Grade 10

Light - Reflection and Refraction

Laws of Reflection

(i) i=r
(ii) AO, OP, and OB are co-planar

Spherical Mirror

1. Centre of curvature = Centre of the sphere of which the spherical mirror is a part

2. Pole = Mirror centre

3. Focus = Where parallel rays (parallel to the principal axis) meet or appear to meet after reflection

Concave mirror and Image

All images are real and inverted, except when the object is between the focus and the pole.
Image size = object size when the object is at the centre of curvature
Uses:
 Torch reflector  Dentist’s mirror
 Search light  Shaving mirror
 Vehicle headlight

Convex mirror and Image

No real image
No inverted image
All images are diminished

Uses:
 Rear-view mirror
 Security mirror

Mirror formula
1 1 1 For concave, f = –ve
f v u convex, f = +ve

Image height v For real image, v = –ve

Magnification
Object height u virtual image, v = +ve

Refraction Laws

(i) AO, OB, and MON are co-planar Incident ray, refracted
ray, and normal to the
sin i interface at incident
(ii) = constant (Snell’s law) point are co-planar
sin r

Refractive index (RI)

velocity of light in medium I v1
2
1 ( of 2 w.r.t. 1) =
velocity of light in medium II v2

(Absolute RI when medium I = Vacuum = air)

(Light speed {vacuum} = 3 × 108 m/s)
 Medium (Optically denser) = >1

Optically rarer = <1

In all medium

Laws

1. Centre of curvature = Centre of the sphere of which the lens surfaces is a part of (Same as Spherical
mirror)

2. Focus = Where parallel rays meet after refraction (On principal axis = principal focus)

Convex lens and Image

Virtual and erect images – when the object is placed between F1 and the optical centre (Magnifying
glass)
Image size = object size when object at 2F (=Centre of curvature)

Concave lens and Image

Virtual and erect at all object positions

Lens Formula

1 1 1
For concave lens f = –ve
f v u
 convex lens f = +ve

Magnification
Im age height v
m (Same as mirror)
Object height u

Lens power
P Unit dipotre
1 f = –ve for concave
f in m

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