1/19/26, 6:43 PM Light Reflection and Refraction Formula Class 10 Science Ch-9

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Class 10 Light Formulas

Leave a Comment / By physicscatalyst / November 30, 2025

This page provides a concise formula compilation on light reflection and refraction from Class 10
Science Chapter 9. A downloadable PDF formula sheet includes all essential formulas and key
points. It facilitates efficient revision and subject mastery, serving as an invaluable study
resource for board exams.

Revision Notes: Light – Reflection and Refraction

Reflection of Light

Laws of Reflection:

1. The angle of incidence (i) is equal to the angle of reflection (r).

2. The incident ray, the reflected ray, and the normal to the reflecting surface at the point of
incidence all lie in the same plane.

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Mirror Formula:
1 1 1
= +
f v u

Where:

f = focal length
v = image distance
u = object distance

Magnification (Mirrors):
′
h v
m = = −
h u

Where:

m = magnification
h
′
= image height
h = object height

Sign Conventions for Mirrors:

Object distance (u): Always negative

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Image distance (v): Positive for virtual images, negative for real images
Focal length (f ): Positive for convex mirrors, negative for concave mirrors
Image height (h′ ): Positive for erect images, negative for inverted images

Refraction of Light

Laws of Refraction (Snell’s Law):

sin i
= n
sin r

Where:

i = angle of incidence
r = angle of refraction
n = refractive index

Refractive Index:
c
n =
v

Where:

c = speed of light in vacuum

v = speed of light in the medium

Relative Refractive Index:

V2
n1,2 =
V1

Where V1 and V2 are the speeds of light in media 1 and 2 respectively.

Absolute Refractive Index:

c
nm =
V

Lenses

Lens Formula:

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1 1 1
= –
f v u

Where:

f = focal length
v = image distance
u = object distance

Magnification (Lenses):
′
h v
m = =
h u

Power of a Lens:
1
P =
f

Where P is in diopters (D) and f is in meters.

Net Power of Combined Lenses:

Pnet = P1 + P2 + P3

Where P1 , P2 , and P3 are the powers of individual lenses.

Sign Conventions for Lenses:

Object distance (u): Always negative
Image distance (v): Positive for real images, negative for virtual images
Focal length (f ): Positive for convex lenses, negative for concave lenses
Image height (h′ ): Positive for erect images, negative for inverted images

Additional Concepts

Magnification Sign Conventions:

m = −ve -> Inverted

m = +ve -> Erect
m < 1 -> Diminished

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m = 1 -> Same size

m > 1 -> Enlarged

Download this formula sheet as PDF

Class … 1 / 2 53%

Class 10 Light Formulas Download

All formulas and concepts in tabular form

Mirror Formula and Magnification

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Mirror Formula 1

v
+
1

u
=
1

f
Relates object distance (u), image distance (v), and
focal length (f ).

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Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Magnification m =
h

h
′

= −
v

u
Magnification formula for mirrors, where h′ is the
(m) image height and h is the object height.

Refraction and Refractive Index

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Refraction sin i

sin r
= constant Snell’s Law.

Refractive Index R.I. =

m1

m2
m1 and m2 are the speeds of light in two different
(R.I.) media.

Absolute R.I. Absolute R.I. =

c

V
c is the speed of light in air (or vacuum), and V is
the speed of light in the medium.

Lens Formula and Magnification

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Lens Formula 1

v
–
1

u
=
1

f
Relates object distance (u), image distance (v), and
focal length (f ) for lenses.

Magnification m =
h

h
′

=
v

u
Magnification formula for lenses.
(m)
Power (P) P =
1

f
Power of a lens in diopters (D). f is the focal length
in meters.

Properties of Concave Mirrors

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Concave u = −ve Object distance is negative.
Mirror
v = −ve Image distance is negative for real and inverted
images.

f = −ve Focal length is negative.

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Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

v = +ve Image distance is positive for virtual and erect
images.

h = +ve Object height is positive.

h
′
= +ve Image height is positive for virtual and erect images.

h
′
= −ve Image height is negative for real and inverted images.

Properties of Convex Mirrors

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Convex Mirror u = −ve Object distance is negative.

v = +ve Image distance is positive.

f = +ve Focal length is positive.

h = +ve Object height is positive.

h
′
= +ve Image height is positive.

Properties of Convex Lenses

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Convex Lens Real & Inverted
u = −ve Object distance is negative.

v = +ve Image distance is positive.

f = +ve Focal length is positive.

h = +ve Object height is positive.

h
′
= −ve Image height is negative for real and inverted images.

Virtual & Erect

u = −ve Object distance is negative.

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Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

f = +ve Focal length is positive.

v = −ve Image distance is negative.

h = +ve Object height is positive.

h
′
= +ve Image height is positive for virtual and erect images.

Properties of Concave Lenses

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Concave Lens u = −ve Object distance is negative.

f = −ve Focal length is negative.

v = −ve Image distance is negative.

h = +ve Object height is positive.

h
′
= +ve Image height is positive for virtual and erect images.

Magnification and Image Characteristics

Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

Lenses m = +ve → Virtual & Erect Magnification positive: virtual and erect image.

m = −ve → Real & Inverted Magnification negative: real and inverted image.

m > 1 → Enlarged Magnification greater than 1: enlarged image.

m < 1 → Diminished Magnification less than 1: diminished image.

Mirrors m = +ve → Virtual & Erect Magnification positive: virtual and erect image.

m = −ve → Real & Inverted Magnification negative: real and inverted image.

m > 1 → Enlarged Magnification greater than 1: enlarged image.

m < 1 → Diminished Magnification less than 1: diminished image.

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Category Formula/Information Description/Notes

m = 1 → Same Size Magnification equal to 1: image is the same size
as the object.

Save and share these tables as image

Feel free to save these images or share them on social media among your friends.

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Tips for Exam Preparation:

1. Practice ray diagrams for both mirrors and lenses to understand image formation.
2. Memorize the sign conventions and apply them consistently.
3. Work through numerical problems using the mirror and lens formulas.
4. Understand the conceptual difference between real and virtual images.
5. Review the derivations of key formulas and practice applying them in different contexts.

These notes cover the essential formulas, sign conventions, and principles of reflection and
refraction of light, which are critical for Class 10 exams. Adding diagrams at the appropriate
places will help in visualizing the concepts better.

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