CLASS 10 SCIENCE

Chapter 9 — Light: Reflection and Refraction

Student-Friendly Detailed Notes • Part 3

Main focus: Numericals, sign conventions, mirror and lens formula practice, power of lens, magnification,
common mistakes, solved examples, ray-diagram strategy and exam practice.

1. Why Numericals Matter in This Chapter

Light: Reflection and Refraction contains several formula-based questions. The most important skill is not
simply remembering formulas; it is choosing the correct formula, applying the sign convention and
interpreting the answer.

Most numerical problems involve mirrors, lenses, magnification, focal length, object distance, image
distance, refractive index or power of a lens.

Key Points
• Write the given quantities first.

• Assign signs before substitution.

• Write the formula.

• Substitute carefully and show the final unit.

• Use the sign of the answer to interpret the image.

2. Cartesian Sign Convention for Mirrors

In the Cartesian sign convention, the pole P of the mirror is taken as the origin. The principal axis is taken as
the x-axis.

All distances are measured from the pole. The direction of incident light is taken as positive, while the
opposite direction is negative.

Heights above the principal axis are positive and heights below it are negative.

Key Points
• For a usual real object placed in front of a mirror, u is negative.

• For a concave mirror, f is negative.

• For a convex mirror, f is positive.

• A real image in front of the mirror generally has negative v.

• A virtual image behind the mirror has positive v.

3. Mirror Formula
The mirror formula connects object distance, image distance and focal length:

1/f = 1/v + 1/u

The same formula is used for both concave and convex spherical mirrors, provided the correct signs are
used.

Useful rearrangement: v = fu/(u − f)

4. Magnification by a Mirror
Magnification tells us how the height of the image compares with the height of the object.

m = h■/h■ = −v/u

If m is positive, the image is erect. If m is negative, the image is inverted. If |m| > 1, the image is enlarged; if
|m| < 1, it is diminished.
5. Solved Example — Concave Mirror
A concave mirror has focal length 15 cm. An object is placed 30 cm in front of it. Find the image distance.

Step 1: Given
f = −15 cm, u = −30 cm

Step 2: Formula
1/f = 1/v + 1/u

Step 3: Substitute
1/−15 = 1/v + 1/−30

Step 4: Solve
1/v = −1/15 + 1/30 = −1/30
Therefore, v = −30 cm.

Interpretation: The negative image distance means the image is formed in front of the mirror. It is real and
inverted. Since the object is at C, the image is also at C and has the same size.

6. Solved Example — Convex Mirror

A convex mirror has focal length 20 cm and an object is placed 30 cm in front of it. Find the image distance.

Given: f = +20 cm, u = −30 cm

1/20 = 1/v − 1/30

1/v = 1/20 + 1/30 = 1/12

Answer: v = +12 cm.

The positive sign means the image is formed behind the mirror. It is virtual, erect and diminished.

7. Solved Example — Mirror Magnification

Suppose u = −20 cm and v = +10 cm. Find magnification.

m = −v/u = −(+10)/(−20) = +0.5

The positive sign means the image is erect. Since the magnitude is 0.5, the image is half the size of the
object.
8. Cartesian Sign Convention for Lenses
For lenses, the optical centre O is taken as the origin. The principal axis is the reference axis.

The direction of incident light is positive and the opposite direction is negative. Heights above the principal
axis are positive and below it are negative.

Key Points
• For a real object placed to the left of a lens, u is negative.

• For a convex lens, f is positive.

• For a concave lens, f is negative.

• A real image on the opposite side of the lens has positive v.

• A virtual image on the same side as the object has negative v.

9. Lens Formula
The lens formula relates object distance, image distance and focal length.

1/f = 1/v − 1/u

Useful rearrangement: v = fu/(u + f)

10. Magnification by a Lens

Magnification produced by a lens is the ratio of image height to object height.

m = h■/h■ = v/u

For a real inverted image, magnification is negative. For a virtual erect image, magnification is positive.

11. Solved Example — Convex Lens

A convex lens has focal length 10 cm. An object is placed 15 cm in front of it. Find the image distance.

Given: f = +10 cm, u = −15 cm

1/10 = 1/v − 1/(−15)

1/v = 1/10 − 1/15 = 1/30

Therefore: v = +30 cm.

The positive v means the image is formed on the opposite side of the lens. Because the object lies between
F and 2F, the image is real, inverted and enlarged.
12. Power of a Lens
The ability of a lens to converge or diverge light is measured by its power. Power is the reciprocal of focal
length when focal length is measured in metres.

P = 1/f

The SI unit of power is the dioptre (D).

A convex lens has positive power because its focal length is positive. A concave lens has negative power
because its focal length is negative.

13. Solved Example — Power of a Lens

A convex lens has focal length 50 cm. Find its power.

Convert first: 50 cm = 0.50 m

P = 1/0.50 = +2 D

Answer: +2 dioptres.

14. Solved Example — Negative Power

A concave lens has focal length −25 cm. Find its power.

−25 cm = −0.25 m

P = 1/(−0.25) = −4 D

Answer: −4 dioptres.

15. Combination of Lenses

When thin lenses are placed close together, their powers can be added algebraically.

P = P■ + P■

For example, a +2 D lens and a −1 D lens together have net power +1 D.

16. Image Formation — Must-Know Patterns
For a concave mirror, the image changes dramatically as the object moves from infinity towards the pole.

For a convex mirror, the image is always virtual, erect and diminished for a real object.

For a convex lens, the image can be real/inverted or virtual/erect depending on the object position.

For a concave lens, the image is always virtual, erect and diminished for a real object.

17. Master Comparison Table

Optical Device Real/Virtual Erect/Inverted Size possibilities

Concave mirror Real or virtual Inverted or erect Diminished, same or enlarged

Convex mirror Always virtual Always erect Always diminished

Convex lens Real or virtual Inverted or erect Diminished, same or enlarged

Concave lens Always virtual Always erect Always diminished

18. How to Solve Any Numerical — 6-Step Method

Step 1: Write what is given.

Step 2: Convert all units to the required system, especially metres for lens power.

Step 3: Apply the sign convention.

Step 4: Write the correct formula.

Step 5: Substitute and solve carefully.

Step 6: Interpret the sign and magnitude of the answer.

19. Common Numerical Mistakes

Using positive values for every distance is one of the most common mistakes.

Confusing the mirror formula with the lens formula is another frequent error.

Power must use focal length in metres, not centimetres.

Do not forget the negative sign in mirror magnification: m = −v/u.

Do not decide the nature of an image only from the magnitude; use the sign as well.
20. Ray-Diagram Strategy
Before drawing a ray diagram, mark the principal axis and the important points: P, F and C for mirrors; O, F■
and F■ for lenses.

Use two standard rays. Their intersection gives the image position. If the rays diverge, extend them
backward with dotted lines to locate a virtual image.

Use arrows on rays to show the direction of light. Keep the diagram clean and label the image.

Key Points
• Do not draw random rays.

• Use standard rays because they are faster and more accurate.

• Use a ruler in the actual exam.

• Always state the nature and size of the image after the diagram.

21. Important Applications

Concave mirrors: shaving/makeup mirrors, dentist mirrors, reflectors in torches and headlights, solar
furnaces.

Convex mirrors: rear-view and side-view mirrors because they provide a wider field of view.

Convex lenses: magnifying glasses, cameras, microscopes and many optical instruments.

Concave lenses: commonly used in spectacles for correcting myopia.

22. One-Minute Formula Revision

Mirror: 1/f = 1/v + 1/u

Mirror magnification: m = −v/u = h■/h■

Lens: 1/f = 1/v − 1/u

Lens magnification: m = v/u = h■/h■

Power: P = 1/f (f in metres)

Refraction: n = c/v

Snell's law: sin i/sin r = constant

23. Practice Questions — Part 3

1. A concave mirror has f = −20 cm and u = −30 cm. Find v.

2. A convex mirror has f = +15 cm and u = −30 cm. Find v and comment on the image.

3. A mirror forms an image twice the size of the object. What can you say about the possible mirror and
object position?

4. A convex lens has f = +10 cm and u = −20 cm. Find v.

5. A concave lens has f = −20 cm and u = −40 cm. Find v.

6. Find the power of a lens whose focal length is +25 cm.

 7. Find the power of a lens whose focal length is −50 cm.

8. Why is a convex mirror preferred as a vehicle rear-view mirror?

9. Why is a concave mirror used as a shaving mirror?

10. State the difference between the mirror formula and lens formula.

24. Final Exam Checklist

✓ Reflection and refraction definitions

✓ Laws of reflection and refraction

✓ Concave/convex mirror terminology

✓ Complete mirror image table

✓ Complete lens image table

✓ Cartesian sign convention

✓ Mirror formula and magnification

✓ Lens formula and magnification

✓ Power of lens and dioptre

✓ Refractive index and Snell's law

✓ Ray diagrams

✓ Numerical problem-solving steps

✓ Applications of mirrors and lenses

25. Part 3 Quick Mind Map

Numericals → Sign convention → Formula → Substitution → Calculation → Image interpretation →
Magnification → Power → Ray diagrams → Applications → Board practice.