Ray optics

What is a spherical mirror?

Spherical mirrors are mirrors whose
surfaces form a part of a hollow sphere,
The spheres can be made of glass or any
polished metal surfaces
Types of spherical mirrors :

1. Convex Mirror
2. Concave Mirror
Convex mirror :. If the mirror coating is in the
inside of the spherical surface, then the mirror
is called a convex mirror

Concave mirror :If the mirror coating is on the

outside of the spherical surface, then the
mirror is called a concave mirror.
1.Center of
curvature : The
center of curvature of
the mirror is defined as
the center of the hollow
sphere from which the
mirror has been cut.
It is represented by the
letter C.
It can be observed that
C of a convex mirror is
behind
the mirrored surface.
On the other hand, C
for a concave mirror is in
front
of the mirror.
2. Radius of
curvature :

Radius of curvature
is the radius of the
sphere from which
the mirrors (either
convex or concave)
is made.
It is represented by
the letter R.
In the figure, the
distance CP is the
radius of curvatures
of the mirrors.
3.Pole of the mirror : The
central point on the
surface of the mirrors is
called the pole of the
mirror.
It is represented by the
letter P.
A pole of the mirror can be
found by drawing a straight
line from the center C to
the largest distance on the
surface from C.
Where the line cuts the
mirror, you will find the
pole P
4.Principal axis of the
mirror :
•A straight line that passes
through the center of
curvature C and the pole P of
the mirror, is called the
principal axis of the mirror.
•In the figure line XY is the
principal axis of the mirrors.
•The principal axis of a
spherical mirror, functions
similar to the normal of the
plane mirror.
•A ray of light passing along
the principal axis will be
reflected back along the
same path.
Focal length of a concave mirror :

In a concave mirror, the rays appear to converge at a point F.

The distance PF is called the focal length and F is called the
focal point.
The focus is in front of the mirror.
 Focal length of a concave mirror
:-

In case of convex mirrors, the parallel rays, on

reflection, appear to diverge from a point F.
This point again is called the focal point of the
convex mirrors and the distance PF is called the
focal length.
The focus, in this case is behind the mirror
 Mirror Equation
A
M

object B’

B C F P

A’ f
image
v
u
N
SIGN CONVENTION
PB is negative ( u )
PB’ is negative (v)

BA is positive ( size of object)

B’A’ is negative ( size of image)

PC is negative (R)

 Image • Object
distance Focal length
distance
REFRACTION OF SINGLE CURVED SURFACE
A M
Medium -1 D
i Medium -2
O r
  
P C I

B
 Radius of
curvature
Image
distance Object
distance
 A B

O P

C2 I C1 I’
v

u
V’
Object distance =u , image distance= v’

Virtual object =I’ , Final image= I

This is lens maker’s equation
O

A
Combination of thin lenses in contact
A B

P
O I I1

V
u
v1
Consider two lenses A and B of focal length f1 and f2
Placed in contact with each other as shown in fig.
Let the object O be placed beyond focal point.
Lens A produces an image at I1, which works as virtual
object for the lens B producing the final image as I
 Adding equation (1) & (2) we get,

The equation of focal length is valid for any number

Of thin lenses in contact , effective focal length is given
MAGNIFYING POWER OF SIMPLE MICROSCOPE

M
A


B
u

Magnifying power of Compound Microscope
The magnifying power of
compound microscope is
defined as the ratio of
angle subtended at eye by
the final image to the
angle
Subtended at unaided eye by
the object DDV
The lens near the object
is called objective and
other Close to eye is
called eyepiece. The
objective and eyepiece
both are convex lenses.
Objective used has short
focal length and small
aperture, whereas the
eyepiece has large focal
length.
Consider an object AB
placed slightly beyond the
focus of object O .
Its real, inverted and
magnified image A1B1 is
formed on the other
Side .This image acts as
an object for the eyepiece
E , which works as
Simple microscope .If
image A1B1 lies within
focal length of eyepiece,
its
Virtual .erect , and
magnified image A2B2 is
formed on the same side of
Eyepiece . The final image
larger and inverted with
respect to object. The
Final image can be seen
 This represents linear magnification
Produced by the objective and D/u0
Is magnifying power of eyepiece,
which
is of
M.P working as simple
compound microscope.
linear magnification M.P of eyepiece
microscope = of object x
Here, negative sign indicates that magnified image is inverted
with respect to object.
In the above expression v0 is distance of image formed by the
objective
Which cannot be measured directly .Let us express v0 using other
measurable quantities.

It is clear that the magnifying power is maximum, when image is

at DDV .for large magnifying power ,objective of short focal
length is used. Because of this ,the size and aperture of
objective become small, and small amount of light enters into
microscope .
 Magnifying power of Telescope
It consist of two convex
lenses called objective
and eyepiece .the
objective
Has large focal length
aperture and large focal
length .the eyepiece has
Short focal length and
small aperture . These
two lenses are mounted
at
the ends of hollow
cylinder, the distance
between them can be
adjusted
light rays from
distant object is
incident on objective
and forms AB image
that final image is
formed at the
infinity.
The angle 
subtended by the
image at the eye is
same as that
subtended
at the eye –piece
.also the angle 
subtended at the
unaided eye is same
as
that subtended at
the objective .
In this case , final
image is formed at
infinity as shown in
the fig.
The magnifying power
of telescope is
defined as the ratio
of angle subtended
at eye by the final
image to the angle
Subtended at eye by
the distant object

As the angle  and  are

very small, they can be
expressed as
 Reflecting Telescope
The telescope studied is of
refracting type. for observing
fainter object and for high
resolving power , the objective
must have large diameter .with
large size, weight of objective
increases and becomes difficult to
support its weight by its edge.
Also ,with large lenses chromatic
and spherical aberrations
increases.
All these problems are solved in
reflecting telescope . The
telescope ,which uses mirror
objective , is called
Reflecting Telescope (or Cassegrain
telescope ).
There is no chronic aberration with
It can be support over its entire back surface.
Fig. shows the schematic diagram of
reflecting telescope .large concave
parabolic objective reflects the rays
coming from the distant object. A small
Convex mirror is fixed at focal point of
the collected rays to eyepiece. Which
Reflects the collected rays to eyepiece.
One such large telescope is installed
at Kavalum (Tamil Nadu). Its reflecting
objective is 2.34 m is diameter .Indian
Institute of Astrophysics , Bangalore ,
uses it.