DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL
SECUNDERABAD
NACHARAM | MAHENDRA HILLS | NADERGUL
SUBJECT : SCIENCE NOTES
CLASS : VII
Ls.10: Light
short answer questions:
1. What are a) Incident rays b) Reflected rays?
c) Draw and show reflection of light by a plane mirror. Label the two rays.
Ans)
a) Light ray travelling towards the object are called incident rays.
b) The light rays which hit the object and bounce back are called reflected rays.
c)
2. What do you understand by the term virtual image? Discuss.
Ans) A virtual image is an optical image formed by light rays that appear to diverge from
a point but do not actually converge at it. This means the light rays don't physically meet,
so the image cannot be projected onto a screen.
3. Draw at least two shapes, the image of which will not appear the same in the
plane mirror.
Ans)
4. Which type of mirror is used as a rear-view mirror? Why?
Ans) Convex mirrors are used as rear-view mirrors in vehicles because they offer a wider
field of view, allowing drivers to see more of the road behind them. They also produce
diminished, virtual, and erect images.
5. Which type of mirror is used by dentists and why?
Ans) Dentists use concave mirrors because they provide a magnified, upright, and virtual
image of the teeth, making it easier to see and examine details within the mouth.
6. Which type of images formed by a concave lens? What is its size?
Ans) A concave lens always forms a virtual, erect, and diminished (smaller) image of an
object, regardless of the object's position. The image is always on the same side of the
lens as the object.
7. What is light?
Ans) Light is a form of energy that help us for vision.
II. Long answer questions
1. How does light travel? How can you show it? Elaborate.
Ans) We can understand the propagation of light with a simple experiment. Place a candle on a
table and light it. Place three cardboard sheets blocking your view of the candle. In these
cardboard sheets make three pinholes at equal heights such that the flame of the candle is visible
through the cardboard sheets. Now view the flame through the holes, we will find it visible. Now
move one of the cardboard sheets and try to see the flame. On moving the cardboard sheet, you
will see that the flame is no longer visible. Now bring the sheets back in line. The flame is
visible again.
The light is visible only when all the three pinholes are aligned proving the rectilinear
propagation of light
From this experiment, we can deduce that light moves from place to place through rectilinear
propagation. Rectilinear is a fancy word for straight. Light travels from the source in a straight
line.
2. What is a spherical mirror? Define the following terms related to spherical Mirrors:
A) Centre of curvature b) Pole c) Principal axis d) Radius of curvature
Ans) A spherical mirror is a curved mirror shaped like a portion of a hollow sphere.
These mirrors are classified into two main types: concave and convex. Concave mirrors
have the reflecting surface curved inward, while convex mirrors have the reflecting
surface curved outward.
a) Centre of curvature (C): The centre of a hollow sphere in which the mirror is a part.
b) Pole (P): It is the Centre of the spherical mirror on its surface.
c) Principal axis: The imaginary line passing through the pole and Centre of curvature.
d) Radius of curvature (R): The distance between the pole and Centre of curvature.
R = 2f
3. What is the nature of image formed by a convex mirror?
Ans) Image is formed between pole and focus for all positions, it is virtual, erect & diminished
(VED) for all positions of the object
4. Define :
a) Dispersion of light : The phenomenon of splitting of white light into seven colours is called
dispersion. Eg: i) Raindrops split the sunlight and form rainbow ii) Seen on soap bubbles and
CD’s.
b) Light spectrum: The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye
is known as the visible light spectrum. the colours present in the visible spectrum are Red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, Indigo and violet.
III. Competency Based Questions.
1. Vinita's mother bought a solar cooker for her aunt who stays in a village and does not
have LPG gas. She cooks on a Chulla and has breathing related problems. She was very
happy to receive it.
Now answer the following questions on the basis of above information
1) On what principle does a solar cooker work ?
Ans) A solar cooker is a device which uses a concave mirror to converge the energy of
sunlight to heat which helps in cooking food.
2) Can a solar cooker work in a village setup?
Ans) Yes, as there is ample sunlight available.
2 An image is formed in clear stagnant water. Why will this image blur on throwing
a pebble in water?
Ans) When a pebble is thrown into clear, stagnant water it ripples and these waves
disrupt the uniform reflection of light, leading to scattering of light rays in different
directions.
3. Have you seen mirrors placed at blind turns? What type of mirrors are they and
what purpose do they serve?
Ans) Yes, the mirrors placed at blind turns are convex mirrors. They serve to provide
drivers with a wider field of view, allowing them to see oncoming traffic or pedestrians
that would otherwise be hidden from their view in a blind spot.
IV. Extra questions:
1. Write any 3 uses of convex and concave mirrors each.
Ans) Uses of concave mirror:
· As make up mirror and shaving mirror
· As reflectors in projectors, car head lights and torches
· As doctor’s head mirror
· In floodlights
· Uses of convex mirror:
· As rear-view mirror in vehicles
· As reflectors in street lights
· As vigilance mirror in department stores and other shops
Q2)Define lateral inversion, mirror and lens.
Ans) Lateral inversion: The phenomenon of left appearing right and right appearing left
on reflection in a plane mirror is called lateral inversion.
Eg: i) The word “AMBULANCE” is written reverse so that the driver in the vehicle
ahead can read it correctly in his vehicle’s rear-view mirror.
ii) A book in right hand appears to be in left hand in mirror.
MIRROR: Any smooth and polished surface that can reflect light.
Eg: Polished marble flooring still water
LENS: Transparent glass bounded by two curved surfaces.
Q3) Differentiate between real and virtual images.
Real image Virtual image
● Formed on the screen ● Cannot be formed on the screen
● Inverted ● Erect
● Light rays after reflection meet at a ● Light rays after reflection appear to
point meet at a point
● Eg: image formed by movie ● Eg: image formed by a plane mirror,
projectors and pinhole camera rear view mirror of vehicles
Q4) Differentiate between concave and convex mirror.
Ans)
Q5) Write 5 characteristics formed by a plane mirror
Ans) Characteristics of image formed by a plane mirror:
· Virtual
· Erect
· Same size
· Laterally inverted
· Object distance from the mirror = Image distance from the mirror
Q6) Write 2 laws of reflection.
Ans) LAWS OF REFLECTION:
[Link] ray, Reflected ray, and normal lie on the same plane at the point of incidence
[Link] of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
Q7) Write about any 2 properties of light.
Ans) Properties of light:
1. Rectilinear propagation of light: The phenomenon of light travelling in straight
lines. Eg: formation of eclipses and shadows.
2. Reflection: Bouncing back of light rays into the same medium when light strikes a
surface.
Eg: Mirror reflects light on to the wall, moon reflects light.
Q8) Differentiate between concave and convex mirrors.
Concave mirror Convex mirror
● Reflecting surface is towards the ● Reflecting surface is towards the outer
inner side side
● Forms real and inverted images ● Forms virtual and erect images
● Converging ● Diverging
● Eg: Make up mirror, Dentist’s ● Eg: Rear view mirror, Reflectors in street
mirror, Car headlights lamps, Vigilance mirror
Differences between convex lens and concave lens
Concave lens Convex lens
● Thinner at the centre and thicker at the ● Thicker at the centre and thinner at
edges the edges
● When the lens is held close to the ● When the lens is held close to the
object, it forms virtual, erect and object, it forms virtual, erect and
diminished image magnified image
● When the lens is held away from the ● When the lens is held away from the
object, it forms virtual, erect and object, it forms real and inverted
diminished images images
● Diverging ● Converging
● Eg: peep hole in door ● Eg: magnifying glass
Terms related to spherical mirrors:
1. Aperture: The size or diameter of the mirror.
2. Principal focus (F): The point on the principal axis where the reflected light
rays from the mirror meet.
3. Focal length (f): The distance between the pole and principal focus.
For reference