Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision

CHAPTER 5: LIGHT AND VISION

These notes have been compiled in a way to make it easier for revision. The topics are
not in order as per the syllabus.

5.1 Mirrors and Lenses

5.1.1 Image Characteristics

Image characteristics are described using the following three categories:

Size Same Image is exactly the same size as the object
Magnified Image appears bigger than the object
Diminished Image appears smaller than the object
Direction Upright Image appears to be in the same direction as the object
Inverted Image appears upside down compared to object
Type Real Real images are images you can capture on a screen.
Mirrors: Images are formed on the same side of the mirror as the object
Lenses: Images are formed on the opposite side of the lens from the object
Virtual Virtual images are images you can see but cannot capture on a screen.
Mirrors: Images are formed on the opposite side of the mirror from the object
Lenses: Images are formed on the same side of the lens as the object

5.1.2 Plane mirrors

i r

Incident ray Reflected ray

normal

Law of light reflection:

• The reflected angle is always the same as the incident angle.
• The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal line are in the same plane.

Characteristics of an image formed by a plane mirror:

Size Same
Direction Upright, laterally inverted
Type Virtual
Distance Distance of an image from the plane mirror is the same as the distance of the object from the
mirror

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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
5.1.3 Curved Mirrors vs Lenses

Concave mirror Convex mirror

Also known as Converging mirrors Diverging mirror

Focal lengths Positive Negative
E.g. f = +20cm. E.g. f = -20cm.
For both concave and convex mirrors, the focal length is half the radius; i.e. CF = FP.

Convex lens Concave lens

Also known as Converging lens Diverging lens

Focal lengths Positive Negative
E.g. f = +20cm. E.g. f = -20cm.

Determining the Position and Characteristics of an Image with a Ray Diagram

Concave mirror

 A ray parallel to the principal axis  A ray through F is reflected  A ray through C is reflected back
is reflected to pass through F parallel to the principal axis along its own path
Convex mirror

 A ray parallel to the principal axis  A ray towards F is reflected  A ray towards C is reflected back
is reflected as if it came from F parallel to the principal axis along its own path

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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
Convex lens

 A ray parallel to the principal axis  A ray through F is refracted  A ray through Ctravels straight
is refracted to pass through F parallel to the principal axis along its own path
Concave lens

 A ray parallel to the principal axis  A ray towards F is refracted  A ray towards Ctravels straight
is refracted as if it came from F parallel to the principal axis along its own path

To determine the position and characteristics of an image using a ray diagram:

1. Draw tworays emanating from the top of the object to the mirror or lens, and using the guide in the table above, draw their
reflected/refracted paths.
2. The image is produced at the intersection of the two reflected/refracted rays.

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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
Images formed by a Concave Mirror / Convex Lens
Position of Ray diagram of concave mirrors Ray diagram of convex Characteristics of
object lenses image
Between F and  Virtual
the mirror /  Upright
lens  Magnified


At F  Virtual
 Upright
 Magnified
 At infinity


Between F and  Real
C/ 2F  Inverted
 Magnified


At C / 2F  Real
 Inverted
 Same size


Greater than C  Real
/ 2F  Inverted
 Diminished


At infinity  Real
 Inverted
 Diminished

Images formed by a Convex Mirror / Concave lens

Position of Ray diagram of convex mirror Ray diagram of concave lens Characteristics of
object image
Anywhere in  Virtual
front of the  Upright
mirror or  Diminished
lens


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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
SUMMARY OF COMPARISON OF IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristics of concave mirrors are the same as convex lenses:

Lens / Mirror

2f f

Real, Inverted Virtual, Upright

Diminished Magnified

Same size

Object distance Image characteristics

u=∞ Real Inverted Diminished
u >2f Real Inverted Diminished
u = 2f Real Inverted Same Size
f < u <2f Real Inverted Magnified
u=f Virtual Upright Magnified
u<f Virtual Upright Magnified

Characteristics of convex mirrors are the same as concave lenses:

Virtual, Upright, Diminished

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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
5.1.4 Lens Equation
1 1 1 Focal length, f
  Convex lens: positive
u v f
Concave lens: negative
where u = object distance [cm]
v = image distance [cm]
Object distance, u
f = focal length of lens [cm]
Always positive
5.1.5 Lens Power
Image distance, v
If positive: real image
1 100
P P If negative: virtual image
f f
OR
where P = lens power [D] where P = lens power [D]
f = focal length [m] f = focal length [cm]

5.1.6 Linear Magnification

Linear magnification is the ratio of the image size to the object size.

hi v |m|> 1: magnified
m  |m| = 1: same size
ho u
|m|< 1: diminished
where m = linear magnification
hi = height of image
If m is negative, take
ho = height of object
the modulus value
5.1.7 Application of Lenses

Complex Microscope

fo < fe

Astronomical Telescope

fo> fe
fo
Magnification =
fe
Normal setting:
Length between lenses = fo + fe

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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
5.2 Refraction and Total Internal Reflection
Light refraction is a phenomenon where the direction of light is changed when it crosses the boundary
between two materials of different optical densities. It occurs as a result of a change in the speed of light as
it passes from one medium to another.

When a light ray travels from medium A to When a light ray travels from medium C to
medium B which is optically denser than A medium D which is optically denser than C

The ray of light will refract towards normal; r < i The ray of light will refract away from normal; r > i
When a light ray crosses the boundary between two different mediums at a right angle

i = 0°, r = 0°

5.2.1 Snell’s Law

Snell’s Law states that the ratio of sin i to sin r is a constant.

sin i
= constant
sin r

5.2.2 Refractive Index

The refractive index or index of refraction of a medium is equivalent to the optical density of a medium.
Note: A material with greater density may not necessarily have greater optical density.

The refractive index / index of refraction of a medium, n can be calculated as:

sin i
n =
sin r
speed of light in air, c
=
speed of light in the medium, v
actual depth, D
=
apparent depth, d
1
=
sin c
(where c is the critical angle)

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Physics SPM 2017 Chapter 5: Light and Vision
5.2.3 Total Internal Reflection

Critical angle, c is the value of the incident angle when the

refracted angle is 90°.

• When iis increased to be greater than c, the light will be

complete reflected back into the material. No light will be
refracted.
• This phenomenon is known as total internal reflection.

Conditions for total internal reflection:

1. Light must be traveling from an optically denser medium to a less dense medium.
2. The incident angle must be greater than the critical angle.

END OF CHAPTER 

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