LIGHT 6

CHAPTER

& changes when it travels from one medium to

another.
CONTENTS
  The wavelength () of light changes when it goes
 Sources of light from one medium to another.
 Medium of light  The frequency (f) of the light wave remains the
same in all media.
 Reflection of light
Light gets reflected back from polished surfaces,
 Laws of reflection & nature of image such as mirrors, polished metal surfaces, etc.
 Regular & diffused reflection Light undergoes refraction (bending) when it
 Characteristics of the image travels from one transparent medium to another.
formed by plane mirror
 Multiple reflection SOURCES OF LIGHT
 Reflection from spherical mirror 

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

 Rule of Image formation by
luminous objects. It may be natural or man-
spherical mirror
made. Sun is a natural source of light and electric
 Refraction of light
lamp, and oil lamp, etc. are man-made source of
 Spherical lens light.
 Rules of Image formation by The Non-luminous objects do not emit light.
spherical lens However, such objects become visible due to the
 Total internal reflection reflection of the light falling on them. Moon does
 Dispersion of white light by a not emit light & becomes visible due to the
reflection of the sunlight falling on it.
glass prism
 Human eye
 MEDIUM OF LIGHT
 Defects of vision, symptoms and
Substance through which light propagates or tends
remedy (correction)
 Refraction in nature to propagate is called a medium of light.
According to the medium of light objects are
 Scattering of light
divided into three parts.
(i) Transparent object :
Bodies that allow light to pass through then i.e.
transmit light through them, are called transparent
bodies.
 INTRODUCTION Ex. Glass, water, air etc

(ii) Translucent object :
 Light is a form of energy, (optical energy) which
Bodies that can transmit only a part of light
helps us in seeing objects by its presence.
through them are called translucent objects.
 Light is an electromagnetic wave & travels in a
Ex. Froasted or ground glass, greased paper , paraffin
straight line with the speed 3 × 108 m/s in vacuum
wax etc.
(iii) Opaque object :  Angle of reflection : The angle that the reflected
Bodies that do not allow light to pass through ray makes with the normal, is called the angle of
them at all are said to be opaque objects reflection. It is represented by the symbol r. In
Ex. Chair, desk etc. diagram, QON is the angle of reflection.

 REFLECTION OF LIGHT  LAWS OF REFLECTION & NATURE

 OF IMAGE
When light rays are incident on an opaque 
polished surface (medium), these are returned  First law : The incident ray, the reflected ray and
back in the same medium. This phenomenon of the normal at the point of incidence, all lie in the
returning of ray of light in the same medium, is same plane.
called reflection of light. Second law : The angle of reflection (r) is
 always equal to the angle of incidence (i).
SOME ASSOCIATED TERMS i.e., r = i
(For normal incidence, i = 0, r = 0. The ray is
P N Q reflected back along normal).

NATURE OF IMAGE
i r Incident rays starting from a point object, and
reflected from a mirror, either actually meet at or
X Y appear to come from a point. The other point is
O called the image of the point object.


 Reflecting surface : The surface from which the Real Image Virtual Image
light is reflected, is called the reflecting surface. 1. A real image is formed 1. A virtual image is
In diagram, XY is the reflecting surface. when two or more formed when two or
(Actually XY is the section of a reflecting reflected rays meet at more rays appear to
surface, made by the plane of the book page a point in front of the be coming from a point
mirror. behind the mirror.
which is perpendicular to it.)
 Point of incidence : The point on the reflecting 2. A real image can be 2. A virtual image cannot
obtained on a screen. be obtained on a screen.
surface at which a ray of light strikes, is called the
point of incidence. In diagram, O is the point of 3. A real image is inverted 3. A virtual image is erect
incidence. with respect to the with respect to the
 Normal : A perpendicular drawn on the reflecting object. object.
surface at the point of incidence, is called the
normal. In diagram, NO is the normal.  REGULAR & DIFFUSED REFLECTION
 Incident ray : The ray of light which strikes the 

 Regular Reflection :
reflecting surface at the point of incidence is
 In this reflection, parallel beam of light goes
called the incident ray. In diagram, PO is the parallel after reflection from plane surface.
incident ray.  This reflection follows the laws reflection.
 Reflected ray : The ray of light reflected from the
reflecting surface from the point of incidence, is
called the reflected ray. In diagram, OQ is the
reflected ray.
 Angle of incidence : The angle that the incident
ray makes with the normal, is called the angle of
incidence. It is represented by the symbol i. In
diagram, angle PON is the angle of incidence.
Regular reflection
 IRREGULAR REFLECTION OR DIFFUSED  If there are two plane mirrors inclined to each
REFLECTION : other at an angle 90° , the number of images of a
 In this reflection, parallel beam of light goes point object formed are 3.

random after reflection from a rough surface.
KALEIDOSCOPE
 This reflection also follows the laws of reflection.
 This is a structure made up of three plane mirrors
in which all the plane mirrors are joint along the
length and arranged at an angle of 60º as shown in
figure.
A cardboard tube is wrapped around the mirrors
to form a tublar structure. One end of this tube is
pasted with transparent sheets with some multi
coloured beads or pieces of broken bangles in
Irregular or diffused reflection between these sheets. Another and is closed with
a plane transparent sheet.
 Note : Laws of reflection are always valid no  When we observe through the transparent end
matter whether reflection is regular or irregular. with rotating the tube beautiful coloured pattern.
 The above pattern is because of multiple
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IMAGE reflection of light rays coming from small beads
FORMED BY PLANE MIRROR and pieces of bangles.
 Size : size of the image is same as that of object. 60°
 Upright or Erect : Image formed erect with 60° 60°
Tube
respect to object. Mirror
 Image distance : It will be same as that of object Mirror
Coloured
distance. beads
 Lateral inversion : If you move your right hand,
it will appear as if the left hand of your image is
moving. If you keep a printed page in front of a  REFLECTION FROM SPHERICAL MIRROR
plane mirror, the image of the letters appear erect
but inverted laterally, or sideways. Such an There are two types of spherical mirrors:
inversion is called lateral inversion. (i) Concave mirror :
A
L R R L
Principal
axis
C
F P
Object Image

B
MULTIPLE REFLECTION (ii) Convex mirror :
A
Number of images formed by combination of plane
mirrors depends upon angle between mirrors. Principal
axis
P F C

90°
B
 SOME ASSOCIATED TERMS  RULES OF IMAGE FORMATION BY
 Pole : The centre of the spherical surface of the SPHERICAL MIRROR

mirror is called the pole of the mirror. It lies on 

the surface. In diagram, P is the pole of the RAY DIAGRAM FOR IMAGE FORMATION
FROM CONCAVE MIRROR
mirror. (a)When the light ray incident parallel to the

principal axis.
 Centre of curvature : The centre of the spherical A ray light parallel to
shell, of which the mirror is a section, is called the principal axis
centre of curvature of the mirror. It lies outside Principal axis P
the surface. Every point on mirror surface lies at C F
same distance from it. In diagram, C is the centre
of curvature of the mirror.
 OR
 Principal axis : The straight line passing through When the light ray incident towards focus.
the pole and the centre of curvature of the mirror, Reflected ray goes parallel
to the principal axis
is called principal axis of the mirror.

P
 Principal focus : It is a point on the principal axis C F
of the mirror, such that the rays incident on the
mirror parallel to the principal axis after
reflection, actually meet at this point (in case of a (b)When the light ray incident towards centre of
curvature.
concave mirror) or appear to come from it (in case A ray of light passing
of a convex mirror). In diagram, F is the principal through the centre of
focus of the mirror. curvature


Radius of curvature : The distance between the C F P

pole and the centre of curvature of the mirror, is
called the radius of curvature of the mirror. It is
equal to the radius of the spherical shell of which
(c)When the light ray incident on the pole of the
the mirror is a section. In diagram, PC is the mirror.
radius of curvature of the mirror. It is represented Incident ray
by the symbol R.
 C Fi
r P
 Focal length : The distance between the pole and
principal focus of the mirror, is called the focal Reflected ray
length of the mirror. In diagram, PF is the focal 
length of the mirror. It is represented by the RULES FOR IMAGE FORMATION FROM
symbol f. CONVEX MIRROR
(a)When the light ray incident parallel to the
R principal axis.
f  for convex
2
Reflected ray
R
f=  for concave Incident ray
2
P F
Principal axis
 OR  Normal : Perpendicular drawn on the transparent
 When the light ray incident parallel to the surface at the point of incidence, is called normal.
principal axis. In diagram, N1QN2 is the normal on surface XY.
Incident ray  Incident ray : The ray of light which strikes the
Reflected ray transparent surface at the point of incidence, is
P F called incident ray in diagram PQ is the incident
Principal axis
ray.
 Refracted ray : The ray of light which travels

(b)When the light ray incident on the mirror from the point of incidence into the other
directing towards centre of curvature. medium, is called refracted ray. In diagram, QR is
Rays traveling towards the refracted ray.
C behind the mirror  Angle of incidence : The angle between the
90° incident ray and the normal on the transparent
surface at the point of incidence, is called the
P F C angle of incidence. It is represented by the symbol
i. In diagram, angle PQN1 is the angle of
incidence.
 Angle of refraction : The angle between the
 REFRACTION OF LIGHT refracted ray and the normal on the transparent
 surface at the point of incidence, is called angle of
When light rays travelling in a medium are refraction. It is represented by symbol r. In
incident on a transparent surface of another diagram angle RQN2 is the angle of refraction.
medium they are bent as they travel in second
medium. REAL & APPARENT DEPTH & HEIGHT
Normal

(A) Seeing from air to liquid :

Incident ray
N1
P
i
Rarer
X Y
Q Denser apparent
r dactual
Plane transparent actual
surface N2 R
Refracted ray d actual
apparent depth from surface =
Fig. Refraction of light from a plane transparent 
denser surface.
(B) Seeing from liquid to air
SOME ASSOCIATED TERMS apparent
 Transparent surface : The plane surface which
refracts light, is called transparent surface. In
actual
diagram, XY is the section of a plane transparent
surface. dactual
 Point of incidence : The point on transparent
surface, where the ray of light meets it, is called
point of incidence. In diagram, Q is the point of
incidence.
apparent height from surface = Hactual × 
  SPHERICAL LENS

F1 C F2
A piece of a transparent medium bounded by at
least one spherical surface, is called a spherical
When light ray incident from focus.
lens.


 There are two types of spherical lenses:

(i) Convex or Converging Lenses : These are F1 C F2
thick in the middle and thin at the edges.
When light ray incident on the pole.
There are three types of convex lenses :

C
F1 F2

(a) (b) (c) 

(a) Double Convex Lens : It has both the  RAY DIAGRAM FOR IMAGE FORMATION
surfaces convex. FROM CONCAVE LENS
When light ray incident parallel to principal axis.
(b) Plano–Convex Lens : It has one surface
plane and the other surface convex.
(c) Concavo–Convex Lens : It has one surface
concave and the other surface convex. F2 C F1

(ii) Concave or Diverging Lenses : These are
thin in the middle and thick at the edges.

There are three types of concave lenses :

F2 C F1

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. Three types of concave lenses
(a) Double Concave Lens : It has both the surfaces F2 C F1
concave. (Fig.)
(b) Plano–Concave Lens : It has one surface plane
and the other surface concave. (fig.)
(c) Convexo–Concave Lens : It has one surface  TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION
convex and the other surface concave. (fig.) 
When light travels from a denser medium to a
RULES OF IMAGE FORMATION BY rarer medium and is incident at an angle more
 SPHERICAL LENS than the critical angle for that medium, it is
 completely returned inwardly in the denser

 RAY DIAGRAM FOR IMAGE FORMATION medium. This complete inward return of light is
FROM CONVEX LENS called total (complete) internal (inward)
reflection (return).
When light ray incident parallel to principal
axis.
 coloured band or light. This coloured band is
called spectrum
r1 r2 r3 D
Air
 HUMAN EYE
Water i i2 i3 i4 r
4
1

It is the most delicate and complicated natural

Total internally
O
optical instrument which enables us to see the
reflected ray
Fig. Total internal reflection. wonderful world of light.


 STRUCTURE :
 DISPERSION OF WHITE LIGHT BY A Ciliary muscle
GLASS PRISM Sclerotic choroid (black)
 (white of eye)
When a ray of white light (sunlight) enters a glass retina
iris (eye colour)
Yellow spot(fovea)
prism (denser medium). It emerges out from it pupil
broken into seven colours. optic nerve
Cornea (transparent)
This phenomenon, due to which different
aqueous humor blind spot
components of a white light are separated by a (watery liquid)
denser medium, is called dispersion (separation). vitreous humor (jelly)

 Explanation : It is due to different velocities of Diagram shows the section of a human eye by
different components of white light in the denser a horizontal plane. It is a spherical ball of
medium. diameter about 2.5 cm. Its essential parts are
White light has seven colours, namely, violet described below :
indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red
 Cornea : It is the front buldged out part of
(remembered by the word VIBGYOR). In air
eye ball covered by transparent sclerotic.
(strictly in vacuum) light waves of all colours
Cornea Iris (coloured)
have same velocity (3 × 108 m/s). But in a denser
medium, their velocities become less and
different. Red light waves, being longest in
Pupil (transparent)
length, travel fastest and have maximum velocity.
Cornea of the eye-front view.
Violet light waves, being shortest in length, travel
slowest and have minimum velocity in the denser  Iris : It is the coloured region under cornea
medium. formed by choroid. Its colour differs from
A
person to person.
 Pupil : It is central circular aperture in the
R V Red
R
White light O iris. Its normal diameter is 1 mm but it can
Y
G contract in excess light and expand in dim
B
Violet I light, by means of two sets of involuntary
V
B C muscular fibres.
Dispersion of white light by a glass prism
 Crystalline lens : It is a double convex lens L
Due to difference in deviation, waves of different
immediately behind iris. This is made of
colours emerge out from the prism indifferent
directions and are said to have been dispersed transparent concentric layers whose optical
(separated). When the dispersed white light is density increases towards the centre of the lens.
made to fall on a white screen, we get a seven
  Ciliary muscles : The lens is connected of adjustment of focal length required to focus
the sclerotic by the ciliary muscles. These objects at different distances on the retina.
muscles change thickness of the lens by We find a structure called iris behind the
relaxing and exerting pressure. cornea. Iris is a dark muscular diaphragm that
 Aqueous humour : Anterior chamber is filled controls the size of the pupil. The pupil
with a transparent liquid of refractive index. The regulates and controls the amount of light
liquid is called the aqueous humour. entering the eye. The eye lens forms an
 Vitreous humour : Posterior chamber is filled inverted real image of the object on the retina.
with a transparent watery liquid with little The retina is a delicate membrane having
common salt having some refractive index. The enormous number of light-sensitive cells. The
liquid is called the vitreous humour. light-sensitive cells get activated upon
 Retina : It forms innermost coat in the illumination and generate electrical signals.
interior of the eye. It consists of a thin These signals are sent to the brain via the
membrane which is rich in nerve fibres, optic nerves. The brain interprets these
containing two kinds of vision cells called signals, and finally, processes the information
rods and cones and blood vessels. It is so that we perceive objects as they are.

sensitive to light, for it is a continuation of the

optic nerves. It serves the purpose of a
 DEFECTS OF VISION, SYMPTOMS AND
sensitive screen for the reception of the image REMEDY (CORRECTION)
formed by the lens system of the eye. 
[The rods are responsible for colour vision in  Defects of Vision
dim light (Scotopic vision). The major defects of vision are :
The cones are responsible for vision under 1. Short sightedness or myopia.
ordinary day light (Photopic vision). 2. Long sightedness or hypermetropia.
3. Presbyopic
  Blind spot : The blind spot B. It is the spot 4. Astigmatism
where the optic nerves enter the eye. It is also
slightly raised and insensitive to light, because it 1. Short sightedness or myopia
is not covered with choroid and retina.  Symptoms : Eye cannot see clearly beyond a
certain distance. It means that the far point of
 Working (Action of the eye) : the defective eye has shifted from infinity to a
The human eye is like a camera. Its lens finite distance ahead.
system forms an image on a light-sensitive  Reasons : It is so because the image of
screen called the retina. Light enters the eye distant objects is formed in front of the retina.
through a thin membrane called the cornea. It It is shown in fig.
forms the transparent bulge on the front
surface of the eyeball. The eyeball is
approximately spherical in shape with a
diameter of about 2.3 cm. Most of the
refraction for the light rays entering the eye F F'
occurs at the outer surface of the cornea. The
crystalline lens merely provides the finer
Myopic eye vision.
  Causes : (i) The eye lens may be thinner (less
(i) The lens may be thicker (more converging) converging) than the normal eye lens.
that the normal eye lens. (ii) The eye ball may be oval distance between
(ii) The eye ball may be elongated, lens and retina becomes less than that for
normal eye.

F
F'

N' N

Fig. Elongated eye.

 Correction : The extra converging power of Fig. Oval eye.


eye lens is compensated by using a concave
 Correction : The deficiency in converging power
(diverging) lens of proper power (focal
of eye lens is compensated by using a convex
length) as shown in fig.
(Converging) lens of proper power (focal
Concave length) as shown in fig.
lens

Convex
F F'
lens
x
N' N
D
Fig. Myopia corrected by a concave lens y

Fig : Hypermetropia corrected by a convex lens.

2. Long sightedness or hypermetropia

 Symptoms : With this defect eye cannot see 3. Presbyopic :
clearly within a certain distance. It means that The power of accommodation of the eye
the near point of the defective eye has shifted usually decreases with ageing. For most
from 25 cm to some more distance behind people, the near point gradually recedes
(away). away. They find it difficult to see nearby
 Reason : It is so because the image of near objects comfortably and distinctly without
objects is formed behind the retina. It is corrective eye-glasses. This defect is called
shown in fig. Presbyopia.
It arises due to the gradual weakening of the
ciliary muscles and diminishing flexibility of
the eye lens. Sometimes, a person may suffer
N' N
from both myopia and hypermetropia.
Such people often require bi-focal lenses. A
common type of bi-focal lenses consists of
Hypermetropic eye vision.
both concave and convex lenses. The upper
 Causes : portion consists of a concave lens. It
 facilitates distant vision. The lower part is a atmosphere. A rainbow is always formed in a
convex lens. It facilitates near vision. These direction opposite to that of the Sun. The water
days, it is possible to correct the refractive droplets act like small prisms. They refract and
defects with contact lenses or through disperse the incident sunlight, then reflect it
surgical interventions. internally, and finally refract it again when it
comes out of the raindrop. Due to the dispersion
4. Astigmation : of light and internal reflection, different colours
A person suffering from this defect cannot reach the observer’s eye.
simultaneously focus on both horizontal and Raindrop
sunlight
vertical lines of a wire gauze.
Red
Violet
Horizontal

Normal Wire Gauge (B) ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION

We can observe the apparent random wavering or
flickering of objects seen through a turbulent
stream of hot air rising above a fire or a radiator.
Wire gauge with The air just above the fire becomes hotter than the
distorted vertical lines air further up. The hotter air is lighter (less dense)
than the cooler air above it, and has a refractive
index slightly less than that of the cooler air.
Since the physical conditions of the refracting
Wire gauge with medium (air) are not stationary, the apparent
distorted horizontal lines
position of the object, as seen through the hot air,
fluctuates. This wavering is thus an effect of
This defect arises due to the fact that the atmospheric refraction (refraction of light by the
cornea is not perfectly spherical earth’s atmosphere) on a small scale in our local
This defect can be corrected by using environment. The twinkling of stars is a similar
cylindrical lens phenomenon on a much larger scale.

(a) Twinkling of stars :

The twinkling of a star is due to atmospheric
Cylindrical lens refraction of starlight. The starlight, on entering
the earth’s atmosphere, undergoes refraction

REFRACTION IN NATURE continuously before it reaches the earth. The

atmospheric refraction occurs in a medium of
(A) FORMATION OF RAINBOW
gradually changing refractive index.
A rainbow is a natural spectrum appearing in the
Since the stars are very distant, they approximate
sky after a rain shower. It is caused by dispersion
point-sized sources of light. As the path of rays of
of sunlight by tiny water droplets, present in the
 light coming from the star goes on varying SCATTERING OF LIGHT
slightly, the apparent position of the star
fluctuates and the amount of starlight entering the
The interplay of light with objects around us gives
eye flickers – the star sometimes appears brighter,
rise to several spectacular phenomena in nature.
and at some other time, fainter, which is the
The blue colour of the sky, colour of water in
twinkling effect.
deep sea, the reddening of the sun at sunrise and
the sunset are some of the wonderful phenomena
(b) Why don’t the planets twinkle?
we are familiar with. The path of a beam of light
The planets are much closer to the earth, and are
passing through a true solution is not visible.
thus seen as extended sources. If we consider a
However, its path becomes visible through a
planet as a collection of a large number of point-
colloidal solution where the size of the particles is
sized sources of light, the total variation in the
relatively larger.
amount of light entering our eye from all the
individual point-sized sources will average out to
(a) Tyndall effect
zero, thereby nullifying the twinkling effect.
The earth’s atmosphere is a heterogeneous
mixture of minute particles. These particles
(C) ADVANCE SUNRISE AND DELAYED SUNSET :
include smoke, tiny water droplets, suspended
Advance sunrise and delayed sunset The Sun is
particles of dust and molecules of air. When a
visible to us about 2 minutes before the actual
beam of light strikes such fine particles, the path
sunrise, and about 2 minutes after the actual
of the beam becomes visible. The light reaches us,
sunset because of atmospheric refraction. By
after being reflected diffusely by these particles.
actual sunrise, we mean the actual crossing of the
The phenomenon of scattering of light by the
horizon by the Sun. figure shows the actual and
colloidal particles gives rise to Tyndall effect.
apparent positions of the Sun with respect to the
This phenomenon is seen when a fine beam of
horizon. The time difference between actual
sunlight enters a smoke-filled room through a
sunset and the apparent sunset is about 2 minutes.
small hole. Thus, scattering of light makes the
The apparent flattening of the Sun’s disc at
particles visible. Tyndall effect can also be
sunrise and sunset is also due to the same
observed when sunlight passes through a canopy
phenomenon.
of a dense forest. Here, tiny water droplets in the
Apparent position
of the sun mist scatter light. The colour of the scattered light
depends on the size of the scattering particles.
Observer Horizon Very fine particles scatter mainly blue light while
particles of larger size scatter light of longer
Earth
wavelengths. If the size of the scattering particles
is large enough, then, the scattered light may even
Atmosphere
appear white.
Atmospheric refraction at sunrise and sunset



 Why is the colour of the clear sky blue :  MIRAGE OR INFERIOR MIRAGE
The molecules of air and other fine particles in the It is an optical illusion, seen in deserts at
atmosphere have size smaller than the wavelength summer noon, due to which an inverted
of visible light. These are more effective in image of a distant tree is seen formed in hot
scattering light of shorter wavelengths at the blue sand below it, as if formed in water. Actually
end than light of longer wavelengths at the red there is no water anywhere.
end. The red light has a wavelength about 1.8 Observer far
times greater than blue light. Thus, when sunlight away Less hot
passes through the atmosphere, the fine particles air (Denser)
in air scatter the blue colour (shorter wavelengths)
3
more strongly than red. The scattered blue light 2 i ic
1
enters our eyes. If the earth had no atmosphere,
there would not have been any scattering. Then, More hot air (Rarer)
the sky would have looked dark. The sky appears Hot sand

dark to passengers flying at very high altitudes, as

scattering is not prominent at such heights. You
might have observed that ‘danger’ signal lights Fig. Mirage in hot desert–Inverted image of
are red in colour. Do you know why? The red is tree in hot sand
least scattered by fog or smoke. Therefore, it can
 Explanation : It is due to total internal
be seen in the same colour at a distance.
reflection. At summer noon, in desert, sand
becomes hot. The air in its contact becomes
(b) Colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset
very hot and hence rarer. As we move up, air
The sky and the Sun at sunset or sunrise appears
becomes less and less hot, hence less and less
red. Near the horizon, most of the blue light and
rarer. The air can be divided into layers of
shorter wavelengths are scattered away by the
different optical density (fig.).
particles. Therefore, the light that reaches our
eyes is of longer wavelengths. This gives rise to For rays (like number 1 ray), incident at small
the reddish appearance of the Sun. angle at upper most layer, the angle of
incidence on lowest layer may not be more than
sun nearly critical angle. These rays are all absorbed by
overhead
sand.
Blue scattered away Less blue
scattered The ray no. 2 starting from tree top and making a
Sun appears reddish bigger angle since beginning, reaches the lowest
layer at bigger angle. The angle of incidence may
Sun near
Observer become just more than the critical angle. The ray
horizon
is totally reflected upward and outward. All rays
on the right of ray no. 2 will start with still bigger
angle and will have angle of incidence becoming


 more than critical angle from upper and upper  Explanation : It is due to total internal
layers. They are also totally reflected. reflection. In cold evening, over sea–bed sea
water becomes too cold. Air layer in its
 LOOMING OR SUPERIOR MIRAGE
contact is cold and denser. As we go up, air
It is an optical illusion seen at sea–shore in
layers become less and less colder and hence
winter evening, due to which an image of a
rarer. (Fig.)
ship is seen formed in air in sea–sky. The
actual ship is nowhere visible. Rays from invisible ship going upward go from
denser to rarer air layers. They are totally

Less cold air (rare) reflected downwards and received by an observer

at sea–shore. The observer sees an image
(virtual) of the ship hanging in the sky.

Ship
More cold Cold water
air (denser)
Sea shore Sea

Fig. Looming at cold sea–shore

 EXERCISE # 1
Q.7 Describe the construction of a kaleidoscope.
SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Suppose you are in a dark room. Can you see Q.8 Draw a labeled sketch of the human eye.
objects in the room? Can you see objects
outside the room. Explain. Q.9 Explain how you can take care of your eyes.
Q.10 What is the angle of incidence of a ray if the
Q.2 Differentiate between regular and diffused reflected ray is at an angle of 90° to the
reflection. Does diffused reflection mean the incident ray?
failure of the laws of reflection?
Q.11 How many images of a candle will be formed
Q.3 Mention against each of the following if it is placed between two parallel plane
whether regular or diffused reflection will mirrors separated by 40 cm ?
take place when a beam of light strikes.
Justify your answer in each case. Q.12 Two mirrors meet at right angles. A ray of
(a) Polished wooden table light is incident on one at an angle of 30° as
(b) Chalk powder shown in figure draw the reflected ray from
the second mirror.
(c) Cardboard surface
(d) Marble floor with water spread over it
30°
(e) Mirror
(f) Piece of paper
Q.4 State the laws of reflection. Q.13 Boojho stands at A just on the side of a plane
Q.5 Describe an activity to show that the incident mirror as shown in figure. Can he see himself
in the mirror? Also can he see the image of
ray, the reflected ray and the normal at the objects situated at P, Q and R?
point of incidence lie in the same plane.
A (Boojho) P Q
R
Q.6 Fill in the blanks in the following :
(a) A person 1 m in front of a plane mirror
seems to be _______________ m from
his image. Q.14 (a) Find out the position of the image of an
object situated at A in the plane mirror
(b) If you touch your ____________ ear with
(Figure).
right hand in front of a plane mirror it (b) Can Paheli at B see this image?
will be seen in the mirror that your right (c) Can Boojho at C see this image?
ear is touched with ____________ (d) When Paheli moves from B to C, where
(c) The size of the pupil becomes does the image of A move?
____________ when you see in dim B (Paheli)
A
light.
C (Boojho)
(d) Night birds have ____________ cones
than rods in their eyes..
 EXERCISE # 2
Single Correct Answer type Questions Q.8 Which of the following cannot produce a
REFLECTION virtual image?
Q.1 A child walks towards a fixed plane mirror at (A) Plane mirror
a speed of 5 km h–1. The velocity of the (B) Concave mirror
image with respect to mirror is - (C) Convex lens
(D) All of the above can produce a virtual
(A) 5 km h–1 (B) –5 km h–1
image.
(C) 10 km h–1 (D) –10 km h–1
Q.9 How many images of himself does an
Q.2 The letter that does not show lateral observer see if two adjacent walls of
inversion- rectangular room are mirror surfaced?
(A) Z (B) M (C) O (D) W (A) 3 (B) 5
(C) 7 (D) 9
Q.3 In a plane mirror, an object is 0.5 m in front
of the mirror. The distance between object Q.10 The incident ray, reflected ray, and the
and image is - normal at the point of incidence lie on the
(A) 0.5 m (B) 1 m same
(C) 0.25 m (D) 0.75 m (A) line (B) point
(C) circle (D) plane
Q.4 An object 0.5 m tall is in front of a plane
mirror at a distance of 0.2 m. The size of the Q.11 Diffused reflection occurs if a ray of light is
image formed is- reflected by a
(A) 0.2 m (B) 0.5 m (A) concave mirror (B) plane mirror
(C) 0.1 m (D) 1 m (C) convex mirror (D) rough surface

Q.5 A plane mirror is approaching you at Q.12 Sources of light are also called
(A) luminous objects
10 cm s–1. Your image shall approach you
(B) non-luminous objects
with a speed of-
(C) mirrors
(A) + 10 cm s–1 (B) – 10 cm s–1 (D) reflections
(C) + 20 cm s–1 (D) – 20 cm s–1
Q.13 When two plane mirrors are kept at 90º, we get
Q.6 A ray of light is incident on a plane mirror at (A) only one image
an angle of incidence of 30°. The deviation (B) two images
produced by the mirror is- (C) three images
(A) 30° (B) 60° (C) 90° (D) 120° (D) infinite number of images

Q.7 A plane mirror reflects a pencil of light to Q.14 If two plane mirrors are placed parallel to each
form a real image. Then the pencil of light other and facing each other, then we get
incident on the mirror is- (A) only one image
(A) parallel (B) convergent (B) two images
(C) divergent (D) any of these (C) three images
(D) infinite number of images
Q.15 The beautiful patterns that we obtain in a Q.22 An endoscope is employed by a physician to
kaleidoscopes are because of view the internal parts of a body organ. If is
(A) dispersion based on the principle of:
(B) spectrum (A) refraction
(C) multiple reflection (B) reflection
(D) diffused reflection (C) total internal reflection
(D) dispersion
Q.16 Which of the following types of mirror is
used in the solar cooker ? Q.23 The sun is visible to us a little before the
actual sunrise and a little after the actual
(A) plane mirror (B) convex mirror
sunset. This is because of atmospheric.
(C) concave mirror (D) None of these (A) reflection (B) refraction
(C) scattering (D) diffraction
Q.17 An incident ray makes an angle of 30º with a
plane mirror. Then the angle of reflection is Q.24 Light of different colours propagates through
(A) 30º (B) 60º air–
(C) 45º (D) None of these (A) With the velocity of air
(B) With different velocities
Q.18 The reflection taking place from the walls of (C) With the velocity of sound
a building is called (D) Having the equal velocities
(A) regular reflection
Q.25 A monochromatic beam of light passes from
(B) diffused reflection a denser medium into a rarer medium. As a
(C) multiple reflection result–
(D) None of these (A) Its velocity increases
(B) Its velocity decreases
Q.19 The reflection in which reflected rays travel (C) Its frequency decreases
as parallel beam is called (D) Its wavelength decreases
(A) regular reflection
(B) scattering Q.26 When light passes from water to olive oil.
(C) multiple reflection The ray –
(A) Bends away from the normal
(D) None of these
(B) Bends towards the normal
(C) Emerges undeviated
Q.20 A ray of light which bounces off the surface (D) Bends either away or toward the normal
of mirror is called depending one whether, the surface
(A) normal (B) incident ray separating the two media is plane or
(C) reflected ray (D) None of these spherical.
Q.27 The wavelength of yellow line of sodium (D)
REFRACTION in diamond, as compared to that is sugar is –
Q.21 How will the image formed by a convex lens (A) Same
be affected, if the central portion of the lens is (B) More
wrapped in black paper, as shown in the fig. (C) Less
(D) None

Q.28 The bending of light ray when passing from

two optically different mediums is called
(A) Reflection (B) Refraction
(A) No image will be formed (C) Polarization (D) Effervescence
(B) Full image will be formed but it is less
bright Q.29 The twinkling of stars at night is caused by
(C) Full image will be formed but without the (A) Reflection of light
central portion (B) Refraction of light
(D) Two images will be formed, one dur to (C) Dispersion of light
each exposed half. (D) Polarization of light
Q.30 The rainbow that appears in sky after the Q.34 Dispersion is
rains is caused by the ........... of light by water (A)splitting of light into its constituent
droplets present in upper atmosphere. colours
(A) Reflection of light (B) formation of many images
(B) Refraction of light (C) formation of only two images
(C) Dispersion of light (D) a rainbow
(D) Polarization of light
Q.35 The difference in the colour of the eye is due
Q.31 When an object is at infinity, the image by to difference in
convex lens is formed at (A) retina (B) pupil
(A) Focus (C) iris (D) sclera
(B) Centre of curvature
(C) Beyond the centre of curvature Q.36 The image of the object is always formed at
(D) Optical centre the
(A) iris (B) retina
Q.32 In visible spectrum, the ray of light with (C) pupil (D) lens
maximum wavelength is
(A) Violet rays (B) Green ray Q.37 Cataract is the condition that affects the
(C) Blue ray (D) Red ray (A) lens (B) pupil
(C) retina (D) macula
Q.33 When a ray of light passes from a rare into a
denser medium, its velocity
(A) Increases
(B) Decreases
(C) Remains the same
(D) None of these

ANSWER KEY

EXERCISE-2
Ques. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ans. B B,C,D B B D D B D A D D A C D C
Ques. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Ans. A A B A C B C B D A B C B B C
Ques. 31 32 33 34 35 36 37
Ans. A D B A C B A