Light Reflection and Shadow

1. What is the difference between luminous and non-luminous?

Luminous Non-luminous
Objects that give out light on
their own are called luminous
objects.
Objects that do not give out light on their own
are called non-luminous objects.
Eg: Sun, bulb(when switched
on)
Earth, moon, bulb (when switched off)
2. Define ray and beam. Represent them diagrammatically.
The ray: a ray is a line with an arrow that shows the propagation of light.
A diagram showing ray of light is a ray diagram.
Beam: a group of light rays moving parallel is called a beam of light.
3. List the 3 conditions needed for a shadow to be formed.
(i) A source of light. (ii) An opaque object (iii) a screen or a surface behind
the object.
4. List 3 characteristics of a shadow.
(i) It is always black, regardless of the colour.
(ii) It only shows the shape of the outline of the object and not the details.
(iii) The size of the shadow varies depending on the distance between the object
and the source of the light, and the distance between the object and the screen.
5. State 3 facts about the image formed due to the reflection on a plane mirror.
(i) Size of the image and object is same.
(ii) The image is as far away from the mirror as object is in front of it.
(iii) The image is laterally inverted i.e., left/right is reversed.


6. Differentiate between a reflection and a shadow
Reflection shadow
It has the colour of the object. It is always black regardless of the colour
of the object.
It gives the detail as well as
outline of the object.
Gives only the outline of the object.
Undergoes lateral inversion. Does not undergo lateral inversion.
It has the same size of the
object.
Size changes, as the distance between the
object and the source of light changes.
II Explain why?
1. Some capital letters look the same in a mirror but others are reversed.
Some capital letters like A,H, I etc. Look the same in a mirror because they
are symmetrical, whereas letters like B, C, D are not symmetrical and so
undergo lateral inversion and are reversed.
2. Why is the writing on the front of an ambulance back to front as in the
picture? (text book question pg. No:164)
Images undergo lateral inversion in a mirror. So the word AMBULANCE is
written back in the front so that the driver sees the reverse image (laterally
inverted ) of the word in their rear view mirror and give way to vehicle carrying
patients during an emergency.
3. Reflection is not seen in the absence of light.
Reflection occurs when light beam changes direction on hitting a polished
surface. Therefore in the absence of light no reflection is seen.
4. Draw a neat labelled diagram of pin hole camera.