature is found to be equal to twice the focal length.
R = 2f
 This implies that the principal focus of a spherical mirror lies midway
between the pole and centre of curvature for spherical mirrors of small
apertures.
 Usages of spherical mirrors:
(a) Usages of concave mirror:
(1) Used in torches, search-lights and vehicles headlights to get powerful
parallel beams of light.
(2) often used as shaving mirrors to see a larger image of the face
(3) The dentists use concave mirrors to see large images of the teeth of
patients.
(4) Large concave mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight to produce heat in
solar furnaces.
(b) Use of convex mirror:
(1) Convex mirrors are commonly used as rear-view (wing) mirrors in
vehicles.
(2) These mirrors are fitted on the sides of the vehicle, enabling the driver to
see traffic behind him/her to facilitate safe driving.
 Reasons of using convex mirrors in vehicle:
 They always give an erect, though diminished, image.
 They have a wider field of view as they are curved outwards which
enable the driver to view much larger area than would be possible with a
plane mirror.
(3) Security mirrors are kept near the ATMs so that the bank customer can
check whether somebody is behind them or not.

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Light – Reflection and Refraction

 Reflection: The phenomenon of bouncing back of light rays in the same

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