Reflection of Light by Different Surfaces

Shadows and Pin Hole Camera

Shadow
A shadow is a dark patch formed behind an opaque object when it is placed in the path of light. A shadow
is formed only when a light source, an opaque object and a screen are present. For example, during a
lunar eclipse, we see a part of the earths shadow on the surface of the moon. This happens when the
earth, the sun and the moon are in a straight line, with the earth between the sun and the moon. Here, the
sun acts as the light source, the earth as the opaque object, and the moon as the screen. Shadows are
formed due to the rectilinear propagation of light. The size and shape of the shadow depends on the
position and orientation of the opaque object between the source of light and the screen.
Whatever be the colour of the object, its shadow is always black because the shadow region is not
illuminated by light. The length and shape of a shadow depends on the object by which it is formed. In the
olden days, shadows caused by objects placed in the sun were used to measure time. Such a device is
called a sun dial. The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur consists of a sundial or Samrat Yantra, which can be used
to tell the time, as its shadow moves visibly at one millimetre per second, or roughly six centimetres every
minute.
Pinhole Camera
The pinhole camera works on the principle that light travels in a straight line. The image formed by a
pinhole camera is real, inverted and diminished in size when compared to the original object. Pinhole
cameras are inexpensive and are easy to make. An eclipse can be viewed using a pinhole camera.
Making a Pinhole Camera
Take two rectangular boxes that fit into one another without leaving any gap.
Cut open one side of each box.
Make a small hole in the larger box at the centre of the closed end opposite to the side that has
been cut open.
Cut a square of side five centimetres in the smaller box in the closed end opposite to the side that
has been cut open. Cover this square with tracing paper.
Finally, slide the smaller box into the larger box, ensuring that the pinhole and the tracing paper are
in line with one another, but at the opposite ends.
Slide the smaller box to adjust the focus so that you can capture the image of any object you want.
This is the basic structure of the pinhole camera. However, the developed form of a pinhole camera uses
photosensitive film instead of translucent paper to capture images. The film can be developed later to
obtain photo prints. Nowadays, of course, we use digital cameras that store images in a computer chip.
However, the basic principle of capturing the image remains the same.
Differences between A Shadow and A Pinhole Camera Image
A shadow is in general black and does not give the details of the object. The image formed by a pinhole
camera is colourful and contains all the details of the object.

A shadow can be bigger than the object whereas the image formed by a pinhole camera is always
smaller than the object.

 The shape of a shadow varies depending on the orientation of the object between the light and
screen while the pinhole camera image is always inverted and has the same shape as the object.

2)

Reflection in Plane Mirrors

Light is a form of energy. Light makes things around us visible. Objects that give out light on their own
are called luminous objects. Objects that do not give out light on their own are called nonluminous objects. They just reflect light that falls on them. When light reflected from an object enters into
our eyes, the object becomes visible to us. A mirror changes the direction of light that falls on it. The light
ray that falls on a mirror is called the incident light ray. The ray that comes back from the surface after
reflection is called the reflected light ray.

The point where the incident ray strikes the reflecting surface is called the point of incidence. A line
drawn perpendicular to the mirror at the point of incidence is the normal. According to the laws of
reflection, the incident ray, the normal at the point of incidence, and the reflected ray lie in the same
plane; and the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.
Characteristics of Image Formed in a Plane Mirror
The image formed by a plane mirror is:

of the same size as that of the object

left-right inverted
erect and virtual
formed behind the mirror at the same distance as the distance of the object in front of the mirror

If a set of parallel rays, after reflection from a surface, are parallel, then the reflection is termed as regular
reflection. The reflection from a plane mirror is an example of regular reflection. If the incident rays are
parallel, but the reflected rays are not parallel, then it is called diffused reflection or irregular
reflection. The reflection from an uneven surface is diffused reflection. If a reflected light ray is reflected
again on being incident on another surface, it is termed multiple reflections.

Multiple reflections are used in periscopes. Periscopes are used in submarines, war tanks and by soldiers
in bunkers to see objects that are not visible directly. In a barbers shop, we see the back of the head
using multiple reflections of two mirrors. In a kaleidoscope, beautiful patterns are formed due to multiple
reflections.

3)

Reflection of Light

Reflection of Light
The path of light is always straight and never curved. Examples to show that light travels in a straight line
are light emitted by a torch light and light emitted from the headlights of a vehicle. The direction of light
can be changed only by reflection. The bouncing of light by any surface is called reflection of light.
Image Formed by a Plane Mirror
Due to the reflection of light, the impression of an object formed in a mirror is called the image of the
object. As the distance of the object from the mirror increases, the distance of the image from the mirror
also increases. The concept that images in a plane mirror are located at the same distance behind the
mirror as the object in front of it is mainly used in interior decoration and in architecture to make rooms
appear brighter and bigger. Moreover, placing a mirror near lights, chandeliers and table lamps reflects
the light over a larger area, and makes the room appear brighter. Images that cannot be captured on a
screen are called virtual images.
LeftRight Inversion
As the name suggests, images are laterally inverted, i.e. the right part of an object appears on the left in
its image, and the left part of the object appears on the right. For example, the word AMBULANCE is
painted left-right inverted on the ambulance so that when the driver of a vehicle in front looks into his rearview mirror, he can make out the word AMBULANCE quickly and give way.
Characteristics of Image Formed in a Plane Mirror
The image formed by a plane mirror is:
of the same size as that of the object
left-right inverted
erect and virtual
as far behind the mirror as the object is in front of it.
A mirror maze is created based on the principle of reflection in plane mirrors. The maze has several plane
mirrors placed at fixed angles to each other. When a person enters a mirror maze, he finds several
images of himself and several passages. There is only one passage that is real, while all the others are
just images.

4)

Spherical Mirrors

Mirrors are the basic means of viewing our own beauty. Generally we can classify the mirrors into the
following two types as
i. Plane mirrors
ii. Curved mirrors.
Generally mirrors refer to plane mirrors. But if the surface of a mirror is curved it is said to be a curved
mirror. If the curved mirror is a part of a huge sphere, then the mirror is a spherical mirror.

Terms Associated with Spherical Mirrors

Centre of curvature (C) is the centre of the sphere, of which the mirror is a part.
Radius of curvature (R) is the radius of the sphere, of which the mirror is a part.
Pole (P) is the geometric centre of the spherical mirror.
Principal axis is the line joining the pole and the centre of curvature.

Principal focus (F) is the point on the principal axis, where a parallel beam of light, parallel to the
principal axis after reflection converges in the case of a concave mirror and appears to diverge from
in the case of a convex mirror.
Focal length (f) is the distance of the principal focus from the pole of the mirror.

Spherical mirrors can be further classified into the following two types as
i. Concave mirrors
ii . Convex mirrors.

The images formed by the mirrors are of two types they are
i. Real images
ii. Virtual Images
Real images are those that can be caught on a screen while virtual images are those that cannot be
caught on a screen.
Formation of Images by Spherical Mirrors
The image formed by a convex mirror is always erect, virtual, and diminished in size. The location of the
object does not affect the characteristics of the image. Thus, as the object approaches the mirror, the
image approaches the mirror too but not proportionately. This is why, the rear view mirrors of the cars and
bikes are made of convex mirrors.
Hence, we have the caution Objects seen in the mirror are closer than they appear printed on the
outside rear view mirrors of vehicles.
Unlike in a convex mirror, the nature and size of the image in a concave mirror depends on the distance
of the object from the mirror.

Concave Mirror

If a part of a hollow glass sphere is cut and the cut part of the sphere is coated outside with silver or
similar material, then its inner surface reflects the entire light incident on it, and thus, forms a mirror. Since
the inner surface is a concave surface, the mirror so formed is called a concave mirror.

The geometric centre of a concave mirror is called its pole.

The centre of the sphere from which concave mirror was cut is called the centre of curvature of

the concave mirror.

The distance from any point on the concave mirror to its centre of curvature is called the radius of

curvature of the concave mirror.

An imaginary line passing through the centre of curvature and the pole of the concave mirror is

called principal axis of the concave mirror.

The area of a concave mirror that is exposed to incident light is called the aperture of the concave

mirror.
The length along the principal axis from the pole to the principal focus is called the focal length of
the concave mirror.

If an object is placed close to a concave mirror such that the distance between the mirror and the object is
less than its focal length, then a magnified and virtual image is formed. Due to this property, concave
mirrors are used in many applications. A concave mirror can be used as a shaving mirror, and by dentists
to view clearly the inner parts of the mouth.
Concave mirrors converge the light incident on them and hence are called converging mirrors. We can
observe ourselves magnified when the mirror is placed close to our face. This is due the position of the
object between the focus and the pole. As the object moves away from the mirror, the size of its image
reduces along with its distance from the mirror. If an object is placed close to a concave mirror such that
the distance between the mirror and the object is less than its focal length, then a magnified and virtual
image is formed. Due to this property, concave mirrors are used as shaving mirrors, and by dentists to
view clearly the inner parts of the mouth.
Reflection by Concave Mirrors
Incident Ray

Reflected Ray

Parallel to principal axis

Passes through focus

Passes through C

Retraces its path

Passes through focus

parallel to principal axis

Strikes the pole at an angle eith principal

axis

Makes the same angle with principal axis

Image Formation by Concave Mirror

Depending on the position of the object in front of the concave mirror, the position, size and the
nature of the image varies.