CHAPTER 5 : LIGHT

5.1 UNDERSTANDING REFLECTION OF LIGHT

1. What is a light? Light is a form of energy.

It can stimulate the light- sensitive cells in the
retina of the eye to create an impulse for the
brain to see the form and colour of an object.
Light travels in a straight line.
Luminous object (sun, stars, fireflies) can emit
light into our eyes for them to be seen directly.
Non-luminous (book, pictures) cannot emit
their own light for them to be seen directly
can be see only when they reflect light from
the sun or light.

2. Reflection of light Occurs when light rays falling on a

surface bounce off the surface (plane
mirror).
Light striking different surface will be reflected
differently:
(i) Regular reflection - reflection of parallel
light rays in a certain direction from a
smooth surface such as plane mirror.
(ii) Deffused reflection reflection of parallel
Light rays in all direction from a rough
surface

3. Reflection of light on a Mirror works because it reflects light..

Plane Mirror The light ray that strikes the surface of the
mirror is called incident ray.
The light ray that bounces off from the surface
of the mirror is called reflected ray.
The normal is a line perpendicular to the
mirror surface where the reflection occurs.
The angle between the incident ray and the
normal is called the angle of incidence, i
The angle between the reflected ray and the
normal is called the angle of reflection, r.
 4. Laws of Reflection 1. The incident ray, the reflected ray and the
normal all lie in the same plane.
2. The angle of incidence, i, is equal to the angle
of reflection, r.

5. Draw ray diagrams to

show the positioning and
characteristics of the
image formed by a plane
mirror.

3. Describe the
1. laterally inverted,
characteristics of the
2. same size as the object,
image formed by
3. virtual
reflection of light..
4. upright
5. as far behind the mirror as the object is in
front
of it.

Notes:
Real image : Image that can be seen on a screen
Virtual image : Image that cannot be seen on a
screen.

Example:
A boy stands 8m in front of a large plane mirror. He then walks 3m towards the mirror.
What is the boys distance from the image now?

Solution:
Object distance and original image = 16m.

The object moves 3m and the new distance = 2x 3m = 6m

The distance between the object and the new image = 16 - 6

= 10m

Reflection of light on curved mirror

Concave mirror Convex mirror

The rays that are parallel and close to
the main axis (small opening)
converge to a point F (main or
principal focus).
The distance FP is known as the focus
distance of the concave mirror
parallel rays that are close to the main
axis, diverge from the surface of
reflection.
The rays are seen to diverge from a
point F (main focus) behind the mirror.
The distance FP is known as the focal
length of the convex mirror

Common terminology of curved mirrors

Centre of curvature, C The centre of sphere of the mirror

Pole of mirror, P The centre point on the spherical mirror.

Principle axis The connecting line from the centre of curvature to point
P

Radius of curvature, r The distance between the centre of curvature and the
(=CP) surface of the mirror.

Focal point, F The focal point of a concave mirror is the point on the
principle axis where all the reflected rays meet and
converge.
The focal point of convex mirror is the point on the
principle axis where all the reflected rays appear to
diverge from behind the mirror.

Focal length, f The distance between the focal point and the surface of
 the mirror.
f = (FP or CP)

Object distance, u The distance between the object and the surface of the
mirror.

Image distance, v The distance between the image and the surface of the
mirror.

Differences between Concave Mirror and Convex Mirror

Concave Mirror Convex Mirror

Rays travelling parallel to the principal
axis converge to a point, called the
real focal point on the principal axis.
FP = focal length, f
= distance between the real
focal
point and the pole of the
mirror
Example : f = +20cm
Rays travelling parallel to the principal
axis appear to diverge from a point
behind the mirror, called the virtual
focal point on the principal axis.
FP = focal length, f
= distance between the virtual
focal
point and the pole of the
mirror
Example : f = -20cm

Relationship between the Radius of curvature, r and the Focal

length, f

a) Concave mirror b) Converse mirror

1
Focal length , f = Radius of curvature , r
2
 1
f = rr =2 f
2

1 1
FP= CP(f = r)
2 2

Construction Rules for Concave Mirror and Convex Mirror

Rule Concave Mirror Convex Mirror

A ray parallel to the principal A ray parallel to the principal axis is

axis is reflected through F. reflected as if it comes from F.

Rule 1

A ray passing through F is A ray directed towards F is reflected

reflected parallel to the principal parallel to the principal axis.
axis

Rule 2

Rule 3 A ray passing through C is A ray is directed towards C is

reflected back along the same reflected back along the same path
path through C. away from C.
Ray Diagram to determine the position and characteristics of an
image.

Concave mirror

u > 2f u = 2f or u = c

Characteristics of the image: Characteristics of the image:

f < u < 2f or f < u < c u=f

Characteristics of the image: Characteristics of the image:

u<f Conclusion

Characteristics of the image:

Convex Mirror

u<f u < f < 2f

Characteristics of the image: Characteristics of the image:

Characteristics of the image of convex
mirror is always virtual, upright and
diminished.

APPLICATION OF REFLECTION OF LIGHT

1. Anti-parallax Mirror in
Ammeters or
Voltmeters

A parallax error occurs when the eye

sees both the pointer and its image.

Our eyes are normal to the pointer

when the image of the pointer in the
mirror cannot be seen.
2. Periscope

A periscope can be used to see over

the top of high obstacles such as a
wall.

It is also used inside a submarine to

observe the surrounding above water
surface.

Consist of 2 plane mirror inclined at an

angle of 45.

The final image appears upright.

3. Ambulance

Why is the word AMBULANCE

purposely inverted laterally on an
ambulance car?

Images seen through the rear mirror of

a car is laterally inverted.

4. Make-up Mirror

Concave mirrors with long focal

lengths.

Produce virtual, magnified and upright

images

5. Transmission of radio waves

and
signals

A concave parabolic surface is used to

focus the radio wave signals.
6. Reflector of torchlight

The light bulb is fixed in position at the

focal point of the concave mirror to
produce a beam of parallel light rays.

The beam of parallel light rays will

maintain a uniform intensity for a
greater distance.

Other applications are the headlight of

motor vehicles and the lamp of slide
projectors.

7. Widening the field of vision

When a convex mirror is used, the

field of vision is larger than a plane
mirror.

Convex mirrors are used as rear view

mirrors in motor vehicles to give
drivers a wide-angle view of vehicles
behind them.

It is also used as shop security mirrors.

8. Magnifying mirror

A plane mirror fixed at one end of a

metal rod is a very useful
instrument for dentist.
By placing the plane mirror at the
back of the teeth, a dentist can look
at teeth through their image in the
mirror.
The images produced are upright.
 Ans :
35O

Ans : 40O

Ans :
80O

Ans : 5O

Ans :
60O
 [Type a quote from the
document or the summary of
an interesting point. You can
position the text box anywhere
in the document. Use the Text
Box Tools tab to change the
Ans :
formatting of the pull quote
4m text box.]

Ans :
8m

Ans :
12m

Ans :
10m

Ans :
7m