G-8 ICSE Physics Chapter : Light energy

Important points:

 Light is a form of energy which produces in us the sensation of sight i.e.

we can see objects only when light falls on them and then reflected into
our eye.
 Velocity of light in air or in vacuum is 300000 km per second.
Or
3 x 108 ms-1
 As light passes into different mediums its speed changes and depends
upon the density of medium i.e. it decreases with increase in density i.e.
it is 2.25 × 108 m/s in water and 2 x 108 ms-1 in glass as water is
denser than air and glass is still optically denser than water i.e. slower in
water and still slower in glass.
 Light travels in a straight line.
 As light travels from one transparent medium to other transparent
medium and falls oblique at another medium, its path changes and this
change in path is called REFRACTION OF LIGHT.
 When ray of light travels from RARER (less-denser) to DENSER
medium, it bends TOWARD the normal AND when it travels from a
DENSER to a RARER medium it bends away from NORMAL
 ANGLE of INCIDENCE : “The angle which incident ray makes with
normal”. “∠i”
 ANGLE OF REFRACTION: “The angle which refracted ray makes with
normal” “ ∠r ”
∠i is not equal to ∠r
 LAWS OF REFRACTION or SNELL’S LAWS OF REFRACTION:
(i) Incident ray, normal at the point of incidence and Refracted ray all lie
in the same plane.
(ii) Ratio of sine of angle of incidence to the sine of angle of refraction is
constant.

 EFFECTS OF REFRACTION :
(i) A coin placed in water appears to be raised.
(ii) Swimming pool seen from above appears SHADOW.
(iii) A pencil in water appears to be bent.

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 (iv) MIRAGE in desert, EARLY Sunrise, LATE SUN set are all due to
REFRACTION of light.
 White light is a band of seven colours-VIBGYOR. Speed of all colours of
the white light in AIR or VACUUM is same, but different different
transparent mediums.
 In glass or water Speed of VIOLET colour is MINIMUM and speed of
RED light is MAXIMUM
 Refractive index of medium is minimum for VIOLET light and R.I. of
medium is maximum for red light.
 DISPERSION: “The splitting (breaking) of white light into seven colours
is called DISPERSION OF LIGHT.
 CAUSE OF DISPERSION: Speed of different colours is different in
glass or water and different colours get separated from each other on
refraction at second surface of glass prism.

Test yourself

A. Objective Questions

1. Write true or false for each statement

(a) Water is optically denser than glass.

Answer. False.
Water is optically denser than air.

(b) A ray of light when passes from glass to air, bends towards the normal.
Answer. False.

(c) The speed of light is more in glass than in water.

Answer. False.

(d) The depth of a pond when seen from above appears to be less.
Answer. True.

(e) Light travels at a lower speed in water than in air.

Answer. True.

(f) Light travels in the same straight line path while passing through different media.
Answer. False.

(g) The angle formed between the normal and the refracted ray is known as the
angle of incidence.
Answer. False.

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(h) At the point of incidence, a line drawn at right angles to the surface, separating
the two media, is called the normal.
Answer. True.

(i) Image is formed by a mirror due to refraction of light.

Answer. False.

(j) Rays of light incident parallel to the principal axis pass through the focus after
reflection from a concave mirror.
Answer. True.

(k) A convex mirror is used as a shaving mirror.

Answer. False.

(l) The focal length of a convex mirror is equal to its radius of curvature.
Answer. False.

(m) A concave mirror converges the light-rays, but a convex mirror diverges them.
Answer. True.

(n) A virtual image formed by a spherical mirror is always erect and situated behind
the mirror.
Answer. True.

2. Fill in the blanks

(a) Water is optically denser than air.

(b) Air is optically rarer than glass.
(c) When a ray of light travels from water to air, it bends away from the normal.
(d) When a ray of light travels from air to glass, it bends towards the normal.
(e) When white light passes through a prism, it disperses
(f) The splitting of white light into its constituent colours is called dispersion.
(g) A concave mirror is obtained on silvering the outer surface of a part of a hollow
glass sphere.
(h) Radius of curvature of a spherical mirror is two times its focal length.
(i) The angle of incidence for a ray of light passing through the centre of curvature of
a spherical mirror is 0°
(j) A convex mirror always forms a virtual image.
(k) A concave mirror forms a virtual image for an object placed between pole and
focus.

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3. Match the following

4. Select the correct alternative

(a) The speed of light in air or vacuum is

1. 3 × 108 m s-1
2. 2.25 × 108 m s-1
3. 332 ms-1
4. 2.0 × 108 ms-1

(b) A ray of light moving from an optically rarer to a denser medium

1. bends away from the normal

2. bends towards the normal
3. remains undeviated
4. none of the above

(c) The angle between the normal and refracted ray is called

1. angle of deviation
2. angle of incidence
3. angle of refraction
4. angle of emergence.

(d) The property of splitting of white light into its seven constituent colours is known
as

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 1. rectilinear propagation
2. refraction
3. reflection
4. dispersion

(e) The seven colours in the spectrum of sunlight in order, are represented as :

1. VIBGYOR
2. VIGYBOR
3. BIVGYOR
4. RYOBIVG

(f) A ray of light passing through centre of curvature of a spherical mirror, after
reflection

1. passes through the focus

2. passes through the pole
3. becomes parallel to the principal axis
4. retraces its own path.

(g) If the radius of curvature of a concave mirror is 20 cm, its focal length is:

1. 10 cm
2. 20 cm
3. 40 cm
4. 80 cm

(h) The image formed by a convex mirror is

1. erect and diminished

2. erect and enlarged
3. inverted and diminished
4. inverted and enlarged.

(i) The image formed by a concave mirror is of the same size as the object, if the
object is placed

1. at the focus
2. between the pole and focus
3. between the focus and centre of curvature
4. at the centre of curvature.

(j) A convex mirror is used

1. as a shaving mirror
2. as a head mirror by a dentist
3. as a rear view mirror by a driver
4. as a reflector in torch.
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Short/ Long answer questions: 2/3 marks

1.State the speed of light in (a) air, (b) water, and (c) glass
Speed of light in
Air — 3 × 108 ms-1 or 300000 km/h
Water — 2.25 × 108 ms-1
Glass — 2 × 108 ms-1
2.How does the speed of light determine the optical density of a medium ?
If the speed of light in a medium is less than speed of light in air, this means the
MEDIUM is DENSER than air.
If speed of light is more than speed of light in AIR, this means the MEDIUM is LESS
DENSER than air.
i.e. speed of light is 1/density of medium
3.Which is optically denser : water or air ? Give reason
Denser medium are those in which speed of light gets reduced when light travel
through that medium.
when light travel through water or glass it's speed get reduced hence they are
optically denser medium.
WATER is optically DENSER as speed of light is less in water.
2.25 × 108 ms-1 < 3 × 108 ms-1
speed of light in Water speed of light in Air.

4.Out of air and glass, which is optically rarer ? Give reason.

Air is RARER speed of light in air is more than speed of light in glass.
3 × 108 ms-1 > 2 × 108 ms-1
speed of light in air speed of light in glass
5.What do you understand by refraction of light ?
Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one substance to another. Here
the light ray passes from air to glass and back to air. The bending is caused by the
differences in density between the two substance.
6.Describe an experiment to show that a light ray bends when it passes from one
transparent medium into another transparent medium.
EXPERIMENT : Spread and fix a sheet of white paper on the drawing board.
At the centre of the paper, place a glass slab XYX ‘ Y’ and draw its boundary.
A ray of light AB travelling from air (rarer medium) to glass slab (denser medium).
Part of path BC in denser medium bends towards the normal.

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∠r ∠i. This shows that when light travels from RARER to DENSER medium bends
towards the normal. Ray BC travels from DENSER medium to RARER medium in air
(RAY CD) bend away from normal. ∠e >∠r.
This shows that when a ray of light travels from DENSER to RARER medium bends
AWAY from normal.

7.Draw a ray diagram to show that the depth of a vessel containing water when seen
from above, appears to be less than its real depth.
SOLUTION

When there is no water in the vessel (a)

when water is added in the vessel coin appear to be at B than actually the coin is at
A. Hence, the coin appear to be raised up in water.
i.e. its height appears to be less than actually it is.

8. Define the following terms :

Incident ray, Refracted ray, Angle of incidence, Angle of refraction.
INCIDENT RAY AB : The ray light AB which is in air strikes the glass slab at B.
Or
“A ray of light falling on the surface separating the two media.”
REFRACTED RAY BK : A ray of light which after passing first medium is in second
medium i.e. ray BK.
“A ray of light travelling in other medium in the changed direction.”
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE : “The angle which the incident ray makes with the normal is
called angle of incidence.”

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i.e. ∠i
ANGLE OF REFRACTION : “The angle which the refracted ray makes with the normal
is called angle of refraction.”
i.e. ∠r

9.A ray of light falls normally on a glass slab. What is the angle of incidence ?
When a ray of light falls on a glass slab normally, angle between normal and incident
ray is zero.
∴ Angle of incidence is zero.

10.A ray of light travels from a rarer medium to a denser medium. How will it bend ?
When a ray of light travels from a Rarer medium to a denser medium, it bends
towards the normal.

11.A ray of light travels from a denser medium to a rarer medium. How will it bend ?

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When a ray of light travels from a DENSER medium to a RARER medium it will bend away from normal.

12.The diagram given below in fig shows a ray of light AO falling on a surface
separating two media. Draw the refracted ray in each, case.

Refracted ray 0 C is shown in each case.

Towards the normal or ∠r < ∠i

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Away from the normal or ∠r > ∠i

Refracted ray goes undeviated

or
∠i = 0
∠r = 0

13. Draw a diagram showing the refraction of a light ray from water to glass. Label on
it the incident ray, the angle of incidence (/), and the angle of refraction (r)

Water is rarer than glass.

Light travels from water to glass mean light travels from a rarer to a denser medium.

The incident ray is AO.

Angle of incidence is ∠i
Angle of refraction is ∠r

14.The diagram in figure shows a ray of light AO falling on a rectangular glass slab
PQRS. Complete the diagram till the ray of light emerges out of the slab. Label on
the diagram the incident ray, the refracted ray and the emergent ray.

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Incident ray AO
Refracted ray OB
Emergent ray BE are shown.

Explain the following :

1.A coin placed at the bottom of a vessel appears to be raised when water is poured
in the vessel.
The coin at a appears to be at B i. e. depth of coin observed is less than the actual
depth at A.
The ray of light starting from A (denser) medium bends away from the normal. Due
to the Refraction of light, the coin appears at B at a lower depth. Hence, in the same
way, the depth of water appears to be less deep.

2.A straight stick partly dipped in water obliquely, appears to be bent at the surface
of water.
The phenomenon is due to REFRACTION OF LIGHT when light passing from denser
(water) medium to (Air) rarer medium appears to come from Q’ Virtual image inspite
of Q. Same is true for any other point of stick inside water. Stick appears to be raised
or bent.

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3.The sun is seen before the sunrise and after the sunset.

EARLY SUNRISE and SUNSET: At sun Rise: When the Sun is just below the horizon,
the light from the Sun suffers refraction from RARE to DENSER medium (As the
atmosphere is warmer than layers near the earth at that time) bends towards the
normal at each refraction. Due to continuous bending of light rays, the Sun can be
seen even when its actual position is just below the Horizon. As a result, the Sun is
seen in advance, two minutes before it rises above the horizon in the morning.
Similarly, in the evening Sun is seen delayed by 2 minutes longer above the horizon
after the Sunset.

Short/long Answer Question

1.What is mirage ? Give a reason for its formation ?
Hot sand (Rarer medium)
MIRAGE : When it is very hot, an inverted image of tree is seen which is ‘illusion of
eye’ (gives a false impression) of water under the tree. This is called a MIRAGE.”

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REASON: Sand becomes very hot during hot noon, the layers of air in contact
become rarer (expand) while upper layers of air are still at comparatively low
temperature and are denser medium.
When rays of light from DENSER to RARER medium (starting from tree) are bent
away from normal when refracted from Rarer to Denser medium (going towards eye)
bend towards normal and a tree appears INVERTED.
2.What is a prism ? Draw a ray diagram to show the refraction of a light ray through a
prism.
PRISM “is a transparent refracting medium bounded by two plane surfaces inclined
at some angle.”
REFRACTING EDGE and BASE are shown in figure.

3.What do you mean by the term dispersion ?

The splitting or breaking up of the white light into its constituent colours as it passes
through a refracting medium such as prism is known as dispersion

4.A ray of white light falls on a prism. Draw a ray diagram to show that the prism
disperses the white light.

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5.In figure AO is the ray of white light falling on a prism PQR. Complete the diagram
till the light emerges out from the prism and falls on the screen.

Diagram is completed:
‘The white light splits up into seven colours which are seen on the screen and
arrangement of colours from bottom to top is given by the word ‘VIBGYOR’.

6.What do you understand by the term spectrum? Name the various colours present
in the spectrum of sunlight.
Spectrum is the band of colours obtained on a screen when white light passes
through a prism and splits into its constituent colours. The colours of the spectrum
are violet (V), indigo (1), blue (B), green (G), yellow (Y), orange (O), and red (R).
The order of the spectrum is VIBGYOR.
7.You are given a disc divided into seven sectors with colours violet, indigo, blue,
green, yellow, orange and red in them. What would be its colour when it is rotated
rapidly ?

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Newton’s colour disc— It is a circular disc taken by Newton to demonstrate that the
recombination of seven colours produce white light. A circular card board disc which
is divided into seven sectors and they were painted with the seven colours of
VIBGYOR. The disc when rotated at a very high speed appears WHITE.

8.State the two laws of reflection of light.

(1) The incident ray, the reflected ray and the normal ray at the point of incidence, lie
in the same plane.
(2) The angle of incidence i is equal to the angle of reflection r
i.e. ∠i = ∠r
9.What is a spherical mirror ?
Spherical mirror. “A mirror which is made from a part of a hollow sphere is called
SPHERICAL MIRROR.
10.State the two kinds of spherical mirror and distinguish them with the aid of proper
diagrams.
The kinds of SPHERICAL MIRRORS are :
(i) CONCAVE MIRROR
(ii) CONVEX MIRROR

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IN CONCAVE MIRROR: Silvered surface is away from the centre of curvature and
focal length is negative, i.e. reflecting surface is towards the centre of curvature.
IN CONVEX MIRROR: Silvered surface is towards the centre of curvature and focal
length is positive i.e. reflecting surface is away from the centre of curvature. It alway
forms diminished (small) image which is VIRTUAL.

Explain the following terms :

1.Pole, Centre of curvature, Radius of curvature, Principal axis. Show them on
separate diagrams for each of the concave and convex mirrors
POLE: “The geometric centre of spherical mirror is called POLE.”

“The mid point of aperture AB of mirror is called pole.”

P is pole of mirror.
CENTRE OF CURVATURE : “Is the centre of hollow sphere of which the mirror forms a
part.” It is represented by the symbol ‘ C ‘

RADIUS OF CURVATURE : “Is the radius of hollow sphere of which the mirror is a
part”. It is represented by ‘R’

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PRINCIPAL AXIS: “Is a straight line joining the pole of the mirror to its centre of
curvature and extended further.”

2.What do you understand by the focus and focal length of a spherical mirror ? Show
them on the separate diagrams for each of a concave mirror and a convex mirror.
FOCUS : For concave mirror

“Is a point on the principal axis at which the light rays incident parallel to the
principal axis meet after reflection from the mirror.
FOCAL LENGTH: “The distance between focus and pole”. FP is focal length for
concave mirror.

FOCUS : For Convex mirror

“of a convex mirror is a point on its principal axis at which the light rays incident

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parallel to the principal axis appear to meet after reflection from the mirror”.
FOCAL LENGTH : “The distance between P and F is F.L.”

3.Draw suitable diagrams to illustrate how a beam of light incident parallel to the
principal axis is reflected by:
(a) a concave mirror, and (b) a convex mirror
(a) Concave mirror

(b) Convex mirror

Short/long Answer Question

1.How is a spherical mirror used to converge a beam of light at a point ? Name the
type of mirror used.
If a parallel beam of light is incident on a concave mirror, it converges the beam to a
point called focus

Type of mirror used is CONCAVE.

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2.How is a spherical mirror used to diverge a beam of light from a point ? Name the
type of mirror used.

In case of convex mirror, the reflected rays diverge and do not meet at a point after
reflection. They appear to come from a point’ F on the principal axis.
The type of mirror used is CONVEX mirror.

3.State the direction of incident ray which after reflection from a spherical mirror gets
reflected along its own path. Give a reason.

A ray passing through THE CENTRE OF CURVATURE is incident normally on the

spherical mirror, gets reflected back along its own path.
A ray passing through the centre of curvature.
It is because the ray is normal to the spherical mirror,
Hence ∠i=0, i.e., the angle of incidence is 0
Therefore, the angle of reflection ∠r=0.

4.How is the focal length of a spherical mirror related to its radius?

Focal length = Radius of curvature / 2
Or 2 F = R
5.The diagram (figure) given below shows two parallel rays 1 and 2 incident on (a) a
concave mirror, (b) a convex mirror. Draw the reflected rays and mark the focus by
the symbol F.

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Solution:

6.Complete the following diagrams in figure by drawing the reflected rays for the
incident rays 1 and 2 if F is the focus and C is the centre of curvature.

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1. Ray passing through F after reflection becomes parallel to principal axis.
Ray (2) passing through centre of curvature travels back (retraces its path) i.e.
reflected back along its own path.

7.Which are the two convenient rays that are chosen to construct the image by a
spherical mirror for a given object? Explain with the help of suitable ray diagrams.
Two convenient rays that are chosen to construct the image by a spherical
mirror for a given object :
1. A ray passing through the centre of curvature:A ray of light passing through
the centre of curvature of a concave mirror or a ray directed in the direction of
centre of curvature of a convex mirror is reflected back along the same path
after reflection.

2. A ray parallel to the principal axis: A ray of light parallel the principal axis, after
reflection pass through the principal focus in case of a concave mirror or

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 appears to diverge from it in case of convex mirror.

8.Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an object placed beyond
the centre of curvature of a concave mirror. State the position, size and nature of the
image.
OBJECT PLACED BEYOND C : Image is formed :

A real, inverted and smaller image is formed between centre of curvature and focus
Position : between C and F.
Size smaller than object.

9.Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an object placed at the
centre of curvature of a concave mirror. State the position, size and nature of the
image.
Object placed at C :

A real, inverted image of the same size is formed at the centre of curvature
Image formed
A ‘B’ is at C the centre of curvature.
Size is equal to the size of object AB.
It is inverted and real.

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10.Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an object placed between
the focus and centre of curvature of a concave mirror. State the position, size and
nature of the image.
OBJECT PLACED BETWEEN C and F :

A real, inverted and magnified image is formed beyond the centre of curvature
The image formed A’B’ is beyond C ← position
Enlarged ← size
inverted and real ← nature

11.Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an object placed between
the pole and focus of a concave mirror. State the position, size and nature of the
image.
OBJECT LIES BETWEEN FOCUS AND POLE :

A virtual erect and bigger image is formed behind the mirror

Image formed A’B’ is on the other side of mirror on producing ←
position
Enlarged (magnified) ← size
Virtual and erect ← nature

12.Draw a ray diagram to show the formation of image of an object placed on the
principal axis of a convex mirror. State the position, size and nature of the image.
What happens to the image as the object is moved away from the mirror ?
OBJECT PLACED IN FRONT OF CONVEX MIRROR :

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Place the object any where infront of convex mirror image formed is
(i) Between pole and focus ← position.
(ii) Diminished ← size.
(iii) Upright (erect) and virtual ← nature.
As the object is moved away from the mirror, the image shifts towards the focus and
decreases in size but is (diminished)

13.Draw separate diagrams for the formation of virtual image of an object by convex
mirror. State the difference between concave and convex image.
Image Formation By Concave Mirror :
 When an object the is placed at infinity, a real image is formed at the focus.
The size of the image is much smaller as compared to that of the object.

 When an object is placed behind the center of curvature, a real image is

formed between the center of curvature and focus. The size of the image is

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 smaller as compared to that of the object.

 When an object is placed at the center of curvature and focus, the real image
is formed at the center of curvature. The size of the image is same as
compared to that of the object.

 When an object is placed in between the center of curvature and focus, the
real image is formed behind the center of curvature. The size of the image is
smaller as compared to that of the object.

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  When an object is placed at the focus, the real image is formed at infinity. The
size of the image is much larger as compared to that of the object.

 When an object is placed in between focus and pole, a virtual image is

formed. The size of the image is larger as compared to that of the object.

Difference between convex and concave mirrors:

Concave mirror Convex mirror

If the inner side of the spherical

What are convex and concave If the outer side of the spherical mirror is reflecting,
mirror is reflecting, it is called a
mirrors? it is called a convex mirror.
concave mirror.

Concave mirrors can form inverted

Image and real images and also virtual Convex mirrors form virtual and erect images

and erect images.

Size can be smaller, larger or of the

Size same size depending on the Smaller than the size of the object, always.

position of the object.

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 Depends on the position of the
Position Always within the focus, irrespective of the position of the object.
object.

SOLUTION 2
Image Formation By Convex Mirror
The image formed in a convex mirror is always virtual and erect, whatever be the
position of the object. In this section, let us look at the types of images formed by a
convex mirror.
 When an object is placed at infinity, a virtual image is formed at the focus. The
size of the image is much smaller as compared to that of the object.

 When an object is placed at a finite distance from the mirror, a virtual image is
formed between pole and focus of the convex mirror. The size of the image is
smaller as compared to that of the object.

Concave mirror Convex mirror

What are convex and concave If the inner side of the spherical mirror is If the outer side of the spherical mirror is reflecting,

mirrors? reflecting, it is called a concave mirror. it is called a convex mirror.

Concave mirrors can form inverted and

Image real images and also virtual and erect Convex mirrors form virtual and erect images

images.

Size can be smaller, larger or of the same

Size size depending on the position of the Smaller than the size of the object, always.

object.

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 Always within the focus, irrespective of the position
Position Depends on the position of the object.
of the object.

Difference between convex and concave mirrors

14.Name the mirror which always forms an erect and virtual image. What is the size
of the image as compared to that of the object ?
It is CONVEX MIRROR. The size of image is smaller than-the size of object, but when
the object is at infinity the size of image is POINT size.
15.Name the mirror which forms an erect, virtual and enlarged image of an object.
What is the position of object relative to the mirror ?
Concave mirror forms an erect, virtual and enlarged image of an object. Since convex
mirror always forms virtual, diminished, erect image.
16.What is a real image ? Name the mirror which can be used to obtain the real
image of an object. What should be the position of the object relative to the mirror ?
REAL IMAGE. “When rays of light after reflection or refraction actually meet at some
other point” the image is real. Concave mirror.
Except between pole and focus, the image formed is REAL
17.How can a concave mirror be used to obtain a virtual image of an object ? Draw a
diagram to illustrate your answer.
A concave mirror forms a virtual image of an object, when object is placed between
focus and mirror (pole)

A virtual, erect and bigger image is formed behind the mirror

18.State two uses of a concave mirror.

Two uses of concave mirror are :
(1) Concave mirror is used as AREFLECTOR in head lights of cars and in search light.
The source of light (bulb) is placed at the principal focus and the reflector forms
parallel beam of light.

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(2) For doctors to examine throat, ear, nose and eyes, light is focused with the help of
concave mirror.
19.State two uses of a convex mirror.
Two USES OF CONVEX MIRROR:
(i) It is used as A REAR VIEW MIRROR.
(ii) It is used as a VIGILANCE MIRROR
(iii) It is used as a REFLECTOR IN STREET LAMPS
20.A driver uses a convex mirror as a rear view mirror. Explain the reason with the
help of a ray diagram.
A convex mirror always forms a small and upright image between pole and focus.
That means in small area of mirror driver can see all the traffic coming from behind.

21.State the kind of mirror used

(a) by a dentist, and
(b) as a street light reflector.
(a) A dentist uses CONCAVE MIRROR.
(b) Convex mirror
22.Name the kind of mirror used to obtain
(a) a real and enlarged image
(b) a virtual and enlarged image
(c) a real and diminished image, and
(d) a virtual and diminished image.
a) Concave mirror b) Concave mirror c) Concave mirror d) Convex mirror.

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