LESSON 1 –

Understanding
reflection of
light
Introduction :

Light is a form energy that enables us

to see.
Light is emitted or given by hot
objects, like a candle flame, or the
glowing filament of light bulb ,or the
sun.
An object which produces its own light
is said to be luminous.
Most of the objects we can see do not
produce their own light – they are non-
luminous. What we can see is the light
is reflected off them.
Light seems to travel in straight lines. Common terminology of reflection
A picture of light as rays traveling in of light on a plane mirror
straight lines from a luminous source
or bounching off objects, or being Normal : A line at right
absorbed or transmitted by them, is angles to the
very useful one. We can think of light mirror’s surface.
ray as a very thin beam of light. A real
beam contains many rays. But by Incident ray : A ray of light that
drawing just a few of them we can get is directed
a clear idea of what happening to the onto the mirror’s
whole beam. surface.
When rays of light strike any surface
the rays are reflected , unless the Reflected ray : A ray that is
surface is black, when they are reflected by the
absorbed. mirror’s surface.
The reflection depend on how smooth
the surfaces are. Good mirrors reflect Angle of : The angle between
well over 90% of the light that reaches the incident
them, with only a small amount being incidence ray and the
absorbed. normal
The surface of most objects are very
irregular. Light hitting this sort of Angle of : The angle between
surface is scattered in all directions. the reflected
This is called diffuse reflection. reflection ray and the
On the other hand, the surface of a normal
polished sheet of glass or metal can
be made extremely smooth. The
reflection from this is the regular.

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 (2) Draw two incident rays and
each of them
is directed to the normals.
(3) Measure the angles of
incidence
respectively by using
protractor.
(4) By using the Laws of reflection
AO : Incident ray (The angle of incidence is
ON : Normal equal to the angle of reflection
OB : Reflected ray draw two reflected rays in
i : Angle of incidence front the mirror.
r : Angle of reflection (5) Extrapolate the reflected rays
behind the with dotted line.
The point of intersection is the
Laws of reflection location of the image .

The first law : The angle of The characteristics of an image

incidence is equal formed by a plane mirror are :
to the angle of (1) The size of the image= the
reflection. size of the object
(2) The distance of image = the
The second law: The incident ray, distance of object
the normal and (3) Virtual image (appears to be
the reflected ray all lie behind the mirror)
in the (4) Laterally inverted (left and
same plane. right are interchanged)
(5) Upright

Characteristics of an Image Example 1

Formed by a Plane Mirror by
drawing Ray Diagram A boy is at a distance 5 m from a
plane mirror. The mirror is moved
away from the boy by 2 m. What is the
distance between the boy and his
image.

Solution

Example 2

The diagram shows two plane mirrors

set an angle 100o to each other. A ray
strikes one of the mirrors as shown at
angle of incidence of 45o . Redraw and
complete the diagram showing the
path of the ray and calculate the
(1) Draw two normals at the angle of reflection at which it leaves
surface of the mirror. the second mirrors.

2
 Concave mirror

Solution

Convex mirror

Pole of mirror , P : The

centre point on
the curved
mirror

Centre of curvature , C : The

geometric centre
of a hollow
sphere of
which the
concave or
convex mirror
is a part.

Principal axis ,PFC : A line

which passes
through the
centre of
curvature ,C
Common terminology of reflection and the pole of
of light a curved
on a curved mirror mirror, P

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Principal focus , F : A point
through
which all rays
traveling
parallel to the
principal axis
converge to or
appear to
diverge from
after reflection
by the mirror.

Radius of curvature, r :
Distance between
the pole, P and Characteristics of an Image
the Formed by a curved Mirror by
centre of drawing Ray Diagram
curvature, C.
We must draw any two of three rays to
Focal length , f : The determine the position of the image.
distance There are three
between the
principal Ray 1
focus ,F and
the pole of the For concave mirror :
curved mirror,
P. A ray parallel to the principal
axis is
reflected to pass through F.
Relationship between f and r

r=
2f

Relationship curvature of mirror

and f
For convex mirror :
The more curved the mirror , the
shorter its focal length, f. A ray parallel to the principal
axis is
reflected as if it came from F. F

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 For convex mirror :
Ray 2
A ray towards C is reflected
For concave mirror : back along its own path.

A ray through F is reflected

parallel to
the principal axis.

For convex mirror :

A ray towards F is reflected

parallel to the principal axis.

Image formed by a Concave Mirror

A u < f ( Object between F and P

)
Ray 3

For concave mirror :

A ray through C is reflected

back along its own path.

Characteristics of image :

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.............................................................
.....................

.............................................................
.....................

Application :

.............................................................
......................

B u = f ( Object, O is at F ) Characteristics of image :

.............................................................
.....................

.............................................................
.....................

Application :

.............................................................
......................

D u = 2f or u = r ( Object ,O is at
Characteristics of image : C)

.............................................................
.....................

.............................................................
.....................

Application :

.............................................................
......................

Characteristics of image :

.............................................................
C f < u < 2f or f < u < r .....................
( Object O is between F and C.
.............................................................
.....................

Application :

.............................................................
......................

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E u > 2f or u > r ( Object, O is
beyond C )

Characteristics of image :

.............................................................
.....................

.............................................................
Characteristics of image : .....................

............................................................. Application :
.....................
.............................................................
............................................................. ......................
.....................

Application : The distance Characteristics of

object, u image
............................................................. u < f
...................... u =f
f <u < 2f
F u = ∞ ( Object ,O very far from u = 2f
the lens) u > 2f
u=∞

Conclusion :

OR

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 .............................................................
.....................

Image formed by a Convex Mirror .............................................................

.....................
A u < f ( Object between F and P
) Application :

.............................................................
......................

The object Characteristics of

distance, u image
u < f
f <u < 2f

Conclusion

Characteristics of image :

.............................................................
Uses of the reflection of light
.....................
Plane mirror
.............................................................
(1) A mirror periscope can be built
.....................
by mounting two plane mirrors
in a cardboard tube.
Application :
(2) A rear view mirror and a side
mirror of a car in order to
.............................................................
enable the driver see objects at
......................
the back and side of the car.
(3) Plane mirror acts as an anti-
B f < u < 2f or f < u < r
parallax error mirror in electrical
( Object O is between F and C)
instruments such as the
voltmeter and the ammeter.

Concave mirror
(1) A shaving mirror or a make-up
mirror used
a wide-aperture concave
mirror with a large radius of
curvature.
(2) A torchlight or a headlight of
motor vehicles used concave
parabolic mirror to produce a
beam of parallel light rays.
Characteristics of image :
Convex mirror

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 (1) Convex mirror are mounted at that it hits the mirror at an angle
a sharp corner of a road so that of 10o to the surface of the mirror.
the drivers are able to see
oncoming cars on the blind side
of the corner.
(2) Convex mirror hung on the
corner of ceilings in
supermarkets serve to provide
a wide field of view activities What is the angle of reflection?
happening in the shopping
area. A 10o B 20o
C 40o D 500
E 80o

3 The diagram shows an image is

formed by a mirror.
At which point the object is
placed?

TUTORIA
L1
1 The diagram shows a single ray of
light being directed at a plane
mirror.

4 The diagram shows a ray of light

from a small bulb strikes a plane
mirror.

What are the angles of incidence

and reflection?

Angle of Angle of
incidence reflection
A 40o 40o
B 40o 50o
C 50o 40o
D 50o 50o Where is the image of the bulb
formed and its characteristic?
2 The diagram shows a mirror is
titled at an angle of 40o to the A At P and virtual
bench. A ray of light is directed so B At Q and real
C At R and virtual

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5 The diagram shows a girl stands at
the side of a boy in front of a
mirror. They are both the same
distance from the mirror.
Where does the girl see the boy’s
image?
What is the time shown by the
image of the wall clock in a plane
mirror as seen by a student.

A 01:40 B 04:50
C 07:10 D 10:20

8 Diagram shows a student looking

at a plane mirror.

The image observed by the

student is

6 The diagram shows four lamps in

front of a plane mirror. The card
prevents the observer at M from
seeing the lamp directly.
Which lamp’s image can be seen?

9 Diagram shows an object O at a

distance in front of a plane mirror
CD. The plane mirror is moved by
a distance 4 cm at LM.

7 The diagram shows a wall clock .

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 What is the distance between
object and the
new image of the object? What is the distance of image of
the chart from the patient?
A 12 cm B 16 cm
C 24 cm D 32 cm A 3m B 4m
E 64 cm C 7m D 10 m
E 14 m
10 A boy stands in front of a plane
mirror a distance 5 m . When the 12 The diagram shows a half-metre
boy moves toward the mirror by 2 rule has a hole at 15 cm mark
m , what is the distance between and is hung vertically. A plane
the boy and his new image? mirror is placed in front of the
ruler.
A 2m B 4m
C 6m D 8m
E 10 m

11 The diagram shows a patient

sitting in a testing room in front of
a chart.

What is the region of the image of

the ruler seeing by an observer ,
when the observer look through
the hole?

A between 0 cm mark and 30

cm mark
B between 0 cm mark and 45
cm mark

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 C between 5 cm mark and 35
cm mark 15 The diagram shows five light rays
D between 10 cm mark and 25 A, B,
cm mark C ,D and E from an object, O and
E between 0 cm mark and 50 is reflected by a concave mirror to
cm mark form an image I. Which of the light
ray is not correct?
13 The diagram shows a point object,
O is positioned in front of a plane
mirror .

16 The characteristics of an image ,

formed by a convex mirror for all
positions of the object are

A diminished, real and inverted

B magnified , real, and upright
In order to view the image of O in C diminished ,virtual and upright
the mirror, you must be between D magnified , virtual and
the points inverted
A U and V B U and Y 17 A concave mirror has a focal
C W and Y D Y and Z length 20 cm. What happen to the
size of image when an object is
14 The figure shows a light ray being placed at a distance of 40 cm in
incident to the surface of plane front of the mirror?
mirror MN. The mirror is then
rotated anti-clock wise through an A diminished B magnified
angle 10o. C same size of object

18 An object is placed at a distance

18 cm from a concave mirror of
focal length 10 cm. What is the
characteristics of the image
formed?

A real , inverted and magnified

B virtual , inverted and
magnified
C real , upright and diminished
What is the new angle of reflection D virtual , upright and
of the light ray? diminished

A 300 B 150 19 A concave mirror has a focal

C 100 D 50 length 15 cm. The image formed
by the mirror is virtual, upright

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 and magnified. What is the object
distance?

A 8 cm B 15 cm
C 20 cm D 30 cm
E 40 cm

20 The figure shows a candle placed

in front of a
concave mirror of focal length, f.

Figure(a)

Complete figure (a) showing

the path of the ray, including
the in Incident ray, reflected
ray and normal.

The image formed is (b) Figure(b) shows two plane

mirrors JK and
A real, upright and magnified LM which have been placed at
B real, inverted and diminished a right angles to each other.
C virtual, inverted and magnified
D virtual, upright and diminished

21 Which of the following states the

right reason for replacing a plane
mirror are used as rear- view
mirrors in motor vehicles with a
convex mirror ?

A To shine the object

B To widen the field of view Complete figure (b) to show the
C To produce a brighter image ray diagram path until it emerges
from the both the mirrors.
D To produce a sharper image

22 (a) Figure shows the positions of (c) Write down the word "
an object O REFLECTION " when the word
and the image I of the objects is seen by a person in a plane
is formed by a plane mirror M. mirror.

23 Figure (a) shows the positions of

the eye of a car driver , the wing
mirror of the car and the front of a
lorry.

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 image , when the distance u is
varied.

Object Image
distan Characteristics
ce ,
Figure (a)
u /cm
10
(a) Draw rays to indicate the part
of the front of the lorry which
can be seen in the mirror by 20
the car driver.
(b) Figure (b) shows a plane 30 Real, inverted, same
mirror and a curved mirror. size as the object
The mirrors have the same 40
size. The wing mirror of a car
is often curved .
Draw rays from observer to (a) Name the light phenomenon
the plane mirror and the that is involved to form the
curved mirror to explain how image by the mirror.
the curved mirror give more .................................................
advantage than the plane is ...................
used as a wing mirror of a car. (b) Using the information in the
table, determine the focal
length of the mirror M.

.................................................
...................
(c) Give the reason for your
answer in (b).

.................................................
...........

.................................................
...........
(d) Complete the table
(e) An object is placed at a
distance 50 cm from the
concave mirror M.
(i) Draw a ray diagram in the
space below to show the
formation of the image.
Figure (b)

24 An object is placed at a distance ,u

from a concave mirror, M. The
table shows the characteristics of

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 The headlamp has two bulbs ,
X and Y. Bulb X is located at
the focal point of the reflector
while bulb Y is above bulb X.

(ii) What is the characteristics

of the image?
Figure(c)

………………………………… Explain what happens to the

……….. light rays from the bulb when
only:
(iii) What is the characteristics (i) bulb X is switched on
of the image when the (ii) bulb Y is switched on
concave mirror M is
replaced by a convex You may use diagrams to
mirror of focal length same illustrate your answers.
as the mirror M.
(d) You are given two pieces of
plane
………………………………………….. mirror measuring 5 cm x 6 cm
to make a periscope.
(i) Using these mirrors and
………………………………………….. other materials, describe
how you would make the
25 Figures(a) and (b) show the periscope.
parallel rays of light directed (ii) Explain why the image
toward the curved mirrors, J and K. observed through the
CP is the radius of curvature, and F periscope using plane
is the focal point of the mirrors. mirrors are not very clear.
(iii) Suggest modification that
can be made to the
periscope to produce
clearer and bigger images.

(a) What is meant by focal length.

(b) Using Figure(a) and (b) ,
compare the
curvature of the mirrors and
their focal lengths.
(c) Figure(c) shows a cross
section of a parabolic reflector
used in a car headlamp.

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