Chapter 8: Light and Optics
8.1 The Usage of Mirrors
Real Image and Virtual Image
There are two types of images, real images and virtual images.
A real image is an image that can be formed on a screen.
Example: an image that can be formed on a screen in a cinema or a projector screen.
A virtual image is an image that cannot be formed on the screen.
Example: an image formed on the surface of calm water or in a mirror.
Characteristics of Images in Plane Mirrors, Concave Mirrors and Convex Mirrors
Plane mirror Concave mirror Convex mirror
Have a flat surface Surface that curves inwards Surface that curves outwards
1. Plane mirror
The characteristics of the image formed in a
plane mirror are:
(i) Laterally inverted
(the right side becomes the left side
and vice versa)
(ii) The distance of the object is equal to the
distance of the image
(iii) Virtual
(iv) Upright
(v) Same size as the object
2. Concave mirrors
A concave mirror is a mirror that produces image characteristics as follows:
(a) If the object is outside the focal point (F) (b) If the object is between the focal point (F)
and the concave mirror
Characteristics of the image Characteristics of the image
Real Virtual
Inverted Upright
The image size is diminished, equal to Image size is enlarged
the object size or enlarged.
3. Convex mirror
The characteristics of the image formed in a
convex mirror are:
(i) Virtual (iii) Laterally inverted
(ii) Upright (iv) Diminished in size
Application of Plane Mirrors, Concave Mirrors, and Convex Mirrors in Life
Application of Plane Mirrors
Mirror in the barber shop Wall mirrors make a space look larger
Application of Concave Mirrors
Dental mirror Vehicle headlight mirror
Application of Convex Mirrors
Used to see objects around the bend in the A small convex mirror on the side mirror of a
road car can widen the driver's field of vision
8.2 Properties of Light
Properties of light Natural phenomena associated with the properties of light
Light can travel through a Sunlight travels through the vacuum of space before reaching
vacuum Earth.
Light travels in a straight line Shadows are formed when light is blocked.
The speed of light in a vacuum Lightning is seen before thunder because the speed of light is
= 3 × 108 m/s faster than the speed of sound.
Sunlight consists of seven A rainbow is produced by the dispersion of sunlight in
coloured components. raindrops to create a spectrum of light.
8.3 Reflection of Light
Light is reflected when directed onto a plane mirror.
The law of reflection states that:
(i) the incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal line all lie in the same plane.
(ii) the angle of incidence, i is equal to the angle of reflection, r.
Determining the relationship between the angle of incidence, i, and the angle of reflection, r
angle of angle of
incidence, i reflection, r
20֯ 20֯
30֯ 30֯
45֯ 45֯
60֯ 60֯
70֯ 70֯
Reflection Applications in Life
Light reflector on the sign Triangular emergency light reflector
Light reflector on the dangerous curve sign Safety jacket
Periscope Kaleidoscope
8.4 Refraction of Light
Refraction of light is the process by which light propagates through two mediums of
different densities, which causes a change in the direction and speed of light.
Light is refracted closer to the normal when the Light is refracted further from the normal
incident ray moves at a certain angle to the when the incident ray moves at a certain angle
normal line from a less dense medium to a to the normal line from a denser medium to a
denser medium. less dense medium.
No refraction occurs when the incident ray No refraction occurs when the incident ray
moves parallel to the normal line from a less moves parallel to the normal line from a denser
dense medium to a denser medium. medium to a less dense medium.
When a beam of light moves from a less dense medium to a denser medium, the beam of
light bends towards the normal, the angle of incidence, i > angle of refraction, r.
When a beam of light moves from a denser medium to a less dense medium, the beam of
light bends away from the normal line, that is, the angle of incidence, i < angle of
refraction, r.
Studying the relationship between the angle of incidence, i, and the angle of refraction, r,
when light travels through media of different densities.
angle of angle of angle of angle of
incidence, refraction, incidence, refraction,
i1 r1 i2 r2
30֯ 19֯ 19֯ 30֯
40֯ 26֯ 26֯ 40֯
50֯ 31֯ 31֯ 50֯
60֯ 35֯ 35֯ 60֯
70֯ 39֯ 39֯ 70֯
Application of Light Refraction in Daily Life
a) A spoon appears bent in water
b) Fish appear to be closer to the surface of the water
c) Letter size appears larger when using a magnifying glass
d) Objects appear taller in the air
8.5 Dispersion of Light
Dispersion of light is the separation of white light into its color components.
The dispersion of light occurs because each color component is refracted at a different
angle of refraction, r, in a denser medium.
White light that passes through a glass prism will refract and spread into seven colors
known as the spectrum of white light.
The spectrum of white light consists of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
Red light is refracted the least because red light has the highest speed.
Blue light is refracted the most because red light has the lowest speed.
1 glass prism 2 glass prisms
Seven different colors are displayed on the A beam of white light is directed onto the
white screen. white screen.
Example of Light Dispersion in Life
A rainbow is a natural phenomenon produced by the dispersion of sunlight in raindrops
floating in the sky.
To allow a rainbow to form:
(i) The sun is behind the observation.
(ii) The sun is low in the atmosphere.
(iii) There are many water droplets in the atmosphere.
.
8.6 Scattering of Light
Scattering of light is a phenomenon that involves the reflection of light and the deflection
of light in all directions by ting particles in the atmosphere.
Tiny particles suspended in the Earth's atmosphere include gas molecules, water vapor, and
dust.
Light of different colors is scattered in different amounts in all directions.
Violet, indigo, and blue light are scattered more because these colors have short
wavelengths. The violet light is scattered the most.
Red, orange, and yellow light are less scattered because these colors have longer
wavelengths. The red light is scattered the least.
Natural phenomena are the blueness of the sky and the redness of the sunset.
a) The phenomenon of the blue sky
During the day, the sun is directly overhead in the sky.
The sunlight reaches the Earth's surface through the atmosphere, which contains various
air particles and dust.
When sunlight penetrates the Earth's atmosphere, blue light is scattered the most by fine
particles.
Meanwhile, red light is less scattered.
Therefore, most of the scattered light that reaches the observer's eyes is blue.
b) The phenomenon of the redness of the sunset at dusk
At sunset, the sun is at the horizon.
The sunlight reaches the Earth's surface through the atmosphere, which contains various
air particles and dust.
The less scattered red light will pass through the atmosphere without being deflected.
The most scattered blue light will be trapped in the atmosphere.
As a result, the red light can be seen by the observer.
8.7 Addition and Subtraction of Light
Addition of Light
Addition of light is the combination of lights of different colors to produce light that has a
different color from the combined colors.
There are two classes of colors, namely primary colours and secondary colours.
Primary colors are basic colors that cannot be obtained by mixing with other colors.
Secondary colors are obtained by mixing two primary colors.
The addition of all primary colors or the addition of secondary colors will result in white.
Primary colours Secondary colours
Red Yellow = Red + Green
Blue Magenta = Red+ Blue
Green Cyan = Green + Blue
Red + Green + Blue = White
Yellow + Blue = White
Magenta + Green = White
Red + Cyan = White
Substraction of Light
Subtraction of light is the absorption of light by a colour filter or another coloured object.
Object Explanation
Objects with primary colours A primary coloured object (red, green, or blue)
reflects light of the same colour only.
Objects with secondary colours A secondary coloured object (yellow, magenta, or
cyan) reflects light of the same color and also the
primary color components that form it.
White objects A white colored object reflects all colours in white
light.
Black objects A black colored object absorbs all colours in white
light.
The colors that can pass through the color filter depend on the color of the filter.
Primary colour filters allow the same colour to pass through the filter while other colours
are absorbed.
Secondary colour filters allow the same colour and the colour components that make it up
to pass through the filter while other colours are absorbed.