CANDID EDUCATION

D.A.V. MORE, SIWAN - 9204627288

CLASS – XTH REFLECTION AND REFRACTION OF LIGHT
Light – Light is radiant energy, usually referring to Different mediums for light
electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye,
i. Opaque – The medium (substance)
and is responsible for the sense of sight.
through which light cannot passes is
Dual Nature of Light. called opaque medium. Ex – wood,
bricks, walls etc.
Light has a dual nature:-
ii. Transparent – The medium through
i. Particle theory: - Sometimes it behaves like a
which light can pass is called
particle (called photon) which explains how light
transparent medium. Ex – Glass, Air
travels in straight lines.
etc.
ii. Wave theory: - Sometimes it behaves like a
iii. Translucent – The medium through
wave, which explains how light bends (or
which light can partially passes known
diffracts) around an object.
as translucent medium. Ex – oily
Nature of wave and particle combined in modern theory of paper, rough glass, etc.
light that explains both, called ‘Quantum Theory of Light’.
Reflection of Light
Some Important terms related to light:- When ray of light from any medium falls on a
surface (opaque) it return back to the same
i. Shadow – A shadow is an area where light from
medium. This phenomenon is known as reflection
a light source is obstructed by an object. of light.
ii. Self-luminous – Objects which emits light of its
own. Ex- Sun, Star, firefly etc. Law of Reflection of Light
iii. Non luminous – Objects which cannot emits i. The angle of incidence is equal to the
light of its own. Ex- tree, moon, planet, etc. angle of reflection.
iv. Ray of Light – The path on which light travels ii. The incident ray, the normal to the
known as ray of light. mirror at the point of incidence and the
v. Beam of Light – Wave of light energy is known reflected ray, are all lie in the same
as beam of light. It can be of three types:- plane.
a. Parallel Beam of Light
b. Converging Beam of Light
c. Diverging Beam of Light
vi. Mirror – The surface from which light reflected
continuous that is according to Law of
Reflection is known as a mirror.

Image – When the rays of light coming from a point object Note – If a ray of light falls perpendicular or
intersect or appear to intersect at a point after reflection or normally on a mirror, it reflected back along the
refraction, then the point is known as the image of that point same path. Here, angle of incidence and angle of
object. reflection is equal to 0. i.e. ∠𝑖 = ∠𝑟 = 0.
ii. Virtual Image – When ray of light
Images are of two types:-
coming from a point object appears to
i. Real Image – When the ray of light coming from a point intersect at a point after reflection or
object intersect at a point after reflection or refraction, refraction, then at that point virtual image is
then the image formed on the point is real image. formed of that object.
ii.
 Difference between Real and Virtual Images Image formed in a
Real Images Virtual Images plane mirror:
i. It can be obtained on screen i. It cannot be obtained on screen.
ii. It is always inverted. ii. It is always erected. i. Is equal to size of
object.
Spherical Mirrors:- A spherical mirror is that mirror whose reflecting surface is the ii. Is at the same
part of a hallow sphere of glass. distance
behind the
Types of spherical mirrors:-
mirror as the
i. Concave Mirror – The spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is bent in object is in
surface of the mirror. front of the
ii. Convex Mirror – The spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is bulging mirror.
out surface of the mirror. iii. Virtual and Erect.
Note- (i). A concave mirror is also known as converging mirror because it converge iv. Lateral Inverted.
rays of light which is parallel and near to its principal axis, at a point.
(ii). A convex mirror is also known as diverging mirror because it diverge rays
of light which is parallel and near to its principal axis, at a point.

Important terms related to spherical mirror-

i. Centre of curvature – The centre of curvature(C) of a spherical mirror is
the centre of the hallow sphere of glass of which it is a part.
ii. Pole – The centre or mid – point of the mirror surface is known as its pole
(P).
iii. Principle Axis – The straight line passing through the centre of curvature
and pole of a spherical mirror is called its principle axis. Structure of Ray –
iv. Radius of curvature – Distance between centre of curvature(C) and pole Diagram.
(P) is known as radius of curvature (R). It generally the radius of hallow
To find image of
sphere glass of which mirror is a part.
an object we can think
v. Aperture – The diameter or width of the mirror is the aperture of it.
about any two rays of
vi. Principle Focus or Focus – a. In concave mirror all incident rays of light light coming from the
parallel and near to principle axis meets on a point F after the reflection. object. After reflection
This special point F is the principle focus of concave mirror. point of intersection of
b. In convex mirror all incident rays of light parallel and near to these rays is the image of
principle axis appear to coming from a point F after reflection. This that object.
special point F is the principle focus of convex mirror.
Therefore, for
In brief principle focus is the mid-point of radius of curvature.
structure of images in
vii. Focal length – In spherical mirror distance between its pole and principle spherical mirrors, we can
focus is the focal length of spherical mirror. It denoted by ‘f’. construct following rays
Note: - In concave mirror principle focus, focal length, center of curvature, radius of of light: -
curvature are in front of mirror while in convex mirror they are behind the mirror.

a. Rays parallel and near to principle axis passes from the principle focus (in concave mirror) or appear to
coming out from the principle focus(in convex mirror) after reflection.
b. Rays through centre of curvature passes back on the same path on which it comes after reflection.
c. Rays through principle focus after reflection becomes parallel to principle axis.

𝑹
Focal length of spherical mirror is half of its radius of curvature. f = 𝟐
Or
Radius of curvature of spherical mirror is twice of its focal length. R = 2f
 Image formed by concave mirror –
Position of Object Position of Image Nature of Image Size of Image
At infinity At focus (F) Real & Inverted Highly diminished
Between C and Between F and C Real & Inverted Diminished
infinity(Beyond C)
At C At C Real & Inverted Same size
Between C and F Between C and Real & Inverted Enlarged
Infinity(Beyond C)
At focus (F) At infinity Real & Inverted Highly enlarged
Between F and pole (P) Behind the mirror Virtual & Erect Enlarged
Imaged formed by a convex mirror –
Position of Object Position of Image Nature of Image Size of Image
At infinity Behind the mirror at focus Virtual & Erect Highly diminished
(F)
Anywhere between P and Behind the mirror between Virtual & Erect Diminished
infinity P and F
Note – Concave mirror can formed both type of images real and virtual but convex mirror can only formed virtual
Uses of Concave mirror – Uses of Convex mirror –
1. It is use as shaving mirror to see a large image of  It is used as rear – view mirrors or side mirror in
the face. vehicles because convex mirror always form erect image
2. It used by ENT doctors to examine body of a and extended field of view.
patient.  Big convex mirror used as shop security mirrors.
3. It is used as a reflectors in automobile headlight,
search light and torches. Sign convention for spherical mirrors –
4. It also used in solar cookers and solar furnaces.
5. It also used as TV dish antennas. 1. Focal length (f) of concave mirror is always negative
while for convex mirror it is positive.
𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 (𝒉′) 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆(𝒗)
Magnification = =− 2. Any object is placed in front or left side of any spherical
𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 (𝒉) 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆(𝒖)
mirror, then object distance (u) will be always negative.
𝒉′ 𝒗 3. Image distance (v) for real image is always negative while
m= =−
𝒉 𝒖 for virtual image it is always positive.
4. Height of the object (h) is always positive.
Mirror formula – 5. Height of the image (h’) for real image is negative while
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 for virtual image it is positive.
= + 6. Magnification (m) for real image is negative while for
𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
virtual image it is positive.
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝒇 𝒖 𝒗

Refraction of light
Refraction of light – The change in direction of
Optical medium – The medium through which light can pass is
light when it passes from one medium to another
known as optical medium.
is known as refraction of light. It is of two types –
Cause of refraction – The change is speed of i). Optically rarer medium ii). Optically denser medium
light when it passes from one medium to another
is actually cause of direction change of refraction. Note – Speed of light is higher in optically rarer medium and slower
in denser medium.
Rules of refraction – Speed of light in vaccum (c) or air = 3 x 108 m/s
1. When a ray of light is passes from optically Speed of light in water = 2.25 x 108 m/s
Speed of light in glass = 2 x 108 m/s
rarer medium to optically denser medium, it
bends towards normal.
2. When a ray of light is passes from optically
denser medium to optically rarer medium, it
bends away from the normal.
 Refractive Index and speed of light –
Laws of refraction –
The refractive index determines how much light is bent or
1. Incident ray, refracted ray and normal at point of refracted, when entering a material.
incidence, are all on the same plane. It can also be written as a ratio of speeds of light in the two
2. For any particular color of light and given pair of medium media or medium.
the ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle Types of refractive index –
1. Relative refractive index – When light is going from
of refraction is a constant. (This law is also known as
one medium (other than vaccum or air) to another
Snell’s law). medium, then the value of refractive index is called
sin 𝑖
= 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 relative refractive index.
sin 𝑟 2. Absolute refractive index – When light is going from
This constant is known as refractive index of the given vaccum or air to another medium, then the value of
medium of light. refractive index is called the absolute refractive index.
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 =
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚
𝒄
𝒄
𝒗𝒏 =
𝒗
In this case refractive index of other medium is calculated
in respect to vaccum or air.
Note – 1. Refractive index does not depends on density of
mediums, it depends on nature of the material of the medium and
on the wavelength of the light used.
2. Absolute Refractive index of air is lowest 1.0003 and highest
of diamond 2.42.
Cause of refraction – The change in speed of light when it passes 3. Higher refractive index of any medium means that speed of
light in the medium is lowest while lowest refractive index of any
from one medium to another is actually cause of direction change
medium means that speed of light is highest in the medium.
or refraction.
Structure of Ray – diagram.
Refraction of light by spherical lenses – To find the position of images formed by
lens, we can construct following three types of
Lens – A lens is a piece of transparent glass bound by two spherical
rays –
surfaces. There are two types of lenses –
 Parallel to principle axis of lens, which
1. Convex lens, which is thick at center but thinner at edges. passes from principle focus (in case of
2. Concave lens, which is thin at center or middle but thicker at edges. convex lens) of appear to coming from it
(in case of concave lens).
Important terms related to lenses –  Rays from the optical center of lens,
which passes out lens with no deflection.
 Lens is made of two transparent curved surface.
 Rays from principle focus, becomes
 Every surface of lens is a part of a transparent sphere.
parallel to principle axis after refraction
 The center of sphere is known as center of curvature of that
surface of lens. A lens has two center of curvature and so, two
Sign convention for spherical lenses –
radii of curvature. It may be equal or of different lengths.
1. Focal length of concave lens is always
 Principal axis – The line joining center of curvature of two negative while for convex lens it is
surfaces of lens is known as principal axis. positive.
 Principal focus – All incidence rays of light which is parallel 2. Any object is placed in front or left side of
and near to principle axis, converge or appear to diverge from a any spherical lens, then object distance (u)
point on principle axis after passing from the lens, then the point will be always negative.
is known as principle focus of lens. 3. Image distance (v) for real image is
Note – In case of convex lens, ray of light converge on a point while always positive while for virtual image it
in case of concave lens diverge from a point. is always negative.
So, a convex lens is also known as converging lens and concave lens
4. Height of the object (h) is always positive.
is diverging lens.
5. Height of the image (h’) for real image is
 Optical center – Mid-point of lens is known as optical center. It
negative while for virtual image it is
is represented by ‘O’ or ‘C’.
positive.
Note – Ray of light passing from optical center never deflect, but a
small displacement from its main path, when lens is thin, this
6. Magnification (m) for real image is
displacement is very small. So, it can be neglected. negative while for virtual image it is
 Focal length – The distance between optical center and principle positive.
focus is known as focal length of lens. It is denoted by ‘f’. Note – All sign are same as in spherical mirror but
only sign of image distance of real & virtual is
Note – Focal length of more curved thick lens is less than the less
changed. Because in lenses real images are formed
curved thin less.
behind the lens or right side of lens and virtual formed
front of lens or left side while in case of mirror it is
opposite for both types of images.
 Power of lens – Power of lens is defined by inverse or reciprocal of focal length of lens.
1 𝟏
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ (𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠) ; 𝑷=𝒇
S.I. unit of power of lens is diopter. It is denoted by ‘D’ or m-1.
1 diopter is the power of lens whose focal length is 1 meter.
Note – Power of lens is more of lens of less focal length while it is less of more focal length.

Image formed by a convex lens

Position of object Position of image Nature of image Size of image
At infinity On focus (F) Real & inverted Very small in size
Between infinity & Between F and 2F Real & inverted Small in size
2F`(beyond 2F`)
At 2F` On 2F Real & inverted Same size to the object
Between 2F` & F` Beyond 2F Real & inverted Enlarged
At F` At infinity Real & inverted Very enlarged
Between F` and optical Behind object or front of the Virtual & erected Enlarged
center (O) lens

Note – The use of convex lens to obtained virtual and magnified image is in form of magnifying glass. Magnifying
glass is also known as simple microscope and also reading glass.
Image formed by a concave lens –
Position of object Position of image formed Nature of image Size of image
At infinity On focus (F) Virtual & erected Very small
Anywhere between infinity Between F and optical center Virtual & erected Diminished
and lens of lens

Note – Concave lens always formed virtual and diminished images in any condition. But it formed image of a very
large area, so, it provide a wide area view in a small space. Because of this property it is used in spyhole in doors.
Lens formula – Magnification in lens–
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
= − 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = =
𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝒉′ 𝒗
= − 𝒎= =
𝒇 𝒗 𝒖 𝒉 𝒖

Some important terms to be remember –

1. A half covered lens can also produce a complete image of an object because rays of light can still pass through
the optical center of lens after half covering it.
2. 1 diopter is the power of a lens whose focal length is 1 meter.
3. Convex lens of short focal length is better to use for reading small letter found in any document.
4. Concave mirror is used in the headlights of the vehicle because when light bulb is placed at the focus of concave
reflector, then it produces a powerful beam of parallel light rays.
5. Convex mirror is used as a rear – view or side – mirror in vehicles because it always produces an erect and
diminished image and gives a wide field of view in a small mirror.
6. To determine given plane, concave and convex mirror without touching them we should place an object in
front of them one by one and notice the image formed by them –
 If the image is always erect and of same size to the object after placing object at different position in front
of the mirror, then mirror will be plane.
 If the image is always erect and small in size after placing object at different position in front of the mirror,
then mirror will be convex.
 If the image is erect or inverted and small or enlarged after placing object at different position in front of
the mirror, then mirror will be concave.