FORCE NMAT REVIEWER [PHYSICS]

VI. CLASSICAL OPTICS

REFLECTION
Topic Outline:
I. Geometrical Optics When light strikes the surface of an object, some of it is
A. Ray Model of Light reflected while the rest is absorbed and transformed to
B. Reflections thermal energy
1. Law of Reflection
2. Diffuse vs. Specular Reflection Law of Reflection
3. Image Formation in Plane Mirrors When a narrow beam of lights strikes a flat surface, then
4. Concave Mirrors the behaviour of the light as it reflects would follow a
5. Convex Mirrors predictable law known as the law of reflection
C. Refractions
1. Snells Law
2. Total Internal Reflection and The Critical
Angle
D. Lenses
1. Anatomy of a Lens
2. Refraction by Lenses
3. Image Formation
4. Converging Lenses
5. Diverging Lenses
E. Application: Eye
1. Farsightedness and its Correction
2. Nearsightedness and its Correction
II. Physical Optics
A. Superposition and Interference
B. Two-Point Source Interference Pattern
INTRODUCTION
In Geometrical Optics, light is considered to travel in (b)
straight lines.
o Aka ray optics In the diagram, the ray of light approaching the mirror is
In Physical Optics, light is considered as an known as the incident ray (I)
electromagnetic wave. The ray of light that leaves the mirror is known as the
reflected ray (R)
GEOMETRICAL OPTICS At the point of incidence where the ray strikes the mirror, a
line can be drawn perpendicular to the surface of the
Ray Model of Light mirror, and this is called the normal line (N)
o N divides the angle between I and R into 2 equal
A great deal of evidence suggests that light travels in angles
straight lines under a wide variety of circumstances o The angle between the incident ray and the normal is
Assumes that light travels in straight-line paths termed known as angle of incidence (i)
light rays o The angle between the reflected ray and the normal is
o Represents an extremely narrow beam of light
known as angle of reflection (r)
o Only a small bundle of these rays enter the observers
eye The law of reflection states that when a ray of light reflects off
Has been very useful in describing properties of lights such a surface, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of
as reflection, refraction, and image formation by mirrors reflection.
and lenses
r= i

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Consider the diagram at the

right.

Which one of the angles is the

angle of incidence?

Which one is the angle of

reflection?

A ray of light is incident towards a Application:

plane mirror at an angle of 30-
degrees with the mirror surface.
What will be the angle of
reflection?
Have you ever wondered why it is that night driving
on a wet asphalt roadway is relatively more difficult than
driving on a dry one?

Diffuse versus Specular Reflection

When light is incident upon a rough surface (even if its
just microscopically rough), it is reflected in many
directions DIFFUSE REFLECTION (a)
The law of reflection still holds, however, at each small
section of the surface

Image Formation in Plane Mirrors

A plane mirror is one with a smooth flat reflecting surface

The Law of Reflection is ALWAYS observed

(regardless of the orientation of the surface)

SPECULAR REFLECTION (b), meanwhile, is reflection
from a mirror
o Speculum is Latin for mirror
o When a narrow beam of light shines on a mirror, the
light will NOT reach your eye unless your eye is
positioned at just the right place where the law of
reflection is satisfied
O P T I C S (Diamos)
Imagine that you are viewing the mirror on the edge, and
that the rays are shown reflecting from the front surface
Refer to the rays from two different points on the object
(bottle) in the figure above
o Two rays are shown leaving from a point on the top of
the bottle, and two more from a point on the bottom
Remember that rays leave each point on the object going in
many directions, but only those that enclose the bundle of
rays that enter the eye from each of the two points are
shown
Each set of diverging rays that enter the eye appear to
come from a single point (called the image point) behind
the mirror, as shown by the dashed lines
For each point on the object, there is a corresponding
image point
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Remember that for plane mirrors, the distance from mirror
to image (image distance, di) is equal to the distance from
object to mirror (object distance, do)
The height of the image is also the same as that of the
object.
Sample Problem: If Sean stands 3 feet in front of a plane
mirror, how far from the person (object) will his image be
located?
Virtual vs. Real Images
In the case of plane mirrors, the image is said to be a
virtual image
o These are images that are formed in locations where
light does not actually reach
Curved mirrors form real images
o Such images are formed on the same side of the mirror
as the object and light passes through the actual image
location
Formation of Images by Spherical Mirrors
Most common curved mirrors are spherical
A concave mirror gives a MAGNIFIED image (think of a
cosmetic mirror)
o Concave- the reflecting surface is on the inner surface
of the sphere so that the center of the mirror sinks
away from the viewer like a cave
A convex mirror REDUCES image size and so includes a
wide field of view (think of mirrors used in convenience
stores, also rear view mirrors on cars and trucks)
o Convex- the reflection takes place on the outer surface
of the spherical shape so that the center of the mirror
surface bulges out toward the viewer
** Note that r = i for each ray.
O P T I C S (Diamos)
The Anatomy of a Curved Mirror
PRINCIPAL AXIS- the line passing through the center of
the sphere and attaches to the exact center of the mirror
CENTER OF CURVATURE (C)- the point in the center of
the sphere from which the mirror was sliced
VERTEX (A)- the point on the mirrors surface where the
principal axis meets the mirror
o It is the geometric center of the mirror
FOCAL POINT (F)- positioned midway between the
vertex and the center of curvature
RADIUS OF CURVATURE (R)- the distance from the
vertex to the center of curvature
o It is the radius of the sphere from which the mirror
was cut.
FOCAL LENGTH (f)- the distance from the mirror to the
focal point
o Since the focal point is the midpoint of the line
segment adjoining A and C, the focal length would
be one-half the radius of curvature
Two Rules of Reflection
Any incident ray (blue lines) traveling parallel to the
principal axis on the way to the mirror will pass through
the focal point upon reflection (refer to left image)
Any incident ray passing through the focal point on
the way to the mirror will travel parallel to the principal
axis upon reflection (refer to right image)
**REMEMBER THESE 2 RULES BY HEART!
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Case 3: Object is located between the center of

curvature (C) and the focal point (F)

Case 4: Object is located at the focal point (F)

Case 5: Object is located in front of the focal point (F)

Sample Problem:
The surface of a concave mirror is pointed towards the sun.
Light from the sun hits the mirror and converges to a point.
How far is this converging point from the mirror's surface if the
radius of curvature (R) of the mirror is 150 cm?

Image Characteristics for Concave Mirrors The Mirror Equation-Concave Mirrors

Memorize: L-O-S-T art of image description

L represents the relative location
O represents the orientation (either upright or inverted)
S represents the relative size (either magnified, reduced, or
same size as the object)
T represents the type of image (either real or virtual)

Five possible object locations: The mirror equation expresses the quantitative
Case 1: Object is located beyond the center of relationship between the object distance (d o), the image
curvature (C) distance (di), and the focal length (f). The equation is stated
as follows:

The magnification equation relates the ratio of the image

distance and object distance to the ratio of the image height
Case 2: Object is located at the center of curvature (C) (hi) and object height (h o). The magnification equation is
stated as follows:

These two equations can be combined to yield info about

the image distance and image height if the object distance,
object height, and focal length are known
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Sample Problem:

A 4.00-cm tall light bulb is placed a distance of 45.7 cm from a

concave mirror having a focal length of 15.2 cm. Determine the
image distance and the image size.

Identify the known information:

ho = 4.0 cm do = 45.7 cm f = 15.2 cm

Next identify the unknown quantities that you wish to solve for. Note that the center of curvature and the focal point are located
di = ??? on the side of the mirror opposite the objectwhich is behind
hi = ??? the mirror NEGATIVE FOCAL LENGTH VALUE

To determine the image distance, the mirror equation must be Aka diverging mirror because the incident light
used. originating from the same point will reflect off the mirror
1/f = 1/do + 1/di surface and diverge
1/(15.2 cm) = 1/(45.7 cm) + 1/di
0.0658 cm-1 = 0.0219 cm-1 + 1/di
0.0439 cm-1 = 1/di
di = 22.8 cm

To determine the image height, the magnification equation is

needed. Since three of the four quantities in the equation
(disregarding the M) are known, the fourth quantity can be
calculated.
hi/ho = - di/do Two Rules of Reflection for Convex Mirrors
hi /(4.0 cm) = - (22.8 cm)/(45.7 cm) Any incident ray traveling parallel to the principal
hi = - (4.0 cm) (22.8 cm)/(45.7 cm) axis on the way to a convex mirror will reflect in such a
hi = -1.99 cm manner that its extension will pass through the focal point
Any incident ray traveling towards a convex mirror
Sign Conventions: such that its extension passes through the focal point will
The sign conventions for the given quantities in the mirror reflect and travel parallel to the principal axis
equation and magnification equations are as follows:
f is + if the mirror is a concave mirror
f is - if the mirror is a convex mirror
di is + if the image is a real image and located on the
object's side of the mirror.
di is - if the image is a virtual image and located
behind the mirror.
hi is + if the image is an upright image (and therefore,
also virtual)
hi is - if the image an inverted image (and therefore,
also real)

Sample Problem:
Determine the image distance and image height for a 5 cm tall
object placed 30 cm from a concave mirror having a focal
length of 15 cm.

Reflection and Image Formation for Convex Mirrors

Image Characteristics for Convex Mirror

Located behind the convex mirror

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A virtual image
An upright image
Reduced in size (smaller than the object)
Convex mirrors ALWAYS produce images that share these
characteristics.
The Mirror Equation- Convex Mirrors
The mirror equation expresses the quantitative
relationship between the object distance (d o), the image
distance (di), and the focal length (f)
The magnification equation relates the ratio of the
image distance and the object distance to the ratio of the
image height (hi) and the object height (ho)
Sample Problem: Convex rear view mirror
An external rear view car mirror is convex with a radius of
curvature of 16m. Determine the location of the image and its
magnification for an object 10 m from the mirror.
Approach: (1) Draw a ray diagram; (2) Apply the mirror and
magnification equations; (3) Examine the sign convention; and,
(4) Check if results are consistent with whats given.
Solution:
1. The ray diagram should more or less look like this:
O P T I C S (Diamos)
Since we have a convex mirror, r is negative by convention.
2. The center of curvature of a convex mirror is behind the
mirror, as is its focal point. Hence,
r = -16m
focal length is f = r/2 = -8m
The object is in front of the mirror, do = 10m. Solving the
mirror equation for 1/di gives:
1 = 1 1 = 1 - 1 = .-10-8. = .. ..18..
di f do -8m 10m 80m 80m
Thus di = -80 m/18 = -4.4 m. Solving for the magnification:
m = - di = - (-4.4 m) = +0.44
do (10 m)
3. Sign conventions
The image distance is negative, -4.4 m, so the image is
behind the mirror. The magnification is m = +0.44 m, so the
image is upright (same orientation as object) and less than half
as tall as the object.
4. Check if the results are consistent with the ray diagram.
Sample Problem:
A 4cm-tall light bulb is placed a distance of 35.5 cm from a
convex mirror having a focal length of -12.2 cm. Determine the
image distance and the image size.
INDEX OF REFRACTION
Speed of light in vacuum is c = 3.00 x 108 m/s
This speed applies to all electromagnetic waves,
including visible light
In AIR, the speed is only slightly less
In other transparent materials such as glass and water,
the speed is always less than that in vacuum
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o In water, light travels at about c
Index of refraction of a specific material: the ratio
of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed v in that given
material
n = c/v
The index of refraction is never less than 1
Table 1. Indices of Refraction
Angle 1 is the angle the incident ray makes with the
normal (perpendicular) to the surface, and is called the
angle of incidence
Angle 2 is the angle the refracted ray makes with the
normal to the surface
The image above shows that the ray enters a medium
where the speed of light is less, and the index of refraction
greater

The above image shows that if light travels from one

Sample Problem: medium into a second where its speed is greater, the ray
Calculate the speed of light in diamond. bends away from the normal (ray travels from water to air)

Solution: The speed of light travelling inside a diamond is Snells Law

v = c/n = c / 2.42 = 0.413 c
or
v = 3.00 x 108 m/s
2.42
Where 1 is the angle of incidence and 2 is the angle of
= 1.24 x 108 m/s
refraction; n1 and n2 are the respective indices of refraction in
the materials
Refraction: Snells Law

Refraction is the bending of the path of a light wave as it

Total Internal Reflection
passes across the boundary separating two media
TIR is the phenomenon that involves the reflection of
It is caused by the change in speed experienced by a wave
all the incident light off the boundary
when it changes medium
Only takes place when both conditions are met:
o A light ray is in the more dense medium and
approaching the less dense medium
o The angle of incidence for the light ray is
greater than the so-called critical angle
o CRITICAL ANGLE- is the largest angle of
incidence for which refraction can still occur

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Refraction Rule for a Converging Lens

LENSES
Any incident ray travelling parallel to the principal axis of
a converging lens will refract through the lens and travel
through the focal point on the opposite side of the lens.

Lens can be thought of as a series of tiny refracting

prisms, each of which refracts light to produce their own
image.

Types of Lenses

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Any incident ray travelling through the focal point on the

way to the lens will refract through the lens and travel
parallel to the principal axis

For an Object Located in Front of the Focal Point

An incident ray that passes through the center of the lens

will in effect continue in the same direction that it had
when it entered the lens.

Refraction Rule for a Diverging Lens

Any incident ray traveling parallel to the principal axis of a
diverging lens will refract through the lens and travel in
line with the focal point (i.e., in a direction such that its For an Object Located AT the Focal Point
extension will pass through the focal point).

Any incident ray traveling towards the focal point on the

way to the lens will refract through the lens and travel
parallel to the principal axis.

An incident ray that passes through the center of the lens

will in effect continue in the same direction that it had
when it entered the lens

Diverging Lenses

Image Formation by a Converging Lens

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Farsightedness or hyperopia is the inability of the eye to

focus on nearby objects, with no difficulty viewing distant
Lens-Makers Equation objects
Using the positive optical sign convention, the lens maker's
formula states

where f is the focal length, n is the index of refraction,

and R1 and R2 are the radii of curvature of the two sides of the The inability of the lens to assume a high curvature and a short
lens. focal length leads to the formation of an image located behind
the retina.
Magnification Equation
Correction for Farsightedness

Sign Conventions

The sign conventions for the given quantities in the lens
equation and magnification equations are as follows:
f is + if the lens is a double convex lens (converging
lens)
f is - if the lens is a double concave lens (diverging
lens)
di is + if the image is a real image and located on the
opposite side of the lens.
di is - if the image is a virtual image and located on the
object's side of the lens.
hi is + if the image is an upright image (and therefore,
also virtual)
hi is - if the image an inverted image (and therefore,
also real)
Farsightedness can be corrected by the use of a converging
lens. Light refracts before reaching the cornea and is
subsequently focused on the retina of the eye.
Nearsightedness and its Correction
Nearsightedness or myopia is the inability of the eye
to focus on distant objects; but it has no difficulty viewing
nearby objects
The ability to view distant objects requires that the
light be refracted less

A bulging cornea or an elongated eyeball often increases the

refracting power of the eye, leading to the formation of images
in front of the retina.

APPLICATION: EYE

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Distance of the slits from the screen

Nearsightedness can be corrected for by the use of a diverging

lens. Light diverges before reaching the cornea and is then
converged to a location on the retina.

PHYSICAL OPTICS

Superposition and Interference

Wave interference is a phenomenon that occurs when two

waves meet while travelling along the same medium.
Can be constructive or destructive in nature
o Constructive interference occurs at any location along
the medium where the two interfering waves have a
displacement in the same direction
o Destructive interference occurs at any location along
the medium where the two interfering waves have a
displacement in the opposite direction

Two-Point Source Light Interference Patterns

A two-point source interference pattern creates an alternating

pattern of bright and dark lines when it is projected onto a
screen.

The interference and diffraction pattern are affected by:

Wavelength
Slit width and separation
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