PHYSICS LIGHT-REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

Reflection by Spherical Mirrors

Image Formation by Spherical Mirrors

 There are certain rules to draw a ray diagram to locate the image formed by a spherical mirror.
 First rule: A ray of light parallel to the principal axis after reflection passes through the principal focus
in case of a concave mirror or appears to diverge from it in case of convex mirror.

 Second rule: A ray passing through the principal focus of a concave mirror or a ray which is directed
towards the principal focus of a convex mirror emerges parallel to the principal axis of the mirror after
reflection.

 Third rule: A ray of light passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror or a ray directed
in the direction of the centre of curvature of a convex mirror is reflected back along the same path after
reflection.

www.topperlearning.com 2
 PHYSICS LIGHT-REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

 Fourth rule: A ray of light incident obliquely towards the pole of a mirror is reflected obliquely according
to the laws of reflection.

Image Formation by a Concave Mirror for Different Positions of an Object

Position of the Position of the Nature of the

Size of the image
object image image
Highly diminished,
At infinity At focus F Real and inverted
point-sized

Position of the Position of the Nature of the

Size of the image
object image image
Beyond C Between F and C Diminished Real and inverted

www.topperlearning.com 3
 PHYSICS LIGHT-REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

Position of the Position of the Nature of the

Size of the image
object image image
At C At C Same size Real and inverted

Position of the Position of the Nature of the

Size of the image
object image image
Between C and
Beyond C Enlarge Real and inverted
F

Position of the Position of the Nature of the

Size of the image
object image image
At F At infinity Highly enlarged Real and inverted

www.topperlearning.com 4
 PHYSICS LIGHT-REFLECTION AND REFRACTION

Position of the Position of the Nature of the

Size of the image
object image image
Between P and
Behind mirror Enlarged Virtual and erect
F

Nature, Position and Relative Size of the Image Formed by a Convex Mirror
Position of the Position of the Size of the image Nature of the
object image image
At infinity At focus F behind Highly diminished, Virtual and erect
the mirror point-sized

Position of the Position of the Size of the Nature of the

object image image image
Between infinity and Between P and F Diminished Virtual and erect
pole of the mirror behind the mirror

www.topperlearning.com 5