Light – Reflection and Refraction

Topics in this chapter

1. 1Light: Chapter IntroductionWe see things because light bounces off them into our eyes. At a surface light has 2 options: bounce back (reflection) or go in and bend (refraction). Watch
2. 2Light Travels in Straight LinesYou can hear a friend round a corner but not see them: sound bends, light travels in straight lines. We draw its path as a ray. Watch
3. 3Reflection of LightThe Moon makes no light, yet it shines at night: sunlight bounces off it to our eyes. That bouncing back is reflection. Watch
4. 4Laws of ReflectionTo hit a hidden target with a laser and a mirror you need 2 rules: i = r (both measured from the normal) and all three rays in one plane. Watch
5. 5Regular vs Diffused ReflectionA mirror and a white wall both reflect light; only the mirror shows your face. Smooth surfaces keep rays parallel; rough ones scatter them. Watch
6. 6Image Formed by a Plane MirrorStand 2 m from a mirror and your image is 4 m from you. Why a plane mirror's image is virtual, erect, the same size, as far behind as you are in front, and laterally inverted. Watch
7. 7Real versus virtual imagesComing soon
8. 8Lateral inversionComing soon
9. 9Spherical mirrors: concave and convexComing soon
10. 10Pole, principal axis, centre of curvature and focusComing soon
11. 11Principal focus and focal lengthComing soon
12. 12Ray diagrams for a concave mirrorComing soon
13. 13Ray diagrams for a convex mirrorComing soon
14. 14Mirror formulaComing soon
15. 15Magnification by mirrorsComing soon
16. 16Uses of concave mirrorsComing soon
17. 17Why vehicles use convex rear-view mirrorsComing soon
18. 18Refraction of lightComing soon
19. 19Why light bends at a boundaryComing soon
20. 20Refractive indexComing soon
21. 21Optically denser versus rarer mediumComing soon
22. 22Refraction through a glass slabComing soon
23. 23Why a pencil looks bent in waterComing soon
24. 24Lens types: convex and concaveComing soon
25. 25Converging versus diverging lensesComing soon
26. 26Principal focus and focal length of lensesComing soon
27. 27Ray diagrams for lensesComing soon
28. 28Lens formulaComing soon
29. 29Magnification by lensesComing soon
30. 30Power of a lens and dioptreComing soon
31. 31Why a swimming pool looks shallowerComing soon
32. 32Dispersion of white lightComing soon
33. 33Spectrum of white lightComing soon
34. 34Why a prism splits white lightComing soon