CLASS- VIII - PHYSICS
TOPIC: LIGHT
TEXT BOOK EXERCISE & NOTES
1. Suppose you are in a dark room. Can you see objects in the room? Can you see objects outside
the room? Explain.
Answer: When we are in a dark room then we cannot see objects in the room. We can see the objects outside
the room, because out of the room the light is available and the rays of light can enter our eyes
after reflection from the objects.
2. Differentiate between regular and diffused reflection. Does diffused reflection mean the failure of the
laws of reflection?
Answer:
Regular Reflection Diffused Reflection
a. In regular reflection, all the light that falls on the a. In irregular reflection, all the light that falls on the
reflecting surface is reflected in a definite reflecting surface is not reflected in a definite
direction. direction.
b. It takes place on a smooth highly polished
[Link] takes place on a rough and uneven surface.
surface.
c. Reflected rays are parallel to each other. [Link] rays are not parallel to each other.
d.
d.
No, diffuse reflection doesn’t mean the failure of laws of reflection.
3. Mention against each of the following whether regular or diffused reflection will take place when a
beam of light strikes. Justify your answer in each case.
Answer:
(a) Polished wooden table - Regular reflection will take place because the surface is plane and polished
(b) Chalk powder- Diffused reflection will take place because the surface is rough.
(c) Cardboard surface- Diffused reflection will take place because the surface is rough.
(d) Marble floor with water spread over it- Regular reflection will take place because the surface is plane
and polished.
(e) Mirror- Regular reflection will take place because the surface is plane and polished
(f) Piece of paper- Diffused reflection will take place because the surface is rough.
4. State the laws of reflection.
Answer: The laws of reflections states that:
i) The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
ii) The incident ray, the normal at the point of incidence and the reflected ray all lie in the same plane.
6. Fill in the blanks in the following.
(a) A person 1 m in front of a plane mirror seems to be 2 m away from his image.
(b) If you touch your left ear with a right hand in front of a plane mirror it will be seen in the mirror
that your right ear is touched with left hand
(c) The size of the pupil becomes larger when you see in dim light.
(d) Night birds have lesser cones than rods in their eyes.
7. The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
(a) Always
(b) Sometimes
(c) Under special conditions
(d) Never
Answer: (a) Always
8. Image formed by a plane mirror is:
(a) virtual, behind the mirror and enlarged.
(b) virtual, behind the mirror and of the same size as the object.
(c) real at the surface of the mirror and enlarged.
(d) real, behind the mirror and of the same size as the object.
Answer: (b) virtual, behind the mirror and of the same size as the object.
11. Gurmit wanted to perform Activity 16.8 using a laser torch. Her teacher advised her not to do so. Can
you explain the basis of the teacher’s advice?
Answer: Teacher has advised Gurmit not to do so because laser light is very harmful for the eyes and can
cause a temporary or even permanent defect in the eye. A person can even lose his or her eyesight
if laser torch is directed over the eyes.
12. Explain how you can take care of your eyes.
Answer: Eyes are very precious. We must take proper care of them. We must
• Always sit straight while reading or writing.
• Use suitable spectacles, if advised.
• Wash our eyes with clean water frequently.
• Not look at the sun or a powerful light directly.
• Always read or write in proper light and at the normal distance for vision.
13. What is the angle of incidence of a ray if the reflected ray is at an angle of 90° to the incident ray?
Answer: According to the laws of reflection, angle of incidence is equal to angle of reflection.
Here, the angle between the incident ray and reflected ray is 90°.
i.e., ∠i + ∠r = 90°
Since, ∠i = ∠r
We can write, ∠i + ∠i = 90°
⇒ 2∠i = 90°
⇒ ∠i = 45°
Angle of incidence = 45°.
14. How many images of a candle will be formed if it is placed between two parallel plane mirrors
separated by 40 cm?
Answer: Here, mirrors are placed parallel to each other 40 cm apart. Therefore, infinite number of images
will be formed.
15. Two mirrors meet at right angles. A ray of light is incident on one at an angle of 30° as shown in
Fig.16.19. Draw the reflected ray from the second mirror.
Answer:
16. Boojho stands at A just on the side of a plane mirror as shown in Fig. 16.21. Can he see himself in the
mirror? Also, can he see the image of objects situated at P, Q, and R?
Answer: In the given figure, three objects are situated at points P, Q, R. We can say that Boojho can see an
image of an object if the reflected ray can reach the eyes of Boojho. We know that the mirror forms a virtual
image of the object behind the mirror at the same distance at which the body or object is placed in front of the
mirror.
Boojho cannot see his image because the reflected ray won’t reach his eyes. He can see the image of
objects situated at P, Q because the rays coming from P and Q get reflected by the mirror and reach his
eyes. Boojho can’t see the image of objects situated at R because the ray from object R either does not get
reflected through the mirror or won’t reach his eyes.
P′ is the virtual image of the point P and Q′ is the virtual image of the point Q.
17 (a) Find out the position of the image of an object situated at A in the plane mirror (Fig. 16.23).
(b) Can Paheli at B see this image?
(c) Can Boojho at C see this image?
(d) When Paheli moves from B to C, where does the image of A move?
Answer: (a) It is shown in the following figure.
(b) Yes, Paheli can see the image of A.
(c) Yes, Boojho can see the image of A.
(d) Image of the object at A will not move as an object is not moving.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
[Link] is cataract ? How is it treated?
Ans: The medical condition in which the lens of eye of a person becomes progressively cloudy resulting in
blurred vision is called cataract. This happens particularly during the old age. Cataract reduces the
vision gradually and can even lead to total loss of vision. The opaque lens is removed and artificial lens
is inserted surgically.
[Link] are cones and rods? What are their functions?
Ans: Cones are photosensitive cells that are sensitive to bright (normal) light. They are also responsible for
colour vision. Rods are photosensitive cells that are sensitive to dim light.
Q3. What is blind spot?
Ans: At the junction of the optic nerve and retina, there are no sensory nerve cells. So, no vision
is possible at this point. It is known as a blind spot.
Q4. State three uses of Periscope.
i) Soldiers in a trench (or bunker) use periscopes to observe enemy activity outside.
ii) It is usually used in land and sea warfare, submarine navigation and elsewhere to enable
an observer to see his surroundings while remaining undercover.
iii) We can use periscope to see above a crowd of people (say, as in a football match)
Q5. What is Myopia? How is it treated?
Ans: Some people have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly though they can see the nearby
objects clearly. Myopia causes an image of distant item to form in front of the retina preventing the
person to see it clearly.
Myopia is corrected by wearing concave lenses (diverging lenses) of suitable power.
Q6 What is hypermetropia? How is it treated?
Ans: Some people have difficulty seeing nearby items clearly though they can see distant objects
clearly. It causes an image of the object to form behind the retina.
Correcting hypermetropia requires the use of spectacles with convex lenses (converging
lenses) of sufficient power.
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