SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024

THE CONCEPTS OF LIGHT

Ray Diagram: Rules

and Locations
Physics: Lesson 2
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To enumerate the rules and 5

General locations of ray diagram in
mirror.
To show examples of ray diagram.
To recognize the significance of ray
diagramming in our daily lives.
How can we describe
the characteristics of
the formed image?
We can describe the characteristics
of the formed image by using….

Location
Orientation
Type
Size
Three different rays in
finding the image
produced by a
spherical mirror.
 1 Principal ray (P-ray)
The ray that
leaves a point
on an object
facing the
C F
mirror parallel
to the principal
axis.
 2 Focal ray (F-ray)
The ray that
passes through
the focal point
reflecting from C F
the mirror.
 3 Chief ray (C-ray)
The ray that
passes through
the center of
curvature. This C F
ray returns along
the same path.
P-ray
F-ra
y
C F
 THREE RULES
IN RAY DIAGRAM
 1 Any incident ray
travelling parallel to
the principal axis on
the way to the mirror
will pass through the
C F focal point (F) upon
reflection.
 2 Any incident ray
passing through the
focal point on the
way to the mirror will
travel parallel to the
C F
principal axis upon
reflection.
 3 Any incident ray
passing through
the center will
reflect back
C F through the
center.
5 GENERAL
LOCATIONS
Location 1 : If the object is Beyond C

L-
O-

C F T-
S-
Location 1 : If the object is Beyond C

L - Between
C and F
O-
C F T-
S-
Location 1 : If the object is Beyond C

Between
L- C and F
O- Inverted

C F T-
S-
Location 1 : If the object is Beyond C

Between
L- C and F
O- Inverted

C F T- Real
S-
Location 1 : If the object is Beyond C

Between
L- C and F
O- Inverted

C F T- Real
S- Smaller
5 GENERAL
LOCATIONS
Location 2 : If the object is At C

L-
O-
F T-
S-
Location 2 : If the object is At C

L - At C
O-
F T-
S-
Location 2 : If the object is At C

L - At C
O- Inverted
F T-
S-
Location 2 : If the object is At C

L - At C
O- Inverted
F T - Real
S-
Location 2 : If the object is At C

L - At C
O- Inverted
F T - Real
S - Same size
5 GENERAL
LOCATIONS
Location 3: If the object is bet. C and F

L-
O-
F T-
S-
Location 3: If the object is bet. C and F

L - Beyond C
O-
F T-
S-
Location 3: If the object is bet. C and F

L - Beyond C
O- Inverted
F T-
S-
Location 3: If the object is bet. C and F

L - Beyond C
O- Inverted
F T- Real
S-
Location 3: If the object is bet. C and F

L - Beyond C
O- Inverted
F T- Real
S - Larger
5 GENERAL
LOCATIONS
Location 4: If the object is At F

L-
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 4: If the object is At F

L-
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 4: If the object is At F

No image
L-
formed
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 4: If the object is At F

No image
L-
formed
O- N/A
T- N/A
F
S- N/A
5 GENERAL
LOCATIONS
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

L-
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

L-
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

L-
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

Behind the
L - mirror
O-
T-
F
S-
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

Behind the
L - mirror
O- Upright

T-
F
S-
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

Behind the
L - mirror
O- Upright

T- Virtual
F
S-
Location 5: If the object is Bet. F and V

Behind the
L - mirror
O- Upright

T- Virtual
F Larger
S-
 “Life isn't about
finding yourself. Life
is about creating
yourself.”