Light Properties

“Reflection of Light”
Reflection of light on a plane mirror
A ray of light is a line drawn to show the path that the light waves take. We need to study
what happens when an incident light ray (a light ray that is going to fall on a surface) hits a
mirror and is reflected off.
Light rays are reflected from mirrors in such a way that

The laws of reflection

 The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal at the point of incidence lie in the
same plane.
 The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

Angle of incidence (i) = angle of reflection (r)

The angles are measured to an imaginary line at 90° to the surface of the mirror. This line
is called the normal.

The characteristics of an optical image formed by a plane mirror.

An image formed by a plane mirror is:
1. Virtual
2. Laterally inverted
3. The same size as the object
4. The same distance behind the mirror as the object is
in front of the mirror.
Images are Real and Imaginary (Virtual)

Real image
As In a cinema, the image on the screen is called a real image because rays from the
projector focus (meet) to form it.

Virtual image
As in plane mirror, the image cannot be projected onto a screen. It is known as a virtual
image.

Laterally inverted
The image is said to be laterally inverted because if you raise your right hand your image
appears to raise its left hand.

Periscope
Using two mirrors to see over the top of things
If you want to see over the top of something, you can use
two mirrors in an instrument called a periscope.
It is made from two mirrors in a tube. The light enters the
periscope, reflects off the first mirror at the top, and travels
down to the bottom mirror. Then the light is reflected into
your eye.

Periscopes are used for seeing over crowds, observing wildlife

from behind walls and in submarines for looking out over the
surface of the sea.

1) What is a periscope made of?

2) What can a periscope be used for?
3) What are the angles between the light rays and the
mirrors in a periscope?*
A=
B=
C=
X=
Y=
Z=
 PSBS PHYSICS 2012/2013

Regular and Diffuse Reflection

Difference between shiny surfaces (or mirrors) and white surfaces

Answer these Questions

1- Calculate the values of these angles

a=

b=

c=

a=

b=

c=

x=
 Light Properties
“Refraction of Light”
Bending Light
Light Refraction
Light waves slow down when they travel from air into glass. If they are at an angle to the
glass, they bend towards the normal. When the light rays travel out of the glass into the
air, their speed increases and they bend away from the normal. If the block of glass
has parallel sides, the light resumes its original direction. This is why a sheet of window
glass has so little effect on the view beyond. However, the view is shifted slightly sideways
if you are looking through the glass at an angle.

Angle of incidence (i)

This is the angle between the incident ray and the normal.

Angle of refraction (r)

This is the angle between the refracted ray and the normal.
Note
Speed of light in air (less dense material) is
faster than in glass or water (more dense
material)

1- from less dense medium to more dense

light does not bend (refract) when it goes into glass (or
water) along the normal

light bends towards the normal when it goes into glass or

water.

2- From more dense medium to less dense