CHAPTER 8 REFLECTION AND

REFRACTION OF LIGHT
Overview on IGCSE Syllabus
Reflection of light
1. Define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of reflection
2. Describe the formation of an optical image by a plane mirror, and give its characteristics, i.e.,
same size, same distance from mirror, virtual
3. Use simple constructions, measurements, and calculations for reflection by plane mirrors
4. State that for reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection; recall and use
this
relationship
Refraction of light
1. Define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence and angle of refraction
2. Describe an experiment to show refraction of light by transparent blocks of different shapes
3. Describe the passage of light through a transparent material (limited to the boundaries between
two media only)
4. Define refractive index, n, as the ratio of the speeds of a wave in two different regions
5. Recall and use the equation 𝑛=𝑠𝑖𝑛𝒊/𝑠𝑖𝑛𝒓
Total Internal Reflection
1. Describe internal reflection and total internal reflection using both experimental and everyday
examples
2. State the meaning of critical angle
3. Recall and use the equation 𝑛=1/𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐
4. Describe the use of optical fibres, particularly in Telecommunications
Dispersion of light
1. Describe the dispersion of light as illustrated by the refraction of white light by a glass prism
2. Know the traditional seven colours of the visible spectrum in order of frequency and in order of
wavelength
3. Recall that visible light of a single frequency is described as monochromatic
Lenses
1. Describe the action of thin converging and thin diverging lenses on a parallel beam of light
2. Define and use the terms focal length, principal axis and principal focus (focal point)
3. Draw and use ray diagrams for the formation of a real image by a converging lens
4. Describe the characteristics of an image using the terms enlarged/same size/diminished,
upright/inverted and real/virtual
5. Know that a virtual image is formed when diverging rays are extrapolated backwards and does
not form a visible projection on a screen
6. Draw and use ray diagrams for the formation of a virtual image by a converging lens
7. Describe the use of a single lens as a magnifying glass
8. Describe the use of converging and diverging lenses to correct long-sightedness and
shortsightedness

Khizar Yousaf
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 CHAPTER 8 REFLECTION AND REFRACTION OF LIGHTAPTER 8
REFLECTION AND REFRACTION OF LIGHT

Reflection of light:
Reflection is when light bounces off an object.

Specular reflection:

If the surface is smooth and shiny, like glass, water or polished metal, the
light will reflect at the same angle as it hit the surface. This is called
specular reflection.

Diffuse reflection:

Diffuse reflection is when light hits an object and reflects in lots of different
directions. This happens when the surface is rough. Most of the things we
see are because light from a source has reflected
off it.

Laws of reflection:

There are two laws of reflection

• Incident ray, normal and reflected ray all lies at

the same plane.

• Angle of incidence must be equal to the angle of reflection.

Reflection through a plane mirror:

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Refraction of light:

When a ray of light enters from one medium to another

medium it bends from its original path. This bending of
light is called refraction of light.

Refraction occurs when a light ray changes mediums.

Light traveling from air and going into water would be an

example of light changing mediums.

The speed of light changes, as it changes the medium. In

almost every case the direction of the light ray changes also.

There are two cases for refraction of light:

➢ When a ray of light enters from less dense to a

denser medium its speed decreases and it bends
towards normal. In this case angle of incidence is
greater than the angle of refraction.

➢ When a ray of light enters from denser to a less

dense medium its speed increases and it bends
away from normal. In this case the angle of refraction is greater than
the angle of incidence.

Laws of refraction:

• Incident ray, refracted ray and normal all lie in the same
plane.

• For two media, the ratio of sine of angle of incidence to

the sine of angle of refraction is a constant.
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑒 <𝑖
i.e., =𝑛 this law is also known as Snell’s law.
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑒<𝑟

Where constant ‘n’ is known as refractive index. The greater the value of
refractive index of a medium, the greater the bending of light when it passes
from air to that medium.

Numerical Example:

A ray of light incident on the surface of water at an angle of 45º. The

refractive index is 1.33.

a) Calculate the angle of refraction?

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b) Complete the diagram.

Given Data:
Sol:
Angle of incidence <i = 45º
sin<𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛<𝑖
=𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 < 𝑟 =
Refractive index = 1.33 𝑠𝑖𝑛<𝑟 𝑛

𝑠𝑖𝑛45
< 𝑟 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( 1.33 )
Find:
< 𝑟 = 32.11°
Angle of refraction = ?

Relation between speed of light and refractive index:

The refractive index of a medium is the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum
to the speed of light in the medium.
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑢𝑚
𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 =
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚

𝑐
𝑛=𝑣 Speed of light in Speed of light in Speed of light
air or vacuum is glass is in water is
3X108m/sec 2X108m/sec 2.3X108m/sec
Numerical Example:

Given that the speed of light in vacuum is 3.0 x 108 m/sec, calculate the
speed of light in crown glass of refractive index 1.52?

Given Data: Sol:

Speed of light in vacuum = 3.0 x 108 m/sec 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑢𝑚(𝑐)
=𝑛
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚(𝑣)
Refractive index = 1.52
𝑐
𝑣=
Find: 𝑛

3×108
Speed of light in medium = ? 𝑣=( ) =1.97 x 108 m/sec.
1.52
< 𝑟 = 32.11°

Total internal reflection:

As we know, in case when ray of light enters from optically denser medium
to an optically less dense
medium it bends away
from normal and angle of
refraction is greater than
angle of incidence. If we
increase the angle of
incidence gradually, the

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angle of refraction also increases till a critical point come where the
refracted ray, refracts at an angle of 90º so at that point the correspondence
incidence angle is called critical angle. If we further increase the angle of
incidence no ray will refract all the rays reflect internally. This is known as
total internal refraction.

Critical angle:

Critical angle is the angle of incidence in optically denser

medium for which the angle of refraction in less dense
medium is 90º.

Total internal refraction occurs only when:

• The rays enter from denser to less dense medium.

• The angle of incidence in denser medium is greater than the critical

angle.

Relation between critical angle and refractive index:

Consider a ray of light going from a denser medium, say glass to air. The
angle of incidence ‘i’ is now critical angle ‘c’. so that the angle of refraction ‘r’
is 90º. i.e.

As i =c and r = 90º so
𝑠𝑖𝑛90
𝑛 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛<𝑐

1
𝑛 = sin<𝑐

1
< 𝑐 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 𝑛

Applications of total internal reflection:

1. Periscopes and binoculars

The periscope is constructed using two right-

angled prisms. The light ray hit the inside surface
of the prisms at angles greater than the critical
angle. The light rays, therefore, are internally
reflected.

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2. Binoculars:

The binoculars also make use of prisms to reduce

the length of the instrument and to produce an
erect image. Take note that the light rays in a pair
of binoculars are bent through 180º by each
prism in contrast to the periscope where light
rays are only bent through 90º by each prism.

2. Optical fibers:

A very important application of total internal

reflection can be found in optical fibers. An
optical fiber is made of a core of high-refractive
index glass or plastic. It is normally coated with
glass of lower refractive index. A light ray
introduced into the optical fiber will be internally
reflected at the surfaces. Even though the optical fiber may be bent, the light
will still be internally reflected. Optical fibers are now widely used in
telecommunications industries. They can carry much more information than
copper wires.

Medical use of Optical fibers:

Doctors use optical fibers

to look at the inside of
people’s lungs and
stomachs.

A large number of optical

fibers are held together in
a bundle which goes down
the patient’s throat, light
is sent down some of the
fibers to illuminate the
stomach.

Reflected light comes

back up the bundle of fibers to form an image of bright and dark spots of
light.

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Refraction through prism:

Prism:

A prism is an optical element. It has

polished flat surfaces that refract light. The
traditional geometric shape of a prism has a
triangular base and two rectangular sides.
It is called triangular prism.

A prism can be made from materials like

glass, plastic and fluorite. It can be used to
split light into its components.

How a Prism Works:

When light travels from one medium to another medium, it is refracted and
enters the new medium at a different angle. The degree of bending of the
light's path depends on the angle that the incident beam of light makes with
the surface of the prism, and on the ratio between the refractive indices of
the two media. This is called Snell's law.
sin 𝑖
𝑖. 𝑒, 𝑛 = sin 𝑟

Dispersion of light:

The separation of visible light into its different

colors is known as dispersion.

Visible light, also known as white light, consists of

a collection of component colors. These colors are
often observed as light passes through a
triangular prism. Upon passage through the
prism, the white light is separated into its
component colors - red, orange, yellow, green,
blue and violet.

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Lens:

A lens is a trans-missive optical device that focuses or disperses a light

beam by means of refraction.

There are two types of lens

Convex lens (converging lens):

A convex lens is also known as a converging

lens. A converging lens is a lens that
converges rays of light that are traveling
parallel to its principal axis.

They can be identified by their shape which is

relatively thick across the middle and thin at the
upper and lower edges. The edges are curved
outward rather than inward. It is used to correct
long-sightedness. The medical name for long-
sightedness is hyperopia.

Concave lens (diverging lens):

A concave lens is a lens that possesses at least one surface that curves
inwards. It is a diverging lens, meaning that it spreads out light rays that
have been refracted through it. A concave lens is thinner at its center than
at its edges and is used to correct short-sightedness (myopia).

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Rays used to make image in case of lenses:

Ray 1: Coming parallel to the principal axis after

refraction passes through the principal focus.

Ray 2:
Ray 2 passes through the center of
curvature without any deviation.

Ray 3:
Ray 3 passes through the principal focus after
refraction and becomes parallel to the principal
axis.

In the case of the Concave lens:

Image formed in concave lens is
Image formation by concave lens:
• Virtual
• Upright
• Diminished
• Forms in-front of the
object

Image Formation by Convex lens:

Case 1: Object beyond 2F1

Image formed is

• Real

• Inverted

• Diminished

• Forms between F2 and 2F2

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Case 2: Object at 2F1

Image formed is

• Real

• Inverted

• Same in Size

• Forms at 2F2

Case 3: Object between 2F1 and F1

Image formed is

• Real

• Inverted

• Enlarged

• Forms beyond 2F2

Case 4: Object at F1

Image formed is

• Real

• Inverted

• Magnified

• Forms at infinity

Case 5: Object between F1 and center of curvature C

Image formed is

• virtual

• upright

• Magnified

• Forms behind the object

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Light passing through a glass slab/block:

When the light passes into a glass or Perspex block and out again the light
ray will change direction twice.

The light ray passing through the air towards the glass block will be parallel
to the light coming out of the glass block.

If the light enters along the normal line i.e. perpendicular (at 90°) to the
block, then no refraction (change of direction) occurs.

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