Group 3
Science
Light: Mirrors & Lenses
Incident Ray. The ray of light approaching
the mirror represented by an arrow
approaching an optical element like
mirrors.
Reflected Ray. The ray of light which
leaves the mirror and is represented by an
arrow pointing away from the mirror.
Normal line. An imaginary line that can
be drawn perpendicular to the surface of
the mirror at the point of incidence where
the ray strikes the mirror.
Types of Reflection:
1. Specular/ Regular Reflection. This is a reflection of light on smooth
surfaces such as mirrors or a calm body of water. An example of this is the
image of the Mayon volcano on a calm water.
2. Diffused/Irregular Reflection. This is a reflection of light on rough
surfaces such as clothing, paper, wavy water, and the asphalt roadway. An
example of this is the image of a mountain on a wavy body of water.
Reflection on Spherical Mirrors
Two Kinds of Spherical Mirrors:
1. The Concave Mirror
• It is a curved mirror in which the
reflective surface bulges away
from the light source
• It is called Converging Mirror
because the parallel Incident
rays converge or meet/intersect
at a focal point after reflection.
2. The Convex Mirror
• It is a curved mirror in which the
reflective surface bulges towards
the light source.
• It is called Diverging Mirror
because the parallel incident rays
diverge after reflection. When
extending the reflected rays
behind the mirror, the rays
converge at the focus behind the
mirror.
Images formed by Curved Mirorrs
In locating the image formed in curved mirror graphically, three important
points are considered. The following important points are enumerated below.
• Center of Curvature, C- the
center of the sphere of which the
mirror is part. Its distance from
the mirror is known as the radius.
• Vertex, V-the center of the mirror.
• Focal Point/ Focus, F-the point
between the center of the
curvature and vertex. Its distance
from the mirror is known as the
focal length, f
The ‘Four Principal Rays’ in Curved Mirrors
Concave Mirror (Converging Mirror)
1. P-F Ray. A ray of light parallel to the principal axis is reflected passing
through the principal focus, F
2. F-P Ray. A ray of light passing through the focus, F is reflected parallel
to the principal axis.
3. C-Ray, A ray of light passing through the center of curvature, C
reflects back along its own path.
4. Ray A ray of light directed to the vertex reflects at equal angle from
the principal axis
Convex Mirror (Diverging Mirror)
1. P-F Ray. A ray of light parallel to the principal axis is reflected as if
passing through the principal focus, F
2. F-P Ray. A ray of light directed towards the focus, F is reflected
parallel to the principal axis
3. C-C Ray. A ray of light directed towards the center of curvature, C
reflects back along its own path
4. V Ray. A ray of light directed to the vertex reflects at equal angle
from the principal axis.
In determining the position and nature of the image graphically, the "Four
Principal Rays' are used. Ray diagramming is used in the graphical method of
locating the image. The following are ray diagramming steps using the Four
Principal Rays in determining the position and the nature of the image of an object
formed by concave mirror and convex mirror.
1. From the object, draw the first ray (P-Fray). From the same point on the object,
draw the second (F-P ray), third (C-C ray), and fourth (V ray) rays.
2. The intersection of the four rays is the image point corresponding to the object
point. For example, if you started diagramming from the tip of the arrow-shaped
object, the intersection of the reflected rays is also the tip of the arrow-shaped
image. Thus, you can determine completely the position and characteristics of
the image.
3. For a convex mirror, light rays diverge after reflection and converge
from point that seems to be behind the mirror (virtual focus), but the
procedure for locating images is the same as for concave mirror.
In the next activity, you will use the steps described above to
locate and describe the images formed by concave and convex mirrors
through graphical method. To do this, always start by drawing the
curved minor and its principal axis, then identify the F and C on the
principal axis. Next is to draw the object then diagram the rays from
the object.
