GRADE: 10 LIGHT-NOTES

1. Ray of light: A ray of light is the direction of path followed by light emitted by a source.
2. Reflection: Is the phenomenon in which light rays on striking a polished smooth surface such as
a mirror are sent back into the same medium.
3. Incident ray: The ray of light which falls on the mirror’s reflecting surface is called the incident
ray.
4. Point of incidence: The point at which the incident ray strikes the reflecting surface of the
mirror is called the point of incidence.
5. Reflected Ray: The ray of light which is sent back by the mirror is called the reflected ray.
6. Normal: The ‘normal‘ is a line drawn at right angle (perpendicular) to the mirror surface at the
point of incidence.
7. Angle of incidence: The angle which the incident ray makes with the normal at the point of
incidence is called the angle of incidence.
8. Angle of reflection: The angle which the reflected ray makes with the normal at the point of
incidence is called the angle of reflection.
9. Laws of Reflection: (a) The angle of incidence (∟i) is equal to the angle of reflection (∟r) i.e.
∟i=∟r.
(b) The incident ray, the normal to the reflecting surface at the point of incidence and the
reflected ray, all lie in the same plane.
10. Lateral Inversion: The left of the object becomes the right of the image and vice versa.
This phenomenon is called ‘Lateral Inversion.
Characteristics of an image formed by a plane mirror:
1. The image is formed behind the mirror and has the same size as the object.
2. The image is laterally inverted.
3. The image is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.
4. The image is virtual. It cannot be received on a screen.
5. The image is erect.
Spherical Mirrors
A spherical mirror is obtained by taking a part of a hollow sphere of glass or any
polished metal.
The reflecting surface of a spherical mirror may be curved inwards or inwards.
A. Concave Mirror: A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved inwards, i.e., faces
towards the centre of the sphere is called a concave mirror. It is also called ‘converging mirror’.
B. Convex Mirror: A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is curved outwards is called a convex
mirror. It is also called ‘diverging mirror’.
C. TERMS RELATED TO SPHERICAL MIRRORS
1. Aperture: The effective distance of the spherical mirror from which reflection of light can
take place is called its aperture.
2. Pole: the centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror is called its pole.
3. Centre of Curvature: The geometric centre of the hollow sphere of which the spherical
mirror is a part is called the centre of curvature of the spherical mirror.
4. Radius of Curvature: The radius of the hollow sphere of which the reflecting surface of the
spherical mirror is a part is called the radius of curvature of the spherical mirror.
5. Principal Axis: The straight line passing through the centre of curvature and the pole of a
spherical mirror is called its principal axis.
6. Principal Focus: If a beam of light parallel to the principal axis falls on a concave mirror, all
the rays after reflection meet at a point on the principal axis.
 Parameter Concave mirror Convex mirror
1. Reflection of light Reflection takes place at the concave Reflection takes place at the
surface (or bent-in-surface) convex surface (or bulging out
surface).
2. Nature A parallel beam of light falling on A parallel beam of light falling
this mirror converges at a point in on this mirror appears to
front of the mirror after reflection. diverge from a point behind
the mirror after reflection.
3. Action It is a converging mirror It is a diverging mirror.
4. Focus It has a real focus. It has a virtual focus.

Parameter Focus of a concave mirror Focus of a convex mirror

1. Position It lies in front of the mirror. It lies behind the mirror.
2. Nature It is a real focus because the light It is a virtual focus because the
rays after reflection from a concave light rays after reflection from a
mirror actually converge at the convex mirror appear to come
focus. from the focus.

Parameter Real image Virtual image

1. Path of the rays of light A real image is formed when two or A virtual image is formed when
more reflected rays intersect at a two or more reflected rays
point in front of the mirror. appear to intersect at a point
behind the mirror.
2. Obtainability on screen It can be obtained on a screen. It cannot be obtained on a
screen.
3. Nature It is inverted (upside down) with It is erect with respect to the
respect to the object. object.

USES OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS

CONCAVE MIRRORS
1. As reflectors: They are used as reflectors in projectors, lighthouses, headlights, searchlights and
torches to obtain a parallel beam of light. This is possible when the source of light is placed at
the focus of the concave mirror which acts as a reflector.
2. As shaving mirrors: Concave mirrors are used as shaving mirrors and as make-up mirrors to see
the enlarged, erect image of the face (the face must be placed close to the mirror, i.e., within
the focal point of the mirror).
3. As doctor’s head mirror: Concave mirrors are used by doctors to focus light on the internal body
parts such as teeth, ear, nose and throat. This is possible if a parallel beam of light is incident on
a concave mirror which focuses the beam to a point. In this case, the beam is converged to the
internal body part to be examined.
4. For heating purpose: They are used for converging solar radiations in solar cookers to generate
adequate heat for cooking purposes.
5. In floodlights: In a floodlight, a bright bulb is positioned between the focus (F) and pole (P) of a
concave mirror to obtain a divergent beam.
CONVEX MIRRORS
 1. As rear-view mirrors: In vehicles like cars, trucks and buses to see the traffic behind. Convex
mirrors are used as rear-view mirrors because of the following two reasons: The image formed
in a convex mirror is highly diminished due to which a convex mirror gives a wide field of view of
the traffic coming behind the vehicle. A convex mirror always produces an erect image with
respect to the object irrespective of the position of traffic behind.
2. Safe view of dangerous corners: Convex mirror are placed on the staircases of double-decker
buses or on other staircases to have safe view of dangerous corners while climbing.
3. Vigilance mirrors: Convex mirrors are used as vigilance mirrors in big shops and departmental
stores as anti-shoplifting devices.
4. Street lighting: Streetlights also use convex mirrors to diverge light over an extended area.

HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PLANE MIRROR, CONCAVE MIRROR, AND CONVEX MIRROR
WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM
1. If the image is erect, of the same size as the object and does not change its size and nature on
moving the mirror closer or away from the face, the mirror is plane.
2. If the image is erect, magnified and becomes inverted on moving the mirror away from the face,
the mirror is concave.
3. If the image is erect, diminished and remains erect on moving the mirror away from the face,
the mirror is convex.
SIGN CONVENTION AT A GLANCE
Parameter For Concave For Convex Mirror
Mirror
1. Distance of the object, u negative negative
2. Distance of the virtual image, v positive positive
3. Distance of the real image, v negative A convex mirror never forms a real
image
4. Focal length, f negative positive
5. Radius of curvature, R negative positive
6. Height of the erect and virtual positive positive
image, hi
7. Height of the inverted and real negative A convex mirror never forms a real
image, hi image
8. Height of the object, ho positive positive

MIRROR FORMULA: The formula which gives the relationship between object distance (u), image
distance (v) and focal length (f) is known as the mirror formula. It is written as 1/v+ 1/u = 1/f
Magnification: It is the ratio of the height of the image to the height of the object. It has no units.
Magnification (m)= Height of the image, hi / height of the object, ho
Magnification is also described as the ratio of the image distance (v) to the object distance (u)
m=-v/u
Sign of Magnification
In accordance with the New Cartesian sign convention, the height of the object is taken to be positive
as the object is usually placed above the principal axis. The height of the image should be taken as
positive for virtual image. However, it is to be taken as negative for real image.
1. Magnification is positive: If ‘m’ is positive, hi and ho have the same sign. This means that the image is
formed on the same side of the principal axis as the object. In other words, the image is ‘virtual and
erect’ w.r.t to the object.
2. Magnification is negative: If ‘m’ is negative, the image is real and inverted w.r.t. the object.
REFRACTION OF LIGHT
The change in direction of light when it passes obliquely from one transparent medium to another at
the boundary separating the two media is called refraction of light.
OPTICALLY RARER MEDIUM AND OPTICALLY DENSER MEDIUM
A medium in which the speed of light is more is known as ‘Optically rarer medium’.
A medium in which the speed of light is less is known as an ‘optically denser medium’.
Greater the difference in speeds of light in two media, greater will be the deviation in the path of light
in the second medium.
CAUSE OF REFRACTION
Refraction of light takes place due to change in the speed of light as it enters from one transparent
medium to another.
1. When a ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium, it bends towards the normal (at
the point of incidence). Angle of incidence =Angle of refraction.
2. When a ray of light travels from a denser medium to a rarer medium, it bends away from the normal
(at the point of incidence). Angle of incidence is greater than angle of refraction.
3. If the incident ray falls normally (or perpendicularly) on the surface of a glass slab, then there is no
bending of the ray of light and it goes straight. Angle of incidence – Angle of refraction =Zero.
LAWS OF REFRACTION OF LIGHT
1. First Law of refraction of light: The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal at the point of
incidence, all lie in the same plane.
2. Second law of refraction of light: The ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of
refraction is a constant for the light of a given colour and for a given pair of media (such as ‘air and
glass’ or ‘air and water’.
Sin i / Sin r = Constant. This constant value is called the ‘refractive index’.
REFRACTIVE INDEX OF THE MEDIUM
Let us consider a ray of light travelling from medium 1 to medium 2. Then, from Snell’s law,
Sin I / Sin r = Constant.
This constant is called the refractive index of medium 2 with respect to medium 1. Refractive index of a
medium is denoted by the letter ‘n’ or ‘µ’. Snell’s law can be expressed as: Sin I / Sin r = 1 n 2. Since the
refractive index is a ratio of two similar quantities (the sines of angles), it has no units. It is a pure
number.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REFRACTIVE INDEX AND SPEED OF LIGHT IN A MEDIUM
Consider a ray of light travelling from air (medium 1) into glass (medium 2). Let v1 be the speed of light
in air and v2 be the speed of light in glass. The refractive index of glass (medium 2) with respect to air
(medium 1) is given by the ratio of the speed of light in air (medium 1) and the speed of light in glass
(medium 2).

air n glass =1n2 = Speed of light in air (medium 1) / Speed of light in glass (medium 2) = v 1 / v2

glass n air = 2 n 1 = Speed of light in glass (medium 2)/ Speed of light in air (medium 1) =v2 / v1

ABSOLUTE REFRACTIVE INDEX

If the incident ray is travelling through vacuum or air and is then refracted in a medium, then the value
of the refractive index is called the absolute refractive index of that medium.
n=Speed of light in vacuum / Speed of light in given medium. n=c/v
The speed of light in vacuum is 2.9979 X 108 m/s and that in air is 2.9970 X 108 m/s. For determining the
refractive index, we can consider air as if it were vacuum.
Note: The refractive index depends on the nature of material of the medium and on the wavelength of
light used.
The refractive index of medium 1 with respect to medium 2 is equal to the reciprocal of the refractive
index of medium 2 with respect to medium 1.
REFRACTION THROUGH LENSES
A lens is a piece of transparent, optical material bounded by two refracting surfaces which are usually
spherical, or one surface spherical and the other plane.
Parameter Convex lens Concave lens
1. Structure A convex lens is thicker in the middle and A concave lens is thinner in the middle
thinner at the edges. and thicker at the edges.
2. Nature A parallel beam of light passing through A parallel beam of light passing through
this lens converges at a point after this lens appears to diverge from a point
refraction. after refraction.
3. Action It is a converging lens. It is a diverging lens.
4. Focus It has a real focus. It has a virtual focus.

TECHNICAL TERMS RELATED TO LENSES

1. Centre of curvature: The centre of curvature of a lens is defined as the centre of the spherical
surface from which the lens has been cut.
2. Aperture: The maximum portion of the spherical surfaces from which refraction takes place is called
the aperture of the lens.
3. Radius of curvature: The radius of curvature of a lens is the radius of the sphere of which the lens
surface is a part.
4. Principal axis of a lens: An imaginary straight line passing through the two centres of curvature of a
lens is called the principal axis of a lens.
5. Optical centre: The geometrical centre of the lens is called its optical centre.
6. Principal focus: A point on the principal axis at which parallel rays of light after passing through a
lens converge (in case of convex lens) or appear to diverge (in case of concave lens) after passing
through the lens.
7. Focal length: The distance between optical centre and principal focus of a lens is called its focal
length.
In a convex lens, since the parallel beam of light travelling parallel to the principal axis actually meets at
a point (second focus), the focus is called real focus. In general, the focal length of a convex lens is
positive. Hence, it is termed as positive lens.
In a concave lens, since the parallel beam of light travelling parallel to the principal axis appears to
diverge from this point (called second focus), the focus is called virtual focus. In general, the focal
length of a concave lens is negative. Hence, it is termed as negative lens.
Position of the object-Convex Lens Application
1. Between O and F1 Magnifying glass.
2. At focus F1 Searchlight
3. Between F1 and 2F1 Film and slide projector.
4. At 2F1 Terrestrial telescope
 5. Beyond 2F1 Photographic camera
6. At infinity (incident rays are parallel to the principal Burning glass.
axis)
7. At infinity (incident rays are not parallel to the Objective lens in a telescope.
parallel axis)

Position of the object-Concave Lens Application

1.At infinity (when the rays coming from the object Galilean telescope
are parallel to the principal axis)
2. Anywhere between infinity and the optical centre. For the correction of myopia.

LENS FORMULA
The lens formula gives the relationship between object distance (u), image distance (v) and the focal
length (f).
1/f=1/v -1/u
SIGN CONVENTION
For convex lens For concave lens
u=negative (always) u=negative (always)
f=positive (always) f=negative (always)
v=positive (if image is real) and negative (if image is V=negative (image is always virtual)
virtual)
m=v/u=hi /ho
POWER OF A LENS
The power of a lens is defined as the reciprocal of its focal length (in metres).
P=1/f(in metres)
P=100/f(IN cms)
The SI unit of the power of a lens is dioptre, D.
One dioptre is the power of a lens whose focal length is one metre.
A convex lens has a positive focal length represented as +D.
A concave lens has a negative focal length represented as –D.
POWER OF A COMBINATION OF LENSES
If a number of lenses are placed in close contact with each other, then the power of the combination of
lenses is equal to the algebraic sum of the powers of individual lenses. The additive property of power
of lenses is also used to design lens systems used in optical instruments like camera, microscope and
telescope. The combination of lenses increases the magnification and sharpness of the image.
P=P1 + P2 + P3 + …….Pn