Concave mirrors

Concave mirrors can form real,

inverted images
Concave mirror = a mirror whose reflective surface is on the
caved-in part of it.

Principal axis = a straight line that passes through the center

point of curvature, C.

Vertex = the point where the principal axis meets the mirror.

Focal point = the point where reflected rays meet when

incident rays are parallel to and near to the principal axis.
 Concave mirror = a mirror whose reflective surface is on the
caved-in part of it.

Principal axis = a straight line that passes through the center

point of curvature, C.

Vertex = the point where the principal axis meets the mirror.

Focal point = the point where reflected rays meet when

incident rays are parallel to and near to the principal axis.
Concave mirrors
If you coat the inside of a section of a ball with reflective
surface, you have a concave mirror.
All light rays (arrows) that are parallel and close to the
principal axis reflect from the mirror and meet at the
focal point, labelled F.
The focal point is exactly half way between the center of
curvature and the mirror.
The distance from C to the mirror is called the radius
curvature.
The distance from F to the mirror is the focal length,
labeled f.
Characteristics of images in curved
mirrors
Images in curved mirrors have 4 characteristics:
Location: describe the location of the image by stating whether
the image distance is shorter or longer than the object distance.
The image can be in front or behind the mirror.
Orientation: if the image is oriented in the same direction as the
object, or right side up, it is upright.
The image is oriented opposite to the object, or upside down, it is
inverted.
Size: the size of the image by stating whether it is larger or
smaller than the object. This is called magnification of the image.
Characteristics contd.
Type: the type of an image refers to whether the image
is real or virtual.

Plane mirrors when they reflected rays do not meet, you

have to extend them backwards, the image is virtual.

If reflected rays do meet, the image is real.

Another way to determine whether the image is real or

virtual is to place a screen (such as white paper) at the
location of the image. If you see the object on the
screen, the image is real.
Ray diagrams for concave mirrors
The characteristics of concave mirrors makes it easy to
draw rays from any point on the object.
The first ray is drawn parallel to the principal axis.
It will reflect back through the focal point.
The second ray is drawn from the point on the object
through the focal point towards the mirror.
It will reflect back parallel to the principal axis.
Ray diagrams for objects beyond F
for concave mirrors
There are two regions that are farther from a concave
mirror than the focal point.

Below are steps that help you draw ray diagrams for an
object in the region between F and C.

Then you will draw your own ray diagram for an object
in the region beyond C.
 Directions

Step 1: draw the principal axis and a very slight curve to represent that concave
mirror.
Mark F and C so that C is twice as far from the mirror as F.
Draw the object between F and C with the bottom on the principal axis.
Step 2: draw a ray from the top of the object towards the mirror and parallel to the
principal axis.
Draw the reflected ray back through F.
Directions contd.
Step 3: draw a ray from the top of the object through F
and continue to the mirror.
The reflected ray will travel backwards, parallel to the
principal axis.
Draw the image so the top is at the point where the rays
meet and the bottom is on the principal axis.
Since the reflected ray meet, you dont have to extend
them backwards.
So the image is real.
The characteristics of the image
The characteristics of the image of an object placed
between F and C of a concave mirror are:
The image is further from the mirror than the object is.

The image is inverted.

The image is larger than the object.

The image is real.

Drawing ray diagrams for the region
beyond C
You will be drawing a ray diagram for an
object in the region beyond C of a
concave mirror. Analyze the image and
compare it to the image of an object
between F and C.

Materials:
Paper
Pencil
Ruler
Procedure:
1. Copy the diagram from previous slide on a piece of paper.
Put the mirror on the right hand side of the paper and
leave plenty of space for drawing rays.
2. Draw the rays according to the directions in the table
from slides 11 and 12.
3. When you have completed drawing your diagram, make
the following measurements:
a) The image height
b) The object height
c) The image distance
d) The object distance
4. Was the image in front of the mirror or behind the mirror?
5. Was the image real or virtual? Explain how you know what type it is.
6. Summarize your results by stating the following characteristics of the image
relative to the object:
a) Location
b) Orientation
c) Size
d) Type
What did you find out?
1. How does the image of an object beyond C compare to the image of an object
between F and C? Compare each of the characteristics listed in question 6.
2. Make a Venn diagram to compare the images of the object between F and C of
a concave mirror with the image of the object beyond C.

3. Worksheet practice
Convex mirrors
Convex mirrors can form upright,
virtual images
You have drawn images shown in concave mirrors.
You have drawn ray diagrams for concave mirrors which have
generated inverted images.
Most make-up mirrors and shaving mirrors are concave.
They produce up-right, magnified images
The object in the concave mirror is in the region between the
mirror and F.
The first ray is drawn in the same way that you drew it for
objects beyond F.
However, the second ray must be drawn in a slight different way.
 When the object is closer to the mirror than F, the ray
cannot go through F.
Place the ruler on the paper so it touches F and the top
of the object.
Then draw the ray from the top of the object to the
mirror.
The reflected ray will go back parallel to the principal
axis.
Ray diagrams for an object between
a Concave mirror and the focal point
F
Step 1:
Draw the principal axis and a line with a very
slight curve to represent the concave mirror.
Mark F.
Draw a object between the F and the mirror.
Step 2:
Draw a ray from the top of the object toward
the mirror and parallel to the principal axis.
Draw the reflected ray back through the focal
point.
Step 3:
Position your ruler and draw the ray from
the top of the object to the mirror
Draw the reflected ray backwards and
parallel to the principal axis.
Step 4:
Extend the reflected rays behind the
mirror with dashed lines.
Draw the image between the point where
the dashed lines meet the principal axis.
The characteristics of images for
objects in the region between F and
a concave mirror
The image distance is greater than the object distance.

The image is up-right.

The image is larger that the objects.

The image is virtual.

Do the worksheet provided.

Convex mirrors always form images
that are smaller than the object
The convex mirrors are used in warehouses, underground
parking, convenience stores as safety mirrors.
A mirror that bulges out in the center is called a convex mirror.
To make a convex mirror, you would put the reflective surface
on the outside of the basket ball.
A convex mirror has a focal point and a center of curvature just
as concave mirrors do.
When rays travel towards a convex mirror parallel to the
principal axis, the reflected rays spread out.
You must extend them backwards, behind the mirror, to find the
focal point
The center of the curvature of the mirror C us then twice the
distance from the mirror as the focal point F is.
Convex mirrors focal point and
curvature
Ray diagrams for convex mirrors
The rays that you use to draw a ray diagram for a
convex mirror are similar to those of a concave mirror.
Because the focal point is behind the mirror, rays never
go through it.
A ray that is traveling parallel to the principal axis will
reflect as tough it was coming from the focal point.
A ray that travels as tough is going towards the focal
point will reflect back parallel to the principal axis.
Ray diagrams contd.
To draw the first ray, use your ruler to draw a ray from the top
of the object to the mirror going parallel to the principal axis.
Then, position your ruler on the point where the ray hits the
mirror and on F.
Draw the reflected ray away from the mirror.
To draw the second ray, position your ruler on the tip of the
object and on F.
Draw the ray from the object to the mirror.
Use your ruler to draw the reflected ray back away from the
mirror and parallel to the principal axis.
 Ray diagram for convex mirror
Step 1:
Draw the principal axis and a slight curved line
to represent the convex mirror.
Mark F.
Draw the object so that the bottom is on the
principal axis.
Step 2:
Draw a ray from the top of the object towards
the mirror and parallel to the principal axis.
Position your ruler from the mirror where the top
of the object is touching it and through F and
draw the reflected ray as tough coming from F.
 Ray diagrams for convex mirror
contd.
Step 3:
Position your ruler from the top of the object
through F and draw the incident ray as tough
was going to F. Stop when the ray hits the
mirror.
Draw the reflected ray backwards, parallel to
the principal axis.
Step 4:
Draw dashed lines to extend the rays
backwards, behind the mirror, until they meet.
This is the top of the image.
Draw the image, with the bottom of the image
The image of an object in a convex
mirror will have the characteristics
The image is closer to the mirror than the object is.

The image is upright.

The size of the image is smaller than the size of the

object.

The image is virtual.

 The image in convex mirrors are similar to each other
than those in concave mirrors.

There are no separate regions for the object that cause

the image to change significantly.

There is a relationship between the size and location of

the image and the location of the object.

You can discover the relationship by drawing ray

diagrams for objects at different distances from the
mirror and comparing the images.
Activity
Trends in images in convex mirrors
You will draw ray diagrams for objects at different
distances from a convex mirror and compare the
images. What do you think will happen to the size of the
image as the object moves farther from the mirror?
Materials:
Pencil
Paper
ruler
Procedure
1. Draw two diagrams, one with the object closer to the
convex mirror, the other farther apart from the mirror.
Be sure that the objects are the same size and the
focal points are the same distance from the mirror.
The object in the second diagram should be twice as
far from the mirror as the object in the first diagram.

2. For each diagram, follow the steps 1-4 from page 28

and 29 to complete the ray diagram.

3. For both images, measure and record the heights of

the images and the image distance.
Questions
1. Which image was larger?

2. Which image was closer to the mirror?

3. Write a statement that describes the trends in size and location

for an image in a convex mirror as the object moves away from
the mirror.

Work on the worksheet provided to help you practice drawing in

convex mirrors.
 Activity: How light reflects

You will make observations and measurements that will allow

you to predict the direction in which a mirror will reflect light.

Materials:
Plane mirror
Ray box with single slit
Ruler and protractor
White paper
Procedure:
1. Using the ruler, draw a straight line (A) about 5 cm
from the long side and parallel to the long side of a
piece of paper.

A
2. Near the center of line A, draw another straight line B
that is perpendicular (90o) to the first line.
3. Place a mirror along line A so the reflecting surface
(usually the silvered back surface) lies on the line.
4. With the ray box, shine a light ray so that it hits the
mirror exactly where lines A and B meet.
5. Make several dots on the paper along the light ray
leading toward and away from the mirror.
6. Turn off the ray box and remove the box and the
mirror.
7. Draw straight lines along the dots to represent the ray
lights.
8. Measure the angles between a) the ray going toward
Questions
1. How did the two angles that you measured for the first
placement of the ray box compare to each other?
2. How did the angles that you measured for the second
placement of the ray box compare to each other?
3. What conclusion would you draw about rays going
toward a mirror and rays reflected from the mirror?
4. Where would you place the ray box if you wanted the
reflected ray to go straight back along the ray going
from the ray box toward the mirror?
Activity: See yourself in a spoon
You will observe your image in a curved mirror and
compare it with your image in a plane mirror.

Materials:
Plane mirror
Large kitchen spoon with a shiny reflective surface
Procedure
1. Hold the plane mirror about 25 cm from your face. Try to estimate
the size of the image and its distance from the mirror relative to
your face.
2. Hold the spoon the same distance from your face, looking at the
inside or caved in side of the spoon. Once again, with the spoon
about 25 cm from your face, try to estimate the size of the image
and its distance from the mirror relative to your face.
3. Still looking at the cave in side of the spoon, move the spoon as
close to your face as you can and still see the image. Then move
it as far away as possible and observe any changes to your image.
4. Turn the spoon over and look at your reflection on the back of the
spoon. Once again, hold the spoon fairy close to your face and
slowly move it away. Notice how your image changes.
Questions
1. In which mirror was your image larger?
2. In which mirror did the image appear to be farther
behind the mirror?
3. Describe any observations about your image in the
curved mirror that were quite different than your
image in the flat mirror.
4. What was the biggest difference that you noticed
between the image in the indie and on the back of the
spoon?
Reflecting an image
You will work in groups to attempt to direct an image on a
screen.

Materials:
Concave mirror
Sheet of white paper for a screen
Procedure
1. Turn off the lights in the classroom. Stand as far from a window (or
bright light source) as you can.
2. One partner will hold the mirror so it is nearly facing the window (or
other light source).
3. The other partner will hold the screen (white paper) while facing the
partner with the mirror.
4. Adjust the position of the mirror and screen until the light from the
window is reflected onto the screen.
5. Move the screen back and forth until the shape of the window is as
sharp as possible.
6. Note the size and shape of the reflection of the window on the
screen.
Questions
1. How did the size of the image on the screen compare
with the object (the window or bright light source)?

2. Was the image right side up or upside down?

Explore images in concave mirror
1. Copy the table on your notes
Object Image Size of image Orientation of Type of image
distance distance image
Greater than 2f

Equal to 2F
Between 2f and
f

Less than f
Procedure
1. Copy the table in your notes.
2. Measure the focal length of the mirror by focusing in a distant
object and measuring the distance between the image and the
concave mirror.
3. Place the mirror upright on the desk. Do not move the mirror
during this part of the investigation.
4. Measure out distances of one focal length (f) and two focal
lengths (2f) from the mirror and mark each location on the desk
with masking tape.
5. Place the candle more than two focal points lengths away from
the mirror. Move the screen back and forth until you find a
sharp image
5. of the flame. It is best to have the candle a bit off to one side so that
the screen can be moved back and forth without touching the flame.
6. Record the distance between the image and the mirror in terms of
focal lengths.

For example, you might describe the image distance as greater than
2f, equal to 2f, between 2f and f, equal to f, less than f, and so on.
7. Record he size of the image relative to the size of the
object. That is, is the image larger, the same size, or
smaller than the object.
8. Record the orientation of the image. If you can find the
image is up right (right side up) or inverted (upside
down).
9. Record the type of image. If you can find the image on
the screen, it is a real image because the light actually
comes from it. If you must look into the mirror to see the
image, then it is a virtual image. The light only seem to
come from it, just as in the plane mirrors.
10. Repeat steps 4 through 9 for the other object
Questions
1. What was the focal length of the mirror?
2. As the object moves towards the mirror, what happens
to the location of the image?
What is refraction?
Refraction is the bending of light when it crosses a boundary
between two substances.

Refraction is used in communications and other technologies.

When light enters a transparent material from an angle, it

refracts many times from the carefully shaped surface inside the
material before it leaves them along a different angle.

Bicycle reflector is used for safety, diamonds are used for beauty,
or used for communication or seeing an object at a distance, or
used in delicate surgery to perform the tiniest incisions.
 Activity C
You will observe aApencil moving in and out of
water from different places around a transparent
tank. Some of the effects you observe are related
to how light works.
Procedure: D
1. Fill a transparent tank about two-thirds full of
water. The transparent tank could be an
aquarium or plastic storage box or a large
beaker.
2. Hold the pencil at an angle in the water. You will
move it straight into and out of the water while B
observing it from different places marked as A,
B, C, and D.
a) For A, look straight down to the surface of the water as
you move the pencil in and out of the water.
b) For B, your eyes should level with the surface of the
water.
c) For C, look straight down the pencil from behind.
d) For D, look up from near the bottom of the water. You will
be looking at the pencil from below the surface of the water.
Questions:
1. What was similar in all the observations?
2. What was the most striking difference in the appearance
of the pencil when looking at it from different directions?
3. What does the waters surface look like when observing
from below?
Refraction is the bending of light
when it crosses a boundary between
two substances
Medium: the substance or material that light is traveling
through (the plural is media)
Refraction: the change in the direction of the light when
it crosses a boundary between two media.
Refracted ray: is the ray of light after crossing a
boundary between two media.
Angle of refraction: the angle between the refracted ray
and the normal.
Refraction
The two media could be water and air, air and plastic,
air and sugar water, etc. .
What causes refraction?
Light refracts because it travels at different speeds in
different media.
When a car travels from a smoot surface to a muddy
surface, the tires move quicker on the smooth surface
and slower on the muddy surface and the path of
traveling bends away from the straight line.
Refraction is used in
communications and other
technologies
Sunlight reflects from the surface of water is a common sight.
When light hits the surface of water, it travels into water and refracts.
The light refracts from the water and in the water.
When the angle of incidence of the light entering the water from the
air is very small, all the light penetrates the water and refracts.
As the angle of incidence grows bigger, more light reflects and less
refracts in water.
At a very large angle of incidence, most of the light reflects of the
surface.
Light moving towards a diver at a large angle of incidence will refract
away from the diver, most of the light never reaches the diver.
 Total Internal Reflection
The high speed internet and communication technologies uses the
light that travels from a medium in which the speed is lower to a
medium in which the speed is higher.
A light ray travels upward from the water to the air at a small
incidence angle.
The angle of refraction is larger than the angle of incidence.
Eventually the angle of refraction grows so large, that the angle of
refraction is 90o and the refracted ray skims the surface of the
water.
The angle of incidence, when this occurs is called critical angle
because the angle of refraction cannot get any larger.
Total internal reflection: the condition in which no light can escape
the medium because the angle of incidence is larger than the
critical angle.
Fibre Optics
An optical fibre is made of tiny glass fibres called the
core that is the size of human hair.
A protective coating made of different types of glass
covers the core.
The speed of light that enters in the cladding is higher
than it is in the core.
Light enters the core and reaches the boundary
between the core and the cladding at an angle greater
than critical angle will be totally internally reflected.
Light will travel down the core.
The core and the cladding are protected by more
coating of plastic.
Many individual fibres are combined into a cable
encased in a larger coat of plastic.
 By sending light in pulses, optical fibre can
carry information long distances almost at the
speed of light.
Optical fibres are more practical for sending
signals than copper wires for the following
reasons:
1. The signals are not affected by electrical
storms as copper wires are.
2. Fibre optic cables can carry many more
signals over long distances than copper wires.
3. Fibre optic cables are smaller and lighter
than copper cables.
The fibre cables have revolutionized all forms of
communication including telephone, cable
television, and the internet.
Activity: modeling an optical fibre

You will observe a

demonstration of total
reflection in a stream of water.
The effect you will see is a
model of how light travels Masking tape
inside an optical fibre. Water
Bucket (or sink)
flashlight
Material:
Clear plastic bottle
Duct tape
Thumbtack
 Procedure
1. Your teacher has set up the materials and equipment. To make the bottle
, your teacher has put s short piece of duct tape about 6 to 8 cm from
the bottom of the clear plastic bottle. A small hole has been made in the
center of the duct tape with a thumbtack. The hole has been covered
with a small piece of tape. And the bottle has been filled with water.
2. Your teacher will ask for volunteer to shine the beam of light from a
flashlight through the bottle from the side that is opposite the hole.
3. Another volunteer will remove the masking tape so a stream of water
can flow out of the bottle.
4. Observe the water as it is leaving the bottle. Also keep an eye on the
level of the water in the bottle as it lowers closer to the hole.
5. Be on the lookout for the moment the total internal reflection suddenly
occurs. Youll know, because the beam of light from the flashlight moves
with stream of the water.
Questions
1. In what was did this activity model the way the light
travels in an optical fibre?
 Activity: Reappearing coin
How can you see objects that are not in your line of sight?
You will find out.
Materials:
Cup or other container with opaque sides
Coin
Water
Procedure:
1. Work with a partner. Place the coin at the bottom of the
empty cup. Cover one eye with your hand and look down
at the coin. Lower your head until the edge of the cup just
bocks your view of the coin. Keep your head in this
position.
2. Your partner will slowly pour water into the cup. If the coin
starts to move, your partner should hold it in place with
the end of a pencil.
Your partner will continue to pour water into the
cup until you can see the coin again.
3. Empty the water into a sink.
4. Change places so that your partner can watch
the coin while you pour the water into the cup.
Questions:
1. Copy the diagram above. Note that the ray in
the diagram shows that light from the coin
cannot reach your eye when the cup is empty.
2. Sketch a ray diagram to show what must
happen to light that travels from the coin to
your eye when the water is in the cup. (Note: A
light ray must travel in a straight line in air and
must travel in a straight line while in the water.)
Refraction of light
In this activity you will investigate the refraction of light as it
enters and as it leaves a block of transparent, solid material.

Materials:
Blank sheet of paper
Ray box with a single slit
Rectangular block of plastic or glass
Pencil
Ruler
 Procedure

1. Place the rectangular block on the sheet of paper. Trace the

edge of the block.
2. Shine an incident light ray into the block near the left edge of
the block as shown below.

3. You should see at least two light rays outside of the block.
Place dots along their paths.
4. Remove the ray box and the block. Join the dots to show the
paths of the light outside of the block. Include arrowheads to
show the direction in which each ray was going.
5. Draw a line from the point where the incident light ray entered the
block to the point where it left the block. This will indicate the path of the
light inside the block. Draw the arrowheads on this ray to show the
direction in which it was going.
6. Compare the direction of the ray that emerged from the block to the
direction of the incident ray.
7. See if you can find any evidence of reflection at the second surface.
Questions:
1. What happened to the incident ray as it struck the surface of the
block?
2. From your observations, did the path of the light ray bend at the
surface of the block or during its travel through the block?
3. How did the direction of the light ray that emerge from the block
compare to the direction of the incident ray?
4. Did light reflect at any of these surfaces? If so, where did the
reflection occur?
 Reflection and refraction of light
(glass to air)
In this activity you will investigate the refraction of light as it
goes from a medium in which the speed of light is slower to a
medium in which the speed of light is faster.

Materials:
Blank piece of paper
Ray box with a single slit
Pencil and ruler
Protractor
Glass semicircle
 Procedure

1. Read the procedure and make a table to record your data.

2. Place the glass semicircle on the paper and trace its
outlines.
3. Remove the semicircle and locate the center of the flat
surface on the outline. Draw the normal at that point.
4. Draw angles of 15o, 30o, 45o, 60o, and 75o to the normal as
shown in the diagram below.

5. Replace the glass semicircle. Position the ray box on the

rounded side at the 15o mark. Shine an incident ray in along
6. Measure the angle of refraction where the light leave the glass semicircle. Compare
the sizes of the angles of incidence and refraction.
7. Do you see any reflection occurring? If so, how does the size of the angle of reflection
compare to the size of the angle of incidence.
8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for the rest of the angles of incidence.
9. Observe and record how the brightness of the refracted and reflected rays changes as
the angle of incidence increases.
Questions:
1. How does the angle of refraction compares to the angle of incidence when light passes
from glass into air?
2. How does the angle of reflection compares to the angle of incidence?
3. Estimate the critical angle of glass. Explain how you made your estimate.
4. If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, how much refraction occurs?
5. What happens to the brightness of the refracted and reflected rays as the angle of
incidence increases?
6. Design a procedure to investigate the reflection and refraction of light from air to
glass. Use your experiences in this activity. Show your procedure to your teacher and
proceed if your teacher approves.
Lenses and their applications
Lenses change the appearance of objects, make images
that appear larger or smaller than the object, upside
down, or even misshapen.
Everyone has lenses in their eyes that help you see
more clearly.
All cellphones, and projectors have lenses.
Light refracts once entering direction of the light rays.
Lenses have at least one curved surface and refracts
light in predictable ways.
Converging lenses can be used to produce different
types of images.
Activity:
1. Get a 10 cm by 10 cm piece of waxed paper, newspaper
(about half a page), a medicine dropper, and some water.
2. Lay the waxed paper on the newspaper.
3. With the medicine dropper, place one drop of water on the
waxed paper.
4. Observe the shape of the drop of water.
5. Look at the newspaper through the drop of water while you
move the waxed paper around on the newspaper.
6. Choose a letter, such as an e and place the waxed paper
over the newspaper so the drop of water is directly over the
letter you chose. Compare the appearance of the letter
through the drop with its appearance when nothing is on the
newspaper.
7. Add two or three more drops to the first drop of water so its
spreads out a little bit more on the waxed paper.
8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 with the larger amount of water.
Questions:
1. How did the single drop of water affect the appearance of
the letter that you chose?
2. How did the effect caused by the larger amount of water
compare to the effect caused by the single drop of water?
3. How did you think that the shape of the drop of water
affected the appearance of the print that you saw through
the water?
Lenses refract light in predictable
ways
Lens: a thin piece of glass or plastic that has at least
one curved side.
Converging lens: a lens that makes parallel light rays
come together.
Diverging lens: a lens that makes parallel light rays
move apart.