EVERGREEN PUBLIC SCHOOL

Subject- Science
Class-X
Chapter – Light
NOTES

General Instruction:
 Make a separate register for Physics.
 Diagrams, charts and tables to be drawn neatly.
 Write these notes in good handwriting.
 After each topic leave one line.
 Maintain the index with proper dates and name of the topics.
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Reflection of Light
 The process of sending back light rays which falls on the surface of an object is
called reflection of light
 Silver metal is one of the best reflectors of light.
 Mirrors we use on our dressing tables in our home are plane mirrors.
 A ray of light is the straight line along which the light traveled and a bundle of light rays
is called a beam of light.

 Laws of Reflection of light

1. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, and
2. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal to the mirror at the point of
incidence all lie in the same plane.
 These laws of reflection are applicable to all types of reflecting surfaces including
spherical surfaces

Real and Virtual images

 An image is formed when the light rays coming from an object meet at a point after
reflection from a mirror (or refraction from lens).
 The images are of two types

1. Real Images:- Real images are formed when rays of light that comes from an
object (or source) meets at a point after reflection from a mirror (or refraction
 from a lens). Real images can be formed on a screen and can be seen with the
eyes.
2. Virtual images:- Virtual image is an image in which the outgoing rays from an
object do not meet at a point. It will appear to meet at a point in or behind the
optical device (i.e., a mirror) but they do not actually meet after reflection from a
mirror (or refraction from a lens). A plane mirror always forms virtual images.

Characteristics of images formed by mirrors:-

 (a) Images formed by mirrors are always virtual and erect

(b) Size of image is always equal to the size of the object and the image is laterally
inverted.
(c) The images formed by the plane mirror are as far behind the mirror as the object in
front of the mirror.
 Lateral inversion:- If an object is placed in front of the mirror, then the right side of the
object appears to be the left side and left side of the object appears to be the right side
of this image. This change of sides of an object and its mirror image is called lateral
inversion.

Spherical Mirrors

 The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror may be curved inwards or outwards.

 Spherical mirrors are of two types
1. Concave mirror: - In a concave mirror reflection of light takes place at the concave
surface or bent-in surface as shown below in the figure.

2. Convex mirror:- In a convex mirror reflection of light takes place at the convex surface
or bent out surface as shown below in the figure
 Commonly used terms about Spherical mirrors :-

1. Center of curvature: - The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror forms a part of

a sphere. This sphere has a center. This point is called the center of curvature of
the spherical mirror. It is represented by the letter C. Please note that the center
of curvature is not a part of the mirror. It lies outside its reflecting surface. The
center of curvature of a concave mirror lies in front of it. However, it lies behind
the mirror in case of a convex mirror as shown above.
2. Radius of curvature: - 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. It
is represented by the letter R.
 3. Pole: - The center of a spherical mirror is called its pole and is represented by
letter p .
4. Principle axis: - Straight line passing through the pole and the center of curvature
of a spherical mirror is called principle axis of the mirror.
5. Aperture of the mirror: - Portion of the mirror from which reflection of light
actually takes place is called the aperture of the mirror. Aperture of the mirror
actually represents the size of the mirror.

Principle focus and focal length of a Spherical Mirrors

 For understanding about principle focus and focus length of a spherical mirror first
consider the figure given below

 we see that a number of rays parallel to the principal axis are falling on a concave
mirror. If we now observe the reflected rays we see that they are all intersecting at a
point F on the principal axis of the mirror. This point is called the principal focus of the
concave mirror.
 In case of convex mirror rays get reflected at the reflecting surface of the mirror and
these reflected rays appear to come from point F on the principle axis and this point F is
called principle focus of convex mirror.
 The distance between the pole and the principal focus of a spherical mirror is called the
focal length. It is represented by the letter f.
 There is a relationship between the radius of curvature R, and focal length f, of a
spherical mirror and is given by R=2f which means that that the principal focus of a
spherical mirror lies midway between the pole and centre of curvature.

Image Formation by Spherical mirrors

 The nature, position and size of the image formed by a concave mirror depend on the
position of the object in relation to points P, F and C.
  The image formed can be real as well as virtual depending on the positions of the
object.
 The image is either magnified, reduced or has the same size, depending on the position
of the object.

Rules for obtaining images formed by spherical mirrors

(1) Rule 1
A ray of light which is parallel to the principle axis of the mirror passes through its focus
after reflection from the mirror as shown below in the figure

From the figure given above it can be clearly seen that the light rays passes through principle
focus in case of concave mirrors and appears to diverge from principle focus in case of concave
mirror.

(2) Rule 2
A ray of light passing through the center of curvature of the curvature of the concave mirror or
directed in the direction of the center of curvature of a convex mirror, is reflected back along
the same path as shown below in the figure
This happens because the incident rays fall on the mirror along the normal to the reflecting
surface.

(3) Rule 3

A ray passing through principle focus of a concave mirror or a ray which is directed towards the
principal focus of a convex mirror, becomes parallel to the principle axis after reflection and is
shown below in the figure

(4) Rule 4

A ray incident obliquely to the principal axis, towards a point P (pole of the mirror), on the
concave mirror or a convex mirror, is reflected obliquely. The incident and reflected rays follow
the laws of reflection at the point of incidence (point P), making equal angles with the principal
axis and is shown below in the figure
Image formation by spherical mirrors

Image formation by concave mirror

 Ray diagram for the image formation by concave mirror
Position of the object Position of the image Size of the image Nature of the image
At infinity At the focus F Highly diminished Real and inverted
Beyond C Between F and C Diminished Real and inverted
At C At C Same size Real and inverted
Between C and F Beyond C Enlarged Real and inverted
At F At infinity Highly enlarged Real and inverted
Between P and F Behind the mirror Enlarged Virtual and erect
Nature, relative size and position of the image formed by concave mirror
Position, nature, and the size of the image formed by a concave mirror is dependent on the
position of the object in relation to P, C and F. Image formed can be real or virtual. The image
can also be magnified, diminished or even of the same size.

Image formation by convex mirrors

Ray diagram for the image formation by convex mirror

Position of the object Position of the image Size of the image Nature of the image

At infinity At the focus F, behind the mirror Highly diminished Virtual and erect

Between infinity and the pole P of the mirror Between P and F, behind the mirror Diminished Virtual and erect

Nature, relative size and position of the image formed by convex mirror
Sign convention for reflection by spherical mirrors
Reflection of light by spherical mirrors follow a set of sign conventions called the New Cartesian
Sign Convention. In this convention, the pole (P) of the mirror is taken as the origin. The
principal axis of the mirror is taken as the x-axis (X'X) of the coordinate system. The conventions
are as follows -

 The object is always placed to the left of the mirror. This implies that the light from the
object falls on the mirror from the left-hand side.
 All distances parallel to the principal axis are measured from the pole of the mirror.
 All the distances measured to the right of the origin (along + x-axis) are taken as positive
while those measured to the left of the origin (along - x-axis) are taken as negative.
 Distances measured perpendicular to and above the principal axis (along + y-axis) are
taken as positive.
 Distances measured perpendicular to and below the principal axis (along -y-axis) are
taken as negative.
These new Cartesian sign convention for spherical mirrors are shown below in the

figure
Mirror formula and magnification

Mirror formula:-

It gives the relationship between image distance (v) , object distance (u) and the focal
length (f) of the mirror and is written as
1/v+1/u=1/f
Where v is the distance of image from the mirror, u is the distance of object from the mirror
and f is the focal length of the mirror. This formula is valid in all situations for all spherical
mirrors for all positions of the object.

Magnification

Magnification produced by a spherical mirror gives the relative extent to which the image of an
object is magnified with respect to the object size. It is expressed as the ratio of the height of

the image to the height of the object. It is usually represented by the letter m. So,
or,

m=h1/h2
the magnification m is also related to the object distance (u) and image distance (v) and is given
as
m=h1/h2=−v/u

Some important questions from the topic

MCQ – Choose the most appropriate option

Q1.Which of the following statements is true?

(a) The image formed in a plane mirror is real
(b) The image in the plane mirror is of the same size as the object
(c) An object is placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of plane mirror; the image formed
would be 40 cm from the object
(d) The image formed in a plane mirror is laterally inverted.
Q2.Which of the following is true for concave mirror?
(a) When the object is at infinity, the image is formed at focal point.
(b) It forms both highly enlarged and highly diminished images
(c) When the object is placed at center of curvature, image is real, inverted and
 positioned at C only.
(d) Image formed is always virtual and erect.
Q3.Rays from sun converge at a point 15 cm in front of concave mirror. Where the object
should be placed so that size of its image is equal to the size of the object?
(a) 15 cm in front of the mirror
(b) 30 cm in front of the mirror
(c) Between 15 cm and 30 cm in front of the mirror
(d) more than 30 cm in front of the mirror

Q4.John is standing in front of a special mirror. He finds image of his head smaller, the
middle portion of his body the same size and the legs bigger. The following is the order
of combinations for the special mirror from the top
(a) Plane, convex, concave
(b) Convex, concave, plane
(c) Concave, plane, convex
(d) Convex, plane and concave
Q5.What kind of mirror is used in vehicles to see the traffic on the rear side?
(a) Convex mirror
(b) Plane mirror
(c) Concave mirror
(d) None of these

Reasoning and Assertion:-

DIRECTIONS: (For question 1 to 5) -In each of the questions given below, there are two
statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes
provided below:
• Both Assertion and Reason is true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
• Both Assertion and Reason is true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
• Assertion is true but Reason is false.
• Assertion is false but Reason is true.
• Both Assertion and Reason is false.
1. Assertion: The shaving mirrors are convex mirror
Reason: Convex mirror always forms a virtual image.
2. Assertion: Ambulance is written in radially reverse manner.
 Reason: mirorr has a property of lateral inversion.
3. Assertion: centre of sphere and centre of curvature are not same.
Reason: Center of holllow glass sphere of which mirror was a part is known as center of curvature.

4. Assertion: Size of the mirror affects the nature of image.

Reason: Small mirror always forms virtual image.

5. Assertion: We cannot produce real image by convex mirror.

Reason: Focal length of the mirror is positive.

Very short question and answers

Q1..Define the principal focus of a concave mirror.
Q2.Which mirror is used by dentists?
Q3.What are the advantages and disadvantages of using convex mirror for seeing traffic at
the rear?
Q4.What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a convex mirror for seeing traffic at
the rear?
Q5.Find the focal length of a convex mirror whose radius of curvature is 32 cm.
Q6.Why do we prefer a convex mirror as a rear- view mirror in vehicles?
Q7. What happens when the rays of sun are focused at a point on the paper by using
concave mirror?

Short question and answers

Q1. 4.5 cm needle is placed 12 cm away from a convex mirror of focal length 15 cm. Give
the location of image and magnification. Describe what happens to the image as the
needle is moved farther from the mirror.
Q2.Define magnification produced by a spherical mirror in terms of height of a object and
image. How is it related to object and image distance? Explain why magnification is
positive for virtual image and negative for real image?
Q3.Rohit placed a pencil perpendicular to principal axis in front of a converging mirror of
focal length 30 cm. The image formed is twice the size of the pencil. Calculate the
distance of the object from the mirror.
 Q4.An object is placed at a distance of 25 cm away from a converging mirror of focal length
20 cm. Discus the effect on the nature and position of the image if the position of the
object changes from 25 cm to 15 cm. Justify your answer without using mirror formula
Q5.Write one similarity and one dissimilarity between image formed by pane mirror and
convex mirror.
Q6.If the image formed by mirror for all positions of the object placed in front of it is always
virtual and diminished, state the type of the mirror. Draw a ray diagram in support of
your answer. Where are such mirrors commonly used and why?

Long question and answers

Q1.Define focus for convex mirror. With the help of ray diagrams, show the formation of
images of an object by a concave mirror. When it is placed
(i) beyond the centre of curvature
(ii) at the centre of curvature.
Q2.With the help of a ray diagram, state and explain the laws of reflection of light at a plane
mirror. Mark the angle of incidence and reflection clearly in the diagram. If the angle of
incidence is 32.5o, what will be the angle of reflection?

Q3. It is desired to obtain an erect image of an object, using concave mirror of focal length
of 12 cm.
(i)What should be the range of distance of an object placed in front of the mirror?
(ii)Will the image be smaller or larger than the object? Draw ray diagram to show the
formation of image in this case,.
(iii)Where will the image of this object be, if it is placed 6 cm in front of the mirror?
Draw ray diagram for this situation to justify your answer.
Show the position of pole, principal focus and the centre of curvature in the ray
diagram.

Q4. A student has three concave mirrors A, B and C of focal lengths 20 cm,
15 cm and 10 cm respectively. For each concave mirror he performs
the experiment of image formation for three values of object distance
of 30 cm, 10 cm and 20 cm.
Giving reason answer the following:
(a)For the three object distances, identify the mirror which will form an
image equal in size to that of object. Find at least one value of object
distance.
(b)Out of the three mirrors, identify the mirror which would be preferred
to be used for shaving purpose.
(c)For the mirror B, draw ray diagram for image formation for any two
given values of object distance.