Chapter-8
Light , Shadow and Reflection
At A Glance:
Light:
Light as form of energy: Light is the energy that enables us to see. Light is emitted from a
source such as Sun.
Rectilinear Propagation of Light
Light takes the quickest path between any two points. Therefore, light travels in a straight
line. This is known as a rectilinear propagation of light.
Luminous objects: Objects which emit light by their own. Example- Sun, Electric-bulb,
Firefly etc.
Non Luminous objects : Objects which cannot emit light on their own. These objects
reflect light from luminous bodies. Examples – Moon, Earth, Chair etc.
Transparent : Objects or material through which light can pass through totally. Example –
Glass, air etc.
Translucent: Objects that allow light to pass through them partially. Example – butter
paper, tissue paper etc.
Opaque : Objects that do not allow light to pass through them. Example – Book, brick
etc.
Ray of Light : A straight beam of light from a source to an object is called ray of light.
Shadow : A dark area or patch produced by an object coming between source of light and
a screen.
Opaque objects casts dark shadow.
Translucent objects produce weak shadow
Transparent objects do not cast any shadow.
Shadows give us an idea about the shapes of different objects. Also, it can even mislead
us about the shape of different objects. E.g. the shadow of a cone appears to be a triangle
on the screen.
The Pinhole Camera
Formation of Image by Pinhole Camera
A pinhole camera is a simple camera that consists of a light-proof box, a thin film for a
screen and a small aperture or hole to allow the passage of light rays.
The light from outside enters through the small hole and forms an image on the screen
that is inverted.
Mirrors and Reflection
Mirrors
A mirror is a surface usually consisting of glass that reflects light incident on it to form clear
erect images.
Reflection
When light is incident on a surface, it gets reflected or bounces back. Any surface that is really
well-polished or shiny acts like a mirror. The phenomenon of light bouncing off surfaces is
called reflection.
Characteristics of Images
Images have colour, unlike shadows. They are formed due to the converging rays of light
that come after reflecting from objects.
A real image is formed by the actual convergence of light rays. Real images always form
on a screen.
A virtual image is the apparent convergence of diverging light rays. Virtual images
cannot be obtained on a screen.
Plane Mirrors and Images Formed by Them
A plane mirror changes the direction of light that falls on it.
his enables us to see images. Take the example of a comb placed in front of a mirror over a dark -
coloured paper. Let a beam of light pass through the comb on the mirror using a torch. Then an
image is observed similar to the one given :
We observe that the light gets reflected from this mirror, and it travels in straight lines.
Chapter:8 Light, Shadow and Reflection
Assignment-1
I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
1. Which one of the following is the natural source of light?
(a) Electric bulb
(b) Sun
(c) Tube light
(d) Moon
2 Objects that do not give out or emit light of their own are called
(a) luminous
(b) non-luminous
(c) opaque
(d) translucent
3. The objects which allow light to pass through them are called
(a) transparent
(b) opaque
(c) translucent
(d) none of these
4. A mirror is an example of
(a) transparent object
(b) opaque object
(c) translucent
(d) none of these
5. Light travels in
(a) a curved line
(b) a random way
(c) a straight line
(d) a zig-zag line
6. The position of the shadow changes with
(a) the position of the light source
(b) the movement of the light source
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of these
7.Image formed by plane mirror is
(a) inverted
(b) erect
(c) erect but laterally inverted
(d) none of these
8.The formation of shadow of one celestial body on the other is known as
(a) image
(b) reflection
(c) eclipse
(d) none of these
9. When a light ray returns back after striking the surface of the plane mirror is called
(a) reflected ray
(b) incident ray
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of these
10. The ray of light that falls on a plane mirror is called
(a) reflection
(b) reflected ray
(c) incident ray
(d) beam of ray
II. Fill in the blanks:
1. __________ helps us to see objects...
2. Objects that give out or emit light of their own are called __________ objects.
3. Objects that do not have light of their own are called __________ objects..
4. Substances which allow light to pass through them are called _________ objects.
5. The darkness that an object cause when it prevents light to pass through is called
__________________ .
6. Image formed by a pinhole camera is _________ down.
7. The phenomenon due to which light returns back after striking a highly polished surface is
called ________________ of light.
8. The working of a pinhole camera is based on the property of _________ propagation of
light
9. In a plane mirror our left hand looks like right hand. This phenomenon is known as
____________________
10. The image which cannot be projected on to a screen is called ______________ image.
Chapter:8 Light , Shadow and Reflection
Assignment-2
I. Short Answer questions
1. What type of image (real or virtual) is formed:
a) in a plane mirror?
b) on a cinema screen?
c) in a lake?
d) a pinhole camera?
2. What change in the path of light takes place when light falls on a shiny surface? What
is this
called?
3. If you hold a mirror in front of you in a completely dark room, can you see your
image in
the mirror? Give reason for your answer.
4. On a sunny day, when we pass under a tree covered with a very large number of
leaves,
we often see bright circular patches of light on the ground (under the tree).
a) What are the bright circular patches of light?
b) Name the object(source of light) in this case.
c) What acts as screen in this case?
d) Which effect is illustrated by the everyday observation described above?
5. What is the colour of shadow formed:
a) if the colour of object is white?
b) if the colour of object is red?
II. Long Answer questions:
1. What is meant by reflection of light? What types of objects reflect more light? What
reflects light when we see the images of trees and other objects in a lake?
2 You see your image in a plane mirror:
a) State two characteristics of the image formed in a plane mirror.
b) State one way in which your image in the plane mirror differs from you.
3. What is a shadow? How is it formed? How does the colour of an opaque object affect the
colour
of the shadow?
4. What is the difference between image and shadow?
5. What is a pinhole camera? How does it work? Explain its construction and image
formation.
