Ray Optics 1

Chapter

29
Ray Optics

Real and Virtual Images (1) i = r

If light rays, after reflection or refraction, actually (2) After reflection, velocity, wave length and
meets at a point then real image is formed and if they frequency of light remains same but intensity
appears to meet virtual image is formed. decreases.
(3) There is a phase change of if reflection takes
place from denser medium.
Reflection From a Plane Surface (Plane Mirror)
I O I
O
The image formed by a plane mirror is virtual, erect,
(Real (Virtual (Real (Virtual laterally inverted, equal in size that of the object and at
image) object) object) image)
a distance equal to the distance of the object in front of
the mirror.

Real image x x

(Virtual
image) Fig. 29.2
(1) Deviation ( ) : Deviation produced by a plane
mirror and by two inclined plane mirrors.

(Real
image)
O (Real
I object)
(Virtual
object) i r
(Virtual
Reflection of Light image)
When a ray of light after incidenting on a boundary = (180 2i) = (360 2)
separating two media comes back into the same media, (B) Double Reflection
(A) Single Reflection
then this phenomenon, is called reflection of light.
(2) Images by two Fig. inclined
29.3 plane mirrors :
Normal
When two plane mirrors are inclined to each other at an
Reflected ray angle , then number of images (n) formed of an object
Incident
ray which is kept between them.
i r
Boundary 360o 360o
(i) n 1 ; If even integer
Fig. 29.1
 2 Ray Optics

360o
(ii) If odd integer then there are two

possibilities

Concave mirror converges the light rays and used

as a shaving mirror, In search light, in cinema projector,
in telescope, by E.N.T. specialists etc.
Convex mirror diverges the light rays and used in
Object Object road lamps, side mirror in vehicles etc.
/2 (1) Terminology

/2
(i) Pole (P) : Mid point of the mirror
(A) n 360
Object 360
is 1 (B)nObject
is
(ii) Centre of curvature (C) : Centre of the sphere of

placed placed
which the mirror is a part.
symmetrically asymmetrically
(iii) Radius of curvature (R): Distance between pole
and centre of curvature. (Rconcave = ve , Rconvex = +ve ,
(3) Other important informations
Rplane = )
Fig. 29.4
(i) When the object moves with speed u towards (or (iv) Principle axis : A line passing through P and C.
away) from the plane mirror then image also moves
(v) Focus (F) : An image point on principle axis for
towards (or away) with speed u. But relative speed of an object at .
image w.r.t. object is 2u.
(vi) Focal length (f) : Distance between P and
(ii) When mirror moves towards the stationary F.
object with speed u, the image will move with speed 2u R
in same direction as that of mirror. (vii) Relation between f and R : f
2
(fconcave = ve , fconvex = + ve , fplane = )
O I O I
(viii) Power : The converging or diverging ability of
u u Rest 2u mirror
u (ix) Aperture : Effective diameter of light reflecting
Mirror at rest Mirror is area. Intensity of image Area (Aperture)2
(A) moving
(B) (x) Focal plane : A plane passing from focus and
Fig. 29.5 perpendicular to principle axis.

(iii) A man of height h requires a mirror of length at (2) Sign conventions :

least equal to h/2, to see his own complete image. Incident ray
+
(iv) To see complete wall behind himself a person
requires a plane mirror of at least one third the height of +
wall. It should be noted that person is standing in the
middle of the room. Principle
axis
Mirror or Lens
H
H
E Fig. 29.8
E M'
M'
h (i) All distances are measured from the pole.
h h E
h 3
2 (ii) Distances measured in the direction of incident
M' M'
rays are taken as positive while in the direction opposite
L B of incident rays are taken negative.
d d
(A) (B) (iii) Distances above the principle axis are taken
Fig. 29.6 positive and below the principle axis are taken negative.
Curved Mirror Table 29.1 : Useful sign
It is a part of a transparent hollow sphere whose one Concave mirror
Convex
surface is polished.
Real image (u f) Virtual image mirror
(u< f)

C P P C
F F
Principa
l axis

Concave mirror Convex mirror

Fig. 29.7
 Ray Optics 3

Distance of object u u u (5) When object is placed at focus (i.e. u = f)

Distance of image v v + v +
Image
Focal length f f f +
At
Height of object O + O+ O +
Real
Height of image I I + I + P
Inverted
Radius of curvature R R R + C F
Very large in size
Magnification m m+ m +
m >> 1
(6) When object is placed between focus and pole
Fig. 29.13
Image Formation by Curved Mirrors (i.e. u < f)

Image
Behind the mirror
Virtual
Erect
P
Large in size
C F
m>+1

Concave mirror : Image formed by concave mirror Fig.

Convex mirror : Image formed by29.14
convex mirror is
may be real or virtual, may be inverted or erect, may be
always virtual, erect and smaller in size.
smaller, larger or equal in size of object.
(1) When object is placed at infinite (i.e. u = )
(1) When object is placed at infinite (i.e. u = )
Image
Image
At F
At F
Virtual
Real
Erect
Inverted F P
Very small in size P
Very small in size F
Magnification m << + 1
Magnification m << 1
Fig. 29.9 (2) When object is placed any where on the principal
(2) When object is placed between infinite and Fig. 29.15
axis
centre of curvature (i.e. u > 2f)
Image
Image
Between F and C Between P and F
Real Virtual
Inverted Erect
C F P
Small in size Small in size P F C
m<1 Magnification m < + 1
(3) When object is placed at Fig.
centre of curvature (i.e.
29.10
u = 2f) Mirror Formula and Magnification
Fig. 29.16

For a spherical mirror if u = Distance of object from

Image
At C pole, v = distance of image from pole, f = Focal length,
Real R = Radius of curvature, O = Size of object, I = size of
Inverted image
F P
Equal in size
m=1 C 1 1 1
(1) Mirror formula :
f v u
(4) When object is placed Fig.between
29.11 centre of
curvature and focus (i.e. f < u < 2f) (2) Lateral magnification : When an object is
placed perpendicular to the principle axis, then linear
Image
magnification is called lateral or transverse
Between 2f and
magnification.
Real
F P I v f f v
Inverted
C m
Large in size O u f u f
m>1
Fig. 29.12
 4 Ray Optics
(* Always use sign convention while solving the
problems)
Axial magnification : When object lies along the
principle axis then its axial magnification

I (v2 v1 )
m
O (u2 u1 )
2
dv v
If object is small; m
du u
2 2
f f v

f u f
Areal magnification : If a 2D-object is placed with
it's plane perpendicular to principle axis. It's Areal
magnification

Areaof image(Ai ) A
ms ms m2 i
Areaof object(Ao ) Ao