Light undergoes refraction (bending) when it

CONTENTS travels from one transparent medium to another.

 Light
 Sources of light SOURCES OF LIGHT
 Medium of light 

The objects which emit (give) light are called

 Linear propagation of light luminous objects. It may be natural or man-
 Behaviour of light made. Sun is a natural source of light and electric
 Reflection of light lamp, and oil lamp, etc. are man-made source of
 Laws of reflection of light light.
 Regular & diffused reflection The Non-luminous objects do not emit light.

 Reflection from plane mirror However, such objects become visible due to the
 Reflection from spherical mirror reflection of the light falling on them. Moon does

 Image formation by spherical mirror not emit light. It becomes visible due to the

 Refraction of light reflection of the sunlight falling on it.

 Spherical lens
 Image formation by spherical lens  MEDIUM OF LIGHT
 Total internal reflection Substance through which light propagates or tends
 Dispersion of white light by a to propagate is called a medium of light.
glass prism According to the medium of light objects are

 Human Eye divided into three parts.
 Defects of vision (i) Transparent object :
 Refraction in nature Bodies that allow light to pass through then i.e.

 Scattering of light transmit light through them, are called transparent

bodies.
Ex. Glass, water, air etc

 LIGHT (ii) Translucent object :


Bodies that can transmit only a part of light
 Light is a form of energy, (optical energy) which through them are called translucent objects.
helps us in seeing objects by its presence. Ex. Froasted or ground glass, greased paper , paraffin
 Light travels in a straight line with 3 × 108 m/s in wax etc.
vaccum.. (iii) Opaque object :
 The velocity of light changes when it travels from Bodies that do not allow light to pass through
one medium to another. them at all are said to be opaque objects
Light gets reflected back from polished surfaces, Ex. Chair, desk etc.
such as mirrors, polished metal surfaces, etc.
 LINEAR PROPAGATION OF LIGHT  Types of mirror
Types of mirror
Light travels in a straight line. In vaccum or air,
light travels with the velocity of 3 × 108 m/s.
Plane Spherical
Activity : If we see at a lighted candle through a
straight pipe as shown in figure(a), we are able to Convex Concave

see the candle but if we see the candle through a

bent pipe we are not able to see the candle flame
SOME ASSOCIATED TERMS
as shown in figure (b).
P N Q
This activity showed that light travels along
straight lines.
i r

X Y
O

 Reflecting surface : The surface from which the

(a) b)
light is reflected, is called the reflecting surface.
In diagram, XY is the reflecting surface.
BEHAVIOUR OF LIGHT (Actually XY is the section of a reflecting
When light travelling in one medium falls on the surface, made by the plane of the book page
surface of a second medium, the following three which is perpendicular to it.)
effects may occur.
 Point of incidence : The point on the reflecting
(i) A part of the incident light is turned back into the
first medium. This phenomenon is called surface at which a ray of light strikes, is called the
reflection of light. point of incidence. In diagram, O is the point of
(ii) A part of the incident light is transmitted into the incidence.
second medium along a changed direction. This  Normal : A perpendicular drawn on the reflecting
phenomenon is called refraction of light. surface at the point of incidence, is called the
(iii) The remaining third part of light energy is
absorbed by the second medium. This normal. In diagram, NO is the normal.
phenomenon is called absorption of light.  Incident ray : The ray of light which strikes the
reflecting surface at the point of incidence is
Incident called the incident ray. In diagram, PO is the
Light incident ray.
Reflected light
Medium 1  Reflected ray : The ray of light reflected from the
Medium 2 reflecting surface from the point of incidence, is
called the reflected ray. In diagram, OQ is the
Refracted light reflected ray.
 Angle of incidence : The angle that the incident
ray makes with the normal, is called the angle of
 REFLECTION OF LIGHT incidence. It is represented by the symbol i. In
 diagram, angle PON is the angle of incidence.
When light rays are incident on an opaque  Angle of reflection : The angle that the reflected
polished surface (medium), these are returned ray makes with the normal, is called the angle of
back in the same medium. reflection. It is represented by the symbol r. In
This phenomenon of returning of ray of light in diagram, QON is the angle of reflection.
the same medium, is called reflection of light.


  LAWS OF REFLECTION  Lateral inversion : If you move your right hand,
 it will appear as if the left hand of your image is
 First law : The incident ray, the reflected ray and moving. If you keep a printed page in front of a
the normal at the point of incidence, all lie in the plane mirror, the image of the letters appear erect
same plane.
but inverted laterally, or sideways. Such an
Second law : The angle of reflection (r) is
inversion is called lateral inversion.
always equal to the angle of incidence (i).
i.e., r = i
L R R L
(For normal incidence, i = 0, r = 0. The ray is
reflected back along normal).

Object Image
 REGULAR & DIFFUSED REFLECTION


 Regular Reflection :  REFLECTION FROM SPHERICAL MIRROR

 In this reflection, parallel beam of light goes
parallel after reflection from plane surface.  There are two types of spherical mirrors:
 This reflection follows the laws reflection. (i) Concave mirror :
A

Principal
axis
C
F P

B
(ii) Convex mirror :
Regular reflection A

 Principal
 IRREGULAR REFLECTION OR DIFFUSED axis
REFLECTION : P F C
 In this reflection, parallel beam of light goes
random after reflection from a rough surface.
 This reflection also follows the laws of reflection.
B

 IMAGE FORMATION BY SPHERICAL

MIRROR



RAY DIAGRAM FOR IMAGE FORMATION

FROM CONCAVE MIRROR
(a)When the light ray incident parallel to the
Irregular or diffused reflection
principal axis.
A ray light parallel to
REFLECTION FROM PLANE MIRROR the principal axis
 Size : size of the image is same as that of object. Principal axis P
 Upright or Erect : Image formed erect with C F
respect to object.
 Image distance : It will be same as that of object
distance.
 OR Rays traveling towards
When the light ray incident towards focus. C behind the mirror
Reflected ray goes parallel 90°
to the principal axis

P P F C
C F

(b)When the light ray incident towards centre of  REFRACTION OF LIGHT

curvature. 
A ray of light passing  When light rays travelling in a medium are
through the centre of incident on a transparent surface of another
curvature medium they are bent as they travel in second
medium.
C F P

Normal
Incident ray
N1
P
i
(c)When the light ray incident on the pole of the Rarer
Y
X
mirror. Q Denser
r
Incident ray Plane transparent
surface N2 R
C Fi Refracted ray
r P
Fig. Refraction of light from a plane transparent
Reflected ray denser surface.


RULES FOR IMAGE FORMATION FROM
 SPHERICAL LENS
CONVEX MIRROR
(a)When the light ray incident parallel to the A piece of a transparent medium bounded by at
principal axis. least one spherical surface, is called a spherical
lens.
Reflected ray
 Types : There are two types of spherical lenses:
Incident ray (i) Convex or Converging Lens : They are thick in
P F
Principal axis the middle and thin at the edges.

OR
 When the light ray incident parallel to the
principal axis. 
(ii) Concave or diverging Lens :
Incident ray
They are thinner in the middle and thin at the
Reflected ray edges.
P F
Principal axis

(b)When the light ray incident on the mirror

directing towards centre of curvature.
 IMAGE FORMATION BY SPHERICAL LENS called total (complete) internal (inward)

reflection (return).

 RAY DIAGRAM FOR IMAGE FORMATION
r1 r2
FROM CONVEX LENS Air r3 D
When light ray incident parallel to principal Water i i2 i3 i4 r
4
1

axis.
Total internally
O reflected ray
F1 C F2 Fig. Total internal reflection.

When light ray incident from focus.

 DISPERSION OF WHITE LIGHT BY A
GLASS PRISM

F1 C F2
 Definition : When a ray of white light (sunlight)
enters a glass prism (denser medium). It emerges
When light ray incident on the pole. out from it broken into seven colours.
This phenomenon, due to which different
components of a white light are separated by a
C
F1 F2 denser medium, is called dispersion
(separation).

 Explanation : It is due to different velocities of
 RAY DIAGRAM FOR IMAGE FORMATION different components of white light in the denser
FROM CONCAVE LENS medium.
When light ray incident parallel to principal axis.
White light has seven colours, namely, violet
indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red
(remembered by the word VIBGYOR). In air
(strictly in vacuum) light waves of all colours
F2 C F1 have same velocity (3 × 108 m/s). But in a denser
medium, their velocities become less and
different. Red light waves, travel fastest and have
maximum velocity. Violet light waves, travel
slowest and have minimum velocity in the denser
medium.
C A
F2 F1

R V Red
R
White light O
Y
G
B
Violet I
V
F2 C F1 B C
Dispersion of white light by a glass prism
Due to difference in deviation, waves of different
colours emerge out from the prism indifferent
 TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION directions and are said to have been dispersed
 (separated). When the dispersed white light is
When light travels from a denser medium to a
made to fall on a white screen, we get a seven
rarer medium and is incident at an angle more
than the critical angle for that medium, it is coloured band or light. This coloured band is
completely returned inwardly in the denser called spectrum
medium. This complete inward return of light is
  HUMAN EYE  Correction : The deficiency in converging power
of eye lens is compensated by using a convex

It is the most delicate and complicated natural (Converging) lens of proper power (focal length)
optical instrument. as shown in fig.

Ciliary muscle Convex

Sclerotic
lens
choroid (black)
(white of eye)
retina N' N
iris (eye colour) D
Yellow spot(fovea)
pupil y
optic nerve
Cornea (transparent)
Fig : Hypermetropia corrected by a convex lens.
aqueous humor blind spot
(watery liquid)
vitreous humor (jelly) REFRACTION IN NATURE
(A) FORMATION OF RAINBOW
Diagram shows the section of a human eye by a A rainbow is a natural spectrum appearing in the
horizontal plane. It is a spherical ball of diameter sky after a rain shower. It is caused by dispersion
about 2.5 cm. of sunlight by tiny water droplets, present in the
atmosphere. A rainbow is always formed in a
 DEFECTS OF VISION direction opposite to that of the Sun. The water
 droplets act like small prisms. They refract and
 DEFECTS OF VISION disperse the incident sunlight, then reflect it
The major defects of vision are : internally, and finally refract it again when it
1. Short sightedness or myopia. comes out of the raindrop. Due to the dispersion
2. Long sightedness or hypermetropia. of light and internal reflection, different colours
reach the observer’s eye.
1. Short sightedness or myopia Raindrop
 Symptoms : Eye cannot see clearly beyond a sunlight
certain distance. It means that the far point of the
Red
defective eye has shifted from infinity to a finite Violet
distance ahead. Horizontal

 Correction : The extra converging power of eye (B) ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION

lens in compensated by using a concave We can observe the apparent random wavering or
(diverging) lens of proper power (focal length) as flickering of objects seen through a turbulent
shown in fig. stream of hot air rising above a fire or a radiator.
Concave
The air just above the fire becomes hotter than the
lens air further up. The hotter air is lighter (less dense)
than the cooler air above it, and has a refractive
F F' index slightly less than that of the cooler air.
x Since the physical conditions of the refracting
medium (air) are not stationary, the apparent
position of the object, as seen through the hot air,
Fig. Myopia corrected by a concave lens fluctuates. This wavering is thus an effect of
2. Long sightedness or hyper metropia : atmospheric refraction (refraction of light by the
 Symptoms : With this defect eye cannot see earth’s atmosphere) on a small scale in our local
clearly within a certain distance. It means that the environment. The twinkling of stars is a similar
near point of the defective eye has shifted from 25 phenomenon on a much larger scale.
cm to some more distance behind (away).
(a) Twinkling of stars : SCATTERING OF LIGHT
The twinkling of a star is due to atmospheric
refraction of starlight. The starlight, on entering
the earth’s atmosphere, undergoes refraction The interplay of light with objects around us gives
continuously before it reaches the earth. The rise to several spectacular phenomena in nature.
atmospheric refraction occurs in a medium of The blue colour of the sky, colour of water in
gradually changing refractive index. deep sea, the reddening of the sun at sunrise and
Since the stars are very distant, they approximate the sunset are some of the wonderful phenomena
point-sized sources of light. As the path of rays of we are familiar with. The path of a beam of light
passing through a true solution is not visible.
light coming from the star goes on varying However, its path becomes visible through a
slightly, the apparent position of the star colloidal solution where the size of the particles is
fluctuates and the amount of starlight entering the relatively larger.
eye flickers – the star sometimes appears brighter,
and at some other time, fainter, which is the (a) Tyndall effect
twinkling effect. The earth’s atmosphere is a heterogeneous
mixture of minute particles. These particles
(b) Why don’t the planets twinkle? include smoke, tiny water droplets, suspended
The planets are much closer to the earth, and are particles of dust and molecules of air. When a
thus seen as extended sources. If we consider a beam of light strikes such fine particles, the path
planet as a collection of a large number of point- of the beam becomes visible. The light reaches us,
sized sources of light, the total variation in the after being reflected diffusely by these particles.
amount of light entering our eye from all the The phenomenon of scattering of light by the
individual point-sized sources will average out to colloidal particles gives rise to Tyndall effect.
zero, thereby nullifying the twinkling effect. This phenomenon is seen when a fine beam of
sunlight enters a smoke-filled room through a
small hole. Thus, scattering of light makes the
(C) ADVANCE SUNRISE AND DELAYED SUNSET :
Advance sunrise and delayed sunset The Sun is particles visible. Tyndall effect can also be
visible to us about 2 minutes before the actual observed when sunlight passes through a canopy
sunrise, and about 2 minutes after the actual of a dense forest. Here, tiny water droplets in the
sunset because of atmospheric refraction. By mist scatter light. The colour of the scattered light
actual sunrise, we mean the actual crossing of the depends on the size of the scattering particles.
horizon by the Sun. figure shows the actual and
apparent positions of the Sun with respect to the Very fine particles scatter mainly blue light while
horizon. The time difference between actual particles of larger size scatter light of longer
sunset and the apparent sunset is about 2 minutes. wavelengths. If the size of the scattering particles
The apparent flattening of the Sun’s disc at is large enough, then, the scattered light may even
sunrise and sunset is also due to the same appear white.
phenomenon.

Apparent position
of the sun (b) Why is the colour of the clear sky blue :
The molecules of air and other fine particles in the
atmosphere have size smaller than the wavelength
Observer Horizon
of visible light. These are more effective in
Earth scattering light of shorter wavelengths at the blue
end than light of longer wavelengths at the red
end. The red light has a wavelength about 1.8
Atmosphere
times greater than blue light. Thus, when sunlight
Atmospheric refraction at sunrise and sunset passes through the atmosphere, the fine particles
in air scatter the blue colour (shorter wavelengths)
 more strongly than red. The scattered blue light  Explanation : It is due to total internal
enters our eyes. If the earth had no atmosphere, reflection. At summer noon, in desert, sand
there would not have been any scattering. Then, becomes hot. The air in its contact becomes
the sky would have looked dark. The sky appears very hot and hence rarer. As we move up, air
dark to passengers flying at very high altitudes, as becomes less and less hot, hence less and less
rarer. The air can be divided into layers of
scattering is not prominent at such heights. You
different optical density (fig.).
might have observed that ‘danger’ signal lights
are red in colour. Do you know why? The red is For rays (like number 1 ray), incident at small
least scattered by fog or smoke. Therefore, it can angle at upper most layer, the angle of
be seen in the same colour at a distance. incidence on lowest layer may not be more than
critical angle. These rays are all absorbed by
(c) Colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset sand.
The sky and the Sun at sunset or sunrise appears
The ray no. 2 starting from tree top and making a
red. Near the horizon, most of the blue light and
bigger angle since beginning, reaches the lowest
shorter wavelengths are scattered away by the
particles. Therefore, the light that reaches our layer at bigger angle. The angle of incidence may
eyes is of longer wavelengths. This gives rise to become just more than the critical angle. The ray
the reddish appearance of the Sun. is totally reflected upward and outward. All rays
on the right of ray no. 2 will start with still bigger
sun nearly angle and will have angle of incidence becoming
overhead more than critical angle from upper and upper
layers. They are also totally reflected.
Blue scattered away Less blue
scattered
Sun appears reddish
 LOOMING OR SUPERIOR MIRAGE
Sun near It is an optical illusion seen at sea–shore in
Observer winter evening, due to which an image of a
horizon
ship is seen formed in air in sea–sky. The
actual ship is nowhere visible.

 MIRAGE OR INFERIOR MIRAGE Less cold air (rare)

It is an optical illusion, seen in deserts at summer
noon, due to which an inverted image of a distant
tree is seen formed in hot sand below it, as if
formed in water. Actually there is no water Ship
More cold Cold water
anywhere. air (denser)
Observer far Sea shore Sea
away Less hot
Fig. Looming at cold sea–shore
air (Denser)
 Explanation : It is due to total internal
3 reflection. In cold evening, over sea–bed sea
2
1 i ic water becomes too cold. Air layer in its
contact is cold and denser. As we go up, air
layers become less and less colder and hence
More hot air (Rarer) rarer. (Fig.)
Hot sand
Rays from invisible ship going upward go from
denser to rarer air layers. They are totally
reflected downwards and received by an observer
at sea–shore. The observer sees an image
Fig. Mirage in hot desert–Inverted image of
(virtual) of the ship hanging in the sky.
tree in hot sand
 EXERCISE # 1
Q.14 What do you understand by the spectrum of
AVery Short Answer Type Questions white light ?

Q.15 How is a rainbow formed ?

Q.1 What do you understand by the rectilinear
propagation of light ? Q.16 Why does a Newton's disc appear white when
it is rotated ?
Q.2 What is the relation between the incident ray,
the reflected ray and the surface of a plane
CLong Answer Type Questions
mirror ?

Q.3 Write three properties of the image formed by Q.17 What are real and virtural images ? What are
a plane mirror the differences between them ?

Q.4 An object is placed beyond the focus of a Q.18 What do you understand by the focus of a
concave mirror. What is the nature of the lens ? How will you find the focus of the
image–real or virtual erect or inverted convex lens ?

Q.5 An object is placed beyond the focus of a Q.19 What is refraction ? Explain with an example.
convex lens. What is the nature of the image–
D.Fill in the blanks
real or virtual, erect or inverted ?

Q.6 You have a concave mirror. Where will you Q.20 An image formed by a plane mirror.......... be
place an object to see an erect and magnified seen on a screen.
image ?
Q.21 A ....... image can be formed on a screen.
Q.7 You have a convex lens. Where will you
Q.22 A convex mirror is one in which the
place an object to see an erect and magnified
reflecting surface bulges .......
image?
Q.23 A magnifying glass is a .......... lens.
Q.8 Mention two uses of a concave mirror
Q.24 Parallel rays of light after passing through
Q.9 State two uses of a convex lens.
a ......... lens, they seem to come from a point.
Q.10 What is white light ?

BShort Answer Type Questions

Q.11 Why is the image formed by a pinhole

inverted ?

Q.12 What happens when parallel rays of light fall

on a curved reflecting surface ?

Q.13 Convex mirrors are used as rear view mirrors.

Why ?
 EXERCISE # 2
Single Correct Answer type Questions (B) curvilinear propagation
(C) rectilinear propagation
(D) None of these
Q.1 Which of these form virtual images only ?
(A) Concave mirror (B) Convex mirror
(C) Convex lens (D) None of these Q.10 Which of the following is a reflector of light ?
(A) Sun (B) Star
Q.2 A drop of water on a leaf forms a magnified (C) Filament (D) Moon
image of the veins because of-
(A) refraction Q.11 Wood is an example of-
(B) reflection (A) translucent (B) Transparent
(C) radiation
(D) rectilinear propagation (C) Polymer (D) Opaque

Q.3 If we mix lights of the colours of the rainbow, Q.12 If the angle of incidence is 50°, then calculate
we will get the angle between the incident ray and the
(A) pink light (B) brown light
reflected ray-
(C) colourless light (D) black light
(A) 50° (B) 80°
Q.4 If you bring a faraway object towards the (C) 130° (D) 100°
focus of convex lens, the size of the image
will- Q.13 Which of the following statement is true ?
(A) increase (B) decrease (A) The angle of incidence is twice the angle
(C) double (D) remain the same
of reflection
Q.5 Which of these are due to the rectilinear (B) The incident ray, the reflected ray and the
propagation of light ? normal drawn at the same point of
(A) rainbow incidence lie in the same plane
(B) inverted image in a pinhole camera (C) Some types of virtual images can be
(C) shadow
caught on the screen.
(D) reflection
(D) A plane mirror forms a real image
Q.6 Light causes the sensation of-
(A) Vision Q.14 Two plane mirrors are inclined at a angle 60°,
(B) Light the number of images of an object which is
(C) Both (A) and (B)
placed between mirror will be-
(D) None
(A) 4 (B) 3
Q.7 Light is- (C) 5 (D) 6
(A) an electromagnetic radiation
(B) a longitudinal wave Q.15 Plane mirror are arranged parallel to each
(C) massless other to get-
(D) all of the above (A) A single image
(B) Two images
Q.8 Which of the following is a natural luminous (C) A large number of reflected images
source of light ? (D) No image
(A) sun (B) wood
(C) electric lamp (D) torch Q.16 When an object is moved towards the plane
mirror-
Q.9 Light shows - (A) Image moves away from the object
(A) random propagation (B) Size of the image increases
 (C) Image moves closer to the object (A) Air, water glass (B) Water, glass, air
(D) Size of the image decrease (C) Glass, water, air (D) Glass, air, water

Q.17 David is observing his image in a plane Q.25 We put glass piece on a printed page image of
mirror. The distance between the mirror and prints on the page has same size. The piece is-
his image is 5m. If he moves 1m towards the (A) Convex lens (B) Glass slab
mirror, then the distance between David and
(C) Concave lens (D) Prism
his image will be-
(A) 3 m (B) 5 m
(C) 6 m (D) 8 m Q.26 What happens, when a ray incident at the
optical centre ?
Q.18 The rear view mirror of a car is a plane (A) It passes with deviation of 30° angle
mirror. A driver is reversing his car at a speed through the lens
of (B) It passes undeviated through the lens
2 m/s. The driver sees in his rear view mirror (C) It passes with deviation of 45° angle
the image of truck parked behind his car. The through the lens
speed at which the image of the truck appears (D) None of these
to approach the driver will be-
(A) 1 m/s (B) 2 m/s Q.27 If the lower part of a convex lens is blackened
(C) 4 m/s (D) 8 m/s then the image formed will be
(A) incomplete
Q.19 For a concave mirror when the object is (B) complete
placed between the pole and the focus then (C) of lower intensity
the image formed will be- (D) both (B) and (C)
(A) Virtual (B) Real
(C) Inverted (D) Diminished Q.28 Which of the following diagrams correctly
represent the passage of a ray of light through
Q.20 Mirror used to form magnified image is a concave lens ?
(A) Concave mirror (B) Convex mirror (A) (B)
(C) Plane mirror (D) None of these
F
Q.21 A convex mirror always produces-
(A) an erect, real image of diminished size (C) (D)
(B) an erect, real image of enlarged size
(C) a virtual, erect image of enlarged size 2F
(D) an erect, virtual image of diminished size
Q.29 White light spectrum contains-
Q.22 A reflecting surface is curved inwards. Now (A) 5 colours (B) 7 colours
the mirror formed is- (C) 6 colours (D) No colour
(A) concave (B) plane
(C) convex (D) none of these Q.30 The diagram below shows two incident rays P
and Q which emerge as parallel rays R and S.
Q.23 The phenomenon of the change in the path of The appropriate device used in the box A is-
the light as it passes from one optical medium P R
to another is called-
(A) Reflection of the light Q S
(B) Refraction of light (A) convex lens (B) concave lens
(C) Dispersion of light (C) prism (D) concave mirror
(D) Both (A) and (B)

Q.24 Arrange the optical mediums in ascending

order according to optically denser.
 .ANSWER KEY

EXERCISE-2
Ques. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ans. B A C A C A A A C D D D B C C
Ques. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Ans. C D B A A D A B A B B D D B B