JEE NEET MHT-CET - 2025 Section 1

Ray Optics

Sec 1 : Reflection of light

Prof. Hemant Kadam

1
 Ray Optics

Section 1 : Reflection of Light

Section 2 : Refraction of Light

Section 3 : Lens

Section 4 : Prism

Section 5 : Optical Instruments

2
 Section (1) : Reflection of Light

Plane Mirror

Definition: When a ray of light incident on a boundary separating two media , comes
back into the same media, then this phenomenon is called reflection of light.

Mirror surface

After reflection, velocity(V) , wavelength( 𝛌 ) and frequency( 𝝂 ) of light

remains same but intensity decreases.
LAWS OF REFLECTION

(i) The angle of incidence (the angle between

normal and the incident ray) and the angle
of reflection (the angle between the
reflected ray and the normal) are equal,
i.e. i= r
(ii) The incident ray, the reflected ray and
the normal at the point of incidence all
lie in the same plane.
 Types of Incidence of a Ray of light on Reflecting Surface :

Normal Incidence Oblique Incidence Grazing Incidence

Normal Normal Normal

Incident ray

Reflected ray
Incident ray Reflected ray

i = 00 , r = 00
 Angle of Deviation produced by plane mirror
The angle between the initial direction of the incident ray and the final
direction of the reflected ray is called angle of deviation.

Normal
Graph between 𝜹 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 ∶
Characteristics of image of an object due to reflection by a plane mirror:
mirror

B B’

𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒊

A A’

u V

(i) Distance of object from mirror = Distance (iv) For a real object the image is
of image from the mirror. virtual and for a virtual object the
image is real.
(ii) The size of the image is the same as that (v) The image is laterally inverted .
of the object.

(iii) The line joining a point object and its

image is perpendicular to the reflecting
surface.
Example 1 : A watch shows time as 3:25 when seen through a mirror. Time appeared
will be
(a) 8:35 (b) 9:35 (c) 7:35 (d) 8:25
Mirror
Object Time Image Time
Short Cut :

−11 : 60
03 : 25
……. 12 Hr
…… Object Time

08 : 35 ……. Image Time

Number of images formed by two inclined plane mirrors :

𝐌𝟏

Angle Bisector

Symmetric position of Object

Asymmetric position of Object

𝜽
𝐌𝟐
 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎
𝐍=
𝛉

N = Even Integer N = Odd Integer N ≠ Integer

= 2,4,6, ……… = 1,3,5, ……… = 2.4,6.9, ….

𝒏= 𝑵−𝟏
𝑺𝒚𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒏 = 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕
𝒏= 𝑵−𝟏 = 𝟐, 𝟔, … … .
𝑺𝒚𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄/𝑨𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒏=𝑵
𝑺𝒚𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄/𝑨𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄
𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝑨𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Number of images formed by two inclined plane mirrors :

(n)
 Minimum length of the plane mirror required to see the full height of the person :

From the geometry of the figure,

the length of the mirror = MN = ℓ = x + y.

2x + 2y = h

𝐡
ℓ=
𝟐
Thus in order to see the full height, a person requires a plane mirror of half its own
height. This relation is true for any distance of observer from plane mirror. Also the
lower edge of the mirror should be kept at half of the eye level, i.e., at a height 'y'
from the feet level.
If plane mirror is rotated through an angle , then the reflected ray will rotate
through an angle 2 (If incident ray is kept fixed) :
NEET 2017
Example 2 : A beam of light from a source L is incident normally on a plane mirror
fixed at a certain distance 'x' from the source. The beam is reflected back as a spot on
a scale placed just above the surface. When the mirror is rotated through a small
angle , the spot of the light is found to move though a distance 'y' on the scale. The
angle  is given by

When mirror is rotated by θ angle , then

reflected ray will be rotated by 2θ

For small angle θ ,

Example 3 : Two plane mirrors are inclined to each other at an angle . A ray of light is
reflected first at one mirror and then at the other. Find the total deviation of the ray.

Let ,  = angle of incidence for M1

 = angle of incidence for M2
1 = deviation due to M1
2 = deviation due to M2

From the figure, 1 =   2, 2 =   2

Also ray is rotated in same sense, i.e.,
anticlockwise.
𝜹𝒏𝒆𝒕 = Total deviation = 1 + 2
= 2  2( + )
Now in OBC, OBC + BCO + COB = 180
(90  ) + (90  ) +  = 180
+=

Hence, 𝜹𝒏𝒆𝒕 = 2  2
Example 4 : Two plane mirrors are inclined to each other such that a ray of light incident on
the first mirror and parallel to the second is reflected from the second mirror parallel to the
first mirror. Determine the angle between the two mirrors. [ JEE (Main) – 9 Jan/2019]

Let ,  = angle between the two mirrors

From the figure,

3 = 180
or  = 60
Example 5 : A point source of light S, placed at a distance L in front of the centre of a mirror of
width 'd'. A man walks in front of the mirror along a line parallel to the mirror at a distance 2L
from it, as shown in figure. Find the distance over which he can see the image of the light
source in the mirror. . [ JEE (Main) – 12 Jan/2019]

Man will see image of light source in the mirror so

long as he is in the field of view of image.
From similar MM'I and PQI,
 Relation between velocity of object and velocity of image :

VO = Velocity of Object w.r.t. Ground

VI = Velocity of Image w.r.t. Ground
VM = Velocity of Mirror w.r.t. Ground
VIO = Velocity of Image w.r.t. Object
O I
VIO = VI − VO

NOTE : Apply the Sign

Conventions while using
this equations .

negative positive
Example 6 : An object moves with 5 m/s towards right while the mirror moves with
1 m/s towards the left, as shown. Find the velocity of image.
Spherical Mirror

A spherical mirror is a mirror whose reflecting surface forms a part of sphere.

There are two types of spherical mirrors:
(a) Concave mirror: A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is towards the centre
of the sphere.
(b) Convex mirror: A spherical mirror whose reflecting surface is away from the
centre of the sphere.
SOME DEFINITIONS :

(i) Pole P : The midpoint of a spherical mirror is called pole.

(ii) Centre of curvature C : It is the centre of the sphere of which the mirror
surface is a part.
(iii) Radius of curvature R: The linear distance between pole and centre of
curvature is called radius of curvature.
(iv) Principal axis : The imaginary line which passes through the pole and centre
of curvature is called principal axis. Principal axis divides the mirror into
two equal halves.
(v) Principal focus F : It is a point on the principal axis at which a beam of light
after reflection, either actually meet or appears to meet.
(vi) Focal length f : The linear distance between pole and principal focus, is
called focal length.
 Concave mirror as converging mirror and convex mirror as diverging mirror:

Concave mirror Convex mirror

C C

f f

Relation between f and R :

Note :
The focal length of mirror does NOT depend on surrounding medium.
 New Cartesian Sign conventions

1. All the distances should be measured from pole of the mirror along and
perpendicular to the principal axis.

2. Distance measured in the direction of incident rays, can be taken as positive and
distances measured in the opposite direction of incident rays are taken to be
negative.

3. Distance measured above the principal axis is taken as positive and negative
below the axis.
 New Cartesian Sign conventions

(1) 𝒖 = −𝒗𝒆 ( 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝑶𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕)

(2) V = −𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆

(3) V = +𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑽𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆

(4) 𝒉𝒐 = +𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕

(5) 𝒉𝒊 = −𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆

(6) 𝒉𝒊 = +𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑽𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆

(7) f = −𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓

(8) f = +𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒙 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓
 MIRROR FORMULA
The Mirror Formula is a mathematical relationship between object distance (u),
image distance (v), and the focal length (f) of a spherical mirror.

This formula is applicable to Concave

and Convex mirrors , whether the
image formed is real or Virtual.

AB : Object
A’B’ : Image
Image formed by Concave Mirror
Image formed by Convex Mirror
 Linear or Transverse Magnification (m)
When the object is placed perpendicular to the principal axis, its image will also be
perpendicular to the principal axis.

Definition : Linear or Transverse magnification is defined as the ratio of

height of image to the height of object.
(i) For Real and Inverted Image :
u = −ve , V = −ve ⟹ m = −ve
(ii) For Virtual and Erect (Upright) Image :
u = −ve , V = +ve ⟹ m = +ve

(iii) For Magnified (Enlarged) Image :

v > 𝑢 ⟹ m >1
(iv) For Diminished Image :
v < 𝑢 ⟹ m <1
(v) When Image is of the Same size as the Object :
v = 𝑢 ⟹ m =1
Example 7 : Match the corresponding entries of column 1 with column 2.

[Where 'm' is the magnification produced by the mirror] NEET − 2016 Phase I

Concept Used :

(a) A  p and s; B  q and r; C  q and s; D  q and r

(b) A  r and s; B  q and s; C  q and r; D  p and s
(c) A  q and r; B  q and r; C  q and s; D  p and s
(d) A  p and r; B  p and s; C  p and q; D  r and s
 Longitudinal Magnification (𝒎𝑳 )
In this case, the object is placed along the principal axis.
Definition : Longitudinal magnification is defined as the ratio of length of image to the
length of object.

L𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 = 𝑳𝑶 = 𝒖𝟐 − 𝒖𝟏
L𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 = 𝑳𝒊 = 𝑽𝟐 − 𝑽𝟏
Relation between velocity of object and velocity of image :
 POWER OF MIRROR

The reciprocal of focal length of a mirror is called power of a mirror.

𝟏
𝐏= −
𝐟
The SI unit of power is diopter (D) or 𝒎−𝟏

Type of Mirror Focal length (f) Power (P)

Concave − ve + 𝐯𝐞
Convex + 𝐯𝐞 − ve

Note :
1. The power of mirror is independent of surrounding medium.
2. The power of plane mirror is zero.
NEWTON'S FORMULA
Example 8 : A rod of length 10 cm lies along the principal axis of a concave mirror of
focal length 10 cm in such a way that its end closer to the pole is 20 cm away from
the mirror. The longitudinal magnification is
(a) 1 (b) 1.5 (c) 0.5 (d) 2
Example 9 : An object is placed at a distance of 40 cm from a concave mirror of focal
length 15 cm. If the object is displaced through a distance of 20 cm towards the
mirror, the displacement of the image will be
(a) 30 cm away from the mirror. (b) 36 cm away from the mirror.

(c) 30 cm towards the mirror. (d) 36 cm towards the mirror.

Example 10 : A 2 cm tall object is placed 15 cm in front of a concave mirror of
focal length 10 cm. What is the size and nature of the image?
(a) 4 cm, real (b) 4 cm, virtual
(c) 1 cm, real (d) 1 cm, virtual
Example 11 :An object is kept in front of a concave mirror of focal length 15 cm.
The image formed is three times the size of the object. What are the two
possible distances of the object from the mirror?
(a) 20 cm, 30 cm (b) 20 cm, 10 cm
(c) 15 cm, 20 cm (d) 40 cm, 5 cm
Example 12