CHAPTER 8

LIGHT & OPTICS

 REAL IMAGE VIRTUAL IMAGE
The image that can be The image that cannot be
formed on a screen formed on a screen
Example: Example:
* Virtual
* Upright
* Same size
(as the object)
* Laterally inverted
The distance between the object and the mirror (a),
is the same as
the distance between the image and the mirror (b)
 Distance from Shriniti to
the mirror = 200 cm

Distance from Shriniti to

her image
= 200 cm + 200 cm
= 400 cm

Shriniti stands 180 cm from a plane mirror.

mirror
Then, she withdraws 20 cm further from the mirror.
What is the distance between Shriniti and her image?
image
* Virtual
* Upright
* Laterally inverted
* Magnified
* Virtual
* Upright
* Diminished
* Laterally inverted
The light rays are reflected when light
strikes the surface of plane mirror

The reflection of light

Applied in our daily life

A rear-view mirror use to see other vehicles
approaching from behind
A trainee in a gymnasium uses a plane
mirror to observe his body posture
Concave mirrors can reflect and converge
parallel light rays
The concave mirrors are used in headlamps of
cars to produce a high intensity beam
 Dental mirrors:
Form upright and magnified images
Convex mirrors diverge (spread out) light rays,
increasing the field of view
A convex mirror widens the view of traffic to increase
safety at dangerous corners of a road
The round convex mirrors can widen the view of traffic
that can be seen in side-view mirrors
 Periscope

Kaleidoscopes
Enable us to see objects behind obstacles such
as concrete wall
Navy personnel in submarines use periscope
to observe the sea surface
 2 pieces of plane mirrors are
arranged in parallel to each other at
45˚angle

The reflective surfaces of both the

mirrors face each other

The light from the object enters the

top opening and is reflected from
the top mirror to the bottom mirror

The light is reflected on the bottom

mirror to the observer’s eye
 Virtual and upright
Not laterally inverted
Same size as the object
Use the principle of light reflection to produce
attractive patterns
Three pieces of plane mirrors are arranged at an angle of
60˚ in a tube

All the reflective surfaces of the mirrors face inwards

The mirrors reflect the colorful objects repeatedly to

produce amazing patterns
Virtual, upright, same size as the object