Chapter: Light

• What is light? How does it help us see objects?

Light is a form of energy that enables us to see objects. It travels in straight lines and reflects off
objects into our eyes.
• Explain the difference between luminous and non-luminous objects.
Luminous Objects: These objects produce their own light. Examples: The Sun, a lit candle, and an
electric bulb.
Non-Luminous Objects: These objects do not produce their own light but are visible because they
reflect light from luminous objects. Examples: The Moon, a chair, and a book.
• What is a shadow? How is it formed?
A shadow is a dark area formed when an object blocks the path of light. It is formed because light
travels in straight lines.
• What are the characteristics of shadows?:
1. Shadows are always formed on the opposite side of the light source.
2. They are darker in the middle and lighter at the edges.
3. The size of the shadow depends on the distance between the object and the light source.
• What is the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque objects? Provide examples.
o Transparent Objects
Definition: These objects allow almost all light to pass through them, enabling clear visibility of
objects on the other side.
Example: Clear glass, clean water, a plastic sheet.
Shadows: Transparent objects form either no shadow or a very faint shadow.
Since almost all the light passes through, there is minimal obstruction to light rays, leaving no
dark area behind.
o Translucent Objects
Definition: These objects allow some light to pass through, but they scatter the light in different
directions. As a result, objects on the other side appear blurred or indistinct.
Example: Frosted glass, butter paper, thin fabric.
Shadows: Translucent objects form a blurred and light shadow.
Why?: Since only part of the light passes through while the rest is scattered, the obstruction
creates a faint, less defined shadow.
o Opaque Objects
Definition: These objects block all light from passing through them. Objects behind them cannot
be seen at all.
Example: Wood, metal, bricks.
 Shadows: Opaque objects form a dark, well-defined shadow.
Why?: Since the object completely blocks the light, the area behind it receives no light, creating
a sharp and dark shadow.
• Define opaque, transparent, and translucent materials. Give one example of each.
1. Opaque: Objects that do not allow light to pass through (e.g., wood).
2. Transparent: Objects that allow light to pass through completely (e.g., glass).
3. Translucent: Objects that allow some light to pass through (e.g., frosted glass).
• How do transparent, translucent, and opaque objects affect the shadows they cast?
o Transparent: allow light through, forming No shadow or very faint.
o Translucent: scatter light, forming A blurred shadow.
o Opaque: block light entirely, forming A clear, well-defined shadow.
Conclusion:
The clarity and intensity of shadows depend on how much light is blocked by an object:
• What is the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse?

• How is a solar eclipse formed? / How does a solar eclipse occur?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow on
Earth. This blocks sunlight from reaching a part of the Earth.
• How is a lunar eclipse formed?
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the
Moon. This blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.
• Why do we see objects?
We see objects because light from a source, such as the Sun or a bulb, falls on them and reflects
into our eyes. The reflected light enters our eyes and forms an image on the retina, allowing us to
perceive the object. If there is no light or the object does not reflect light, we cannot see it. Thus,
the ability to see objects depends on the presence of light and its reflection into our eyes.
• Why can we not see objects in the dark?
 We cannot see objects in the dark because there is no light to reflect from the objects into our eyes.
• Why do opaque objects form shadows?
Opaque objects block light completely, preventing it from passing through. This creates a dark area
(shadow) on the opposite side where light cannot reach.
• What is reflection of light?
The bouncing back of light rays when they hit a smooth surface is called reflection.
• What are the two types of reflection? Explain.
Regular reflection: Occurs on smooth surfaces where reflected rays are parallel.
Diffused reflection: Occurs on rough surfaces where reflected rays scatter.
• What are the characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror?
The image is virtual, erect, same size as the object, and laterally inverted.
• What is the difference between luminous and non-luminous objects?
Luminous objects emit their own light (e.g., the Sun). Non-luminous objects reflect light from other
sources (e.g., the Moon).
o Luminous Objects: Emit their own light (e.g., the Sun, a lamp).
o Non-Luminous Objects: Do not emit their own light and are visible only when light falls on
them (e.g., the Moon, a book).
• What is rectilinear propagation of light?
Rectilinear propagation of light refers to the property of light where it travels in a straight line in a
uniform medium. This behavior can be observed in day-to-day life, such as when sunlight enters a room
through a small window or hole and forms a straight beam.
Practical Experiment-Related Questions
• What happens when light passes through three holes arranged in a straight line?
The light passes through all three holes, and the observer can see the light source. This proves that
light travels in straight lines.
• Why can light not pass through three holes that are not aligned?
When the holes are not aligned, the straight path of light is blocked, preventing it from passing
through.
• How can you prove that light travels in a straight line?
By shining light through three cardboards with holes aligned in a straight line. The light passes through
only when the holes are aligned.
Observation:
When the holes are aligned, the flame is clearly visible through the holes.
If any cardboard is moved slightly out of alignment, the flame becomes invisible.
Conclusion:
This proves that light travels in straight lines because the light from the candle can only pass through
the holes when they form a straight path. When the cardboards are aligned, the holes form a
continuous straight path, and light can pass through without obstruction. When the holes are not
aligned, the straight path is broken. Light from the candle is unable to travel through all the holes
because it cannot bend around obstacles. As a result, the candle flame becomes invisible. Therefore,
light does not bend or curve around objects—it always follows a straight path.
• How is a shadow different when the light source is far compared to when it is close?
When the light source is far, the shadow is smaller and sharper because the light rays are nearly
parallel creating a well-defined outline of the object.
When the light source is close to the object, the shadow appears larger and less sharp as the light
rays spread out, resulting in a more diffuse shadow with blurred edges.
• What happens to the size of a shadow during the day? Why?
The shadow is longest in the morning and evening, when the Sun is low in the sky. Shadows are long
because the light falls at a slanting angle, creating an extended shadow.
The shadow is shortest at noon when the Sun is directly overhead (or nearly so). Shadows are short
because the light falls vertically, reducing the length of the shadow.
Reason
o The size of a shadow depends on the angle of sunlight.
o When the Sun is lower, the angle is more oblique, and the shadow is stretched out.
o When the Sun is higher, the angle is more direct, and the shadow is minimized.
Explanation: The size of a shadow changes during the day because of the changing position of the
Sun in the sky. In the morning and evening, the Sun is low on the horizon, and its light falls at a
slanting angle. This causes shadows to be long and stretched out. As the Sun rises higher in the sky,
shadows gradually become shorter. Around noon, when the Sun is almost directly overhead,
shadows are the shortest because the sunlight falls nearly vertically, creating minimal shadow
length. This variation in shadow size occurs because the angle at which sunlight hits an object
determines the size and direction of the shadow.
• What happens to the size of a shadow when the angle of light changes?
The size of the shadow increases when the light is at an angle and decreases when the light is
directly above the object.
• What do you observe when light passes through a prism?
Light splits into seven colors (VIBGYOR), showing dispersion of light.
• How can you form a shadow of different shapes using the same object?
By changing the angle or position of the light source. When the light source is moved, the shadow's
shape changes because the object blocks light differently. Tilting or rotating the object can also alter
the shadow's shape, as different parts of the object block the light in varied ways. Additionally,
adjusting the distance between the object and the light source can stretch or shrink the shadow,
further changing its appearance.
o What is a pinhole camera, and how does it work?
A pinhole camera is a simple optical device that demonstrates the rectilinear propagation of light
 (the property of light to travel in straight lines). It consists of a small box or container with a tiny
hole (pinhole) on one side and a translucent screen on the opposite side.
• Working Principle:
Light rays from an object travel in straight lines and pass through the pinhole. These rays cross over
and form an inverted image of the object on the screen inside the camera. The rectilinear nature of
light ensures that rays from the top of the object hit the bottom of the screen, and rays from the
bottom of the object hit the top, resulting in an inverted image.
• Nature of the Image:
The image formed by a pinhole camera is:
o Inverted: Due to the crossing of light rays. The image is upside down because light travels in
straight lines and crosses at the pinhole.
o Real: Can be projected on the screen.
o Smaller: Limited by the size of the pinhole and distance. The image is smaller than the
object because only a portion of the light rays enters the pinhole.
• How does the size of the hole in a pinhole camera affect the image formed?
o A small hole produces a sharper but dimmer image because fewer light rays enter.
o A larger hole makes the image brighter but less sharp because more light rays overlap.
• How does the image formed by a pinhole camera change when the distance between the object
and the camera increases?
When the object is moved farther from the pinhole camera, the image formed on the screen
becomes smaller and less bright. This happens because the light rays entering through the pinhole
cover a smaller area on the screen as the object moves away.
• What happens when you move the object closer to the pinhole camera?
When the object is moved closer to the pinhole camera, the image becomes larger and brighter.
This is because the light rays entering the pinhole spread out more, covering a larger area on the
screen and making the image appear magnified.
• How does the distance between the pinhole and the screen affect the image size?
Increasing the distance enlarges the image, while decreasing the distance makes the image smaller.
• Why does increasing the distance between the pinhole and the screen make the image larger?
As the screen moves farther from the pinhole, the light rays spread over a larger area, magnifying
the image.
• What happens if the screen is moved too close to the pinhole?
The image becomes smaller and may lose detail because the light rays have less space to spread.
• Why do objects appear inverted in a pinhole camera?
The image formed on the screen is inverted because light travels in straight lines. Light rays from the
top and bottom of the object cross each other as they pass through the pinhole. Light rays from the
top of the object pass through the pinhole and reach the bottom of the screen, causing the top of
the object to project at the bottom of the image, while light from the bottom of the object reaches
the top of the screen, creating an inverted image.
• How does the size of the pinhole affect the image quality?
o A smaller pinhole produces a sharper and more detailed image because fewer light rays
enter the camera, reducing overlap. However, the image will be dimmer due to less light.
o A larger pinhole creates a brighter but blurrier image because more light rays enter, causing
overlapping of the rays.
• What is the role of tracing paper in the pinhole camera?
The tracing paper acts as a screen to capture and display the image formed by the pinhole camera.
• Can a pinhole camera work in a dark room? Why or why not?
• No, it cannot work because there is no light to form an image of the non-luminous object.
• How does the brightness of the light source affect the image in a pinhole camera?
A brighter light source produces a brighter image, while a dimmer light source forms a dimmer
image.
• Why does higher light intensity create a brighter image?
Higher light intensity allows more light rays to pass through the pinhole, illuminating the screen
more effectively.
• What happens to the image if the light source is very dim?
The image becomes faint or may not be visible because insufficient light reaches the screen
• What happens to the brightness of the image in a pinhole camera if you make the hole larger?
Why?
A larger pinhole lets in more light, increasing brightness, but causes more light rays to overlap,
reducing sharpness and making the image blurrier.
• How does the size of the image in a pinhole camera change when the pinhole is made smaller?
The size of the image remains the same, but it becomes sharper due to reduced light entering the
pinhole. A small pinhole allows fewer light rays to pass through, reducing overlapping and
enhancing sharpness.
• What do you observe when you block half of the pinhole in the camera?
Only half of the image is visible because light from the blocked part of the pinhole cannot reach the
screen.
• What is the difference between the images formed by a pinhole camera and a mirror?
o Pinhole camera: Image is inverted, real, and smaller.
o Mirror: Image is upright, virtual, and the same size or larger.
• What happens when multiple pinholes are used in a pinhole camera?
Multiple overlapping images are formed because each pinhole creates its own image of the light
source or object. Light rays from the same object pass through each pinhole independently, creating
separate images that overlap on the screen.
• How can overlapping images in a pinhole camera be avoided?
Overlapping images can be avoided by using only one pinhole, ensuring that only one set of light
rays forms the image.
 • How would you use a pinhole camera to observe the Sun?
Point the pinhole camera at the Sun and observe its inverted image on the screen. Ensure you never
look directly at the Sun.
• Why can light not pass through three holes that are not aligned?
If the holes are not aligned, the straight path of light is blocked, preventing it from passing through.
Conclusion: This reinforces the principle that light travels in straight lines.
• How can you demonstrate the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque
materials?
By shining a torch on them.
Transparent Materials: Use a glass sheet or clear plastic. Shine light through it, and the light will pass
through completely, showing that these materials allow all light to pass through, forming a clear image.
Translucent Materials: Use frosted glass or butter paper. When light passes through, it is scattered, and
only some light comes through, creating a blurred image.
Opaque Materials: Use a cardboard piece or wooden block. Shine light on it, and it will block all the light,
forming a shadow, showing that these materials do not allow light to pass through.