REFLECTION THROUGH PLANE SURFACES

Laws Of Reflection :
(i)
The incident ray (AB), the reflected ray (BC) and normal (NN') to the surface (SC') of reflection at the
point of incidence (B) lie in the same plane. This plane is called the plane of incidence (also plane of
reflection).
(ii)

The angle of incidence (the angle between normal and the incident
ray) and the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected ray
and the normal) are equal
i = r
Hypothetical plane containing the incidents
ray, the normal and the reflected ray

ay

i r

Re
fle
Ra cted
y

nt R
i de
I nc

Normal (perpendicular) to the

reflecting surface

Reflecting
Surface
Point of O
Incidence

Vector form of laws of reflection.

where e1 = unit vector along incident ray

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Reflection from a plane surface

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n = unit vector along normal

e 2 = unit vector along reflected ray

e1 = e|| + e

e|| = component of e parallel to mirror

where
= e1 ( e1 n ) n

we get
Eg.

R.

e = component of e1 perpendicular to mirror

= ( e1 n ) n

e 2 = e|| e = e1 2 n ( e1 n )

Prove that when incident ray suffers two successive reflection from two mutually perpendicular mirrors
final ray is antiparallel to the original ray.

From vector form of laws of reflection

e 2 = e1 2( e1 j ) j
Similarly,

e3 = e 2 2 (e 2 i )i

we get,

2( e j ) 2 (e i )i + 4 (e j)j i i
2 (e i )i (e j) j

e3 = e1 2( e1 j ) j 2 e 2 2(e 2 i ) i i
= e1
= e1

or,

e3 = e1 2 e1

or,

e3 = e1

( i j = 0 )

hence, e3 is antiparallel to e1 .

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Deviation by plane mirror

A plane mirror deviates the light through an angle
= 180 2i
where i is the angle of incidence. The deviation is maximum for normal incidence.
max = 180

Illustration or HW: Two plane mirrors are inclined to each other at an angle . A ray of light is reflected first
at none mirror and then at the other. Find the total deviation of the ray.
If the direction of the incident ray is kept constant and the mirror is rotated through an angle about an
axis in the plane of mirror, then the reflected ray rotates through an angle 2.

(ii)

If mirror is kept fixed and incident ray is rotated then reflected ray will rotate in opposite sense by same
angle.

(iii)

Whenever reflection takes place, the component of incident ray parallel to reflecting surface remains
unchanged, while component perpendicular to reflecting surface (i.e., along normal) reverses in direction.

R.

(i)

e^3

e^2

^
i
^j

^e1

Consider incident ray along unit vector e1 given e1 = xi yj unit vector along reflected ray will be
given by e 2 xi yj similarly e3 = xi yj diverge.
Object
Point of intersection of incident rays is called object.
Real Object
An object is real if two or more incident rays actually emanate or seem to emanate from a point.

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Optical Element
A real object placed in
front of an optical element

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Real
Object

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Virtual Object
Now consider a converging set of rays as shown in (figure) If not intercepted, the rays will meet at a
point. However, if the rays are intercepted by an optical element placed as shown in the figure, then the
point of convergence is a virtual point behind the optical element. This point is called the virtual object for
the optical element.
Virtual
Object

Optical Element
A virtual object that appears
to be behind the optical element

Image
An image is the point of convergence or apparent point of divergence of rays after they interact with a
given optical element. An object provides rays that will be incident on an optical element. The optical
element reflects or refracts the incident light rays which then meet at a point to form an image.
Real Image
Real images are formed when the reflected or refracted rays actually meet or converge to a point. If a
screen is placed at that point, a bright spot will be visible on the screen. Thus a real image can be
captured on a screen. Examples of a real images are shown in figure (i) and (ii).

Virtual
Object
Real
Object

Real
Image

A real image formed by a real

object placed in front of the
convex lens
Figure (i)

Real
Image
A Real image formed by
a virtual object that appears
to be behind the mirror
Figure (ii)

Virtual Image
When light rays, after interacting with the optical element, actually meet at a point the image formed is a
real image. However if the rays do not meet at a point but a appear to emanate from a point then a virtual
image is formed.

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Real
Object

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Virtual
Object

Object/Image

Criteria

When Incident rays are of diverging nature.

When Incident rays are of converging nature.
Incident rays converge to a point behind the optical element.

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Real Object

A virtual image formed by

a real object in front of
the mirror

Virtual object

Real Image

When rays after After interacting with the optical element are of
converging nature.

Virtual Image

When rays after After interacting with the optical element.are of

diverging nature.

A real image can be captured on a screen. Preferably the surface should be white in color so that we can
see the image clearly. This image on the screen can be perceived by the eye.
How about virtual images ? Since they cannot be captured on a screen is it possible to see them. From
practical experience we know that we can see ourselves in a plane mirror which is indeed a virtual image.
So it is possible to see a virtual image. But how is it done ? There is a lens in our eye that focuses the
diverging set of rays on to the retina forming a real image inside our eyes.
In a similar manner, a camera can also convert a virtual image into a real image which is captured on the
film (figure)

Final
Real Image

Object

Camera

IMAGE FORMATION FROM A PLANE SURFACE

Point object
Distance of object from mirror = Distance of image from the mirror.
All the incident rays from a point object will
meet at a single point after reflection from a
plane mirror which is called image.
The line joining a point object and its image is normal to the reflecting surface.

(iii)

The size of the image is the same as that of the object.

(iv)

For a real object the image is virtual and for a virtual object the image is real.

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(ii)

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(i)

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Properties of the image formed by a plane mirror.

Ex.

Figure shows a point object A and a plane mirror MN. Find the position of
image of object A, in mirror MN, by drawing ray diagram. Indicate the region in
which observer's eye must be present in order to view the image. (This region is
called field of view.)

Sol.

See figure, consider any two rays emanating from the object N1 and N2 are normals ;
i1 = r1 and i2 = r2

The meeting point of reflected rays R1 and R2 is image A. Though only

two rays are considered it must be understood that all rays from A
reflect from A reflect from mirror such that their meeting point is A. To
obtain the region in which reflected rays are present, join A with the
ends of mirror and extend. The following figure shows this region as
shaded. In figure there are no reflected rays beyond the rays 1 and 2,
therefore the observers P and Q cannot see the image because they do
not receive any reflected ray.

Find the region on Y axis in which reflected rays are present.

Object is at A (2, 0) and MN is a plane mirror, as shown.

Sol.

The image of point A, in the mirror is at A (6, 0). Join AM and

extend to cut Y axis at M (Ray originating from A which strikes
the mirror at M gets reflected as the ray MM which appears to
come from A). Join AN and extend to cut Y axis at N (Ray
originating from A which strikes the mirror at N get reflected as
the ray NN which appears to come from A).
From Geometry.
M (0, 6)
N (0, 9). MN is the region on Y axis in which reflected rays are present.

Q.

See the following figure. Which of the object(s) shown in figure will not from its image in the mirror.

Ans.

O 3.

R.

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Ex.

SPECULAR AND DIFFUSE REFLECTION :

The type of reflection which is usually invoked in a discussion of reflection at plane and spherical mirrors
is known as specular or regular reflection. An incident parallel beam of light is reflected as a parallel
beam in figure. The energy in the incident light is confined to one direction only on reflection.
Diffuse or irregular reflection is the most common type of reflection and no image formation takes place
as the reflected light can not intersect at a common point.

(a)

Smooth
surface

(b)

Grainy
surface

Extended object
An extended object like AB shown in figure is combination of infinite number of point objects from A to
B. Image of every point object will be formed individually and thus infinite images will be formed A will
be images of A, C will be image of C, B will be image of B etc. All point images together form extended
image. Thus extended image is formed of an extended object.

Properties of image of an extended object, formed by a plane mirror :

(1) Size of extended object = size of extended image.
(2) The image of erect, if the extended object is placed parallel to the mirror.

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(3) The image is inverted if the extended object lies perpendicular the plane mirror.

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Note: If an extended horizontal object is placed infront of a mirror inclined 45 with the horizontal, the image
formed will be vertical. See fig.

Ex.
Sol.

Show that the minimum size of a plane mirror, required to see the full image of an observer is half the size
of that observer.
See the following figure. It is self explanatory if you consider lengths 'x' and 'y' as shown in figure.

Aliter :
E M1, M2 and E HF are similar

or

M1M 2
z
=
HF
2z
M1M2 = HF / 2 = HF / 2

Illustration or HW
A person standing at the centre of a room looking towards a plane mirror hung on a wall, can see the
whole height of the wall behind him if the length of the mirror is equal to one-third the height of the wall.
Q.

Figure shows an object AB and a plane mirror MN placed parallel to

object. Indicate the mirror length required to see the image of object if
observer's eye is at E.

Part CD is used to view the image.

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Ans.

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Velocity of Image :
Let, XO / m = X co-ordinate of object w.r.t. mirror
XI / m = X co-ordinate of image w.r.t. mirror
YO / m = Y co-ordinate of object w.r.t. mirror
YI / m = Y co-ordinte of image w.r.t. mirror
For plane mirror

R.

Xo / m = XI / m
Differentiating both sides w.r.t. t
d
d
(Xo / m) =
(XI / m)
dt
dt

[Vo / m ]x = [ VIX VmX ]

VIX 2VmX VoX

Similarly,
YI/m = Yo/m
Differentiating both side w.r.t. t we get

(VI / m ) Y (Vo / m ) Y
In nutshell, for sloving numerical problems involving calculation of velocity of image of object with respect
to any observer, always calculate velocity of image first with respect to mirror using following points.

(VI / M )|| (Vo / m )||

(VI / M ) (VO / M )

VI / M (VI / M )|| (VI / M )

Velocity of image with respect to required observer is then calculated using basic equation for relative
motion.

VA / B = Velocity of A with respect B

= VA VB
If an object moves towards (or away from) a plane mirror at speed v, the image will also approach (or
recede) at the same speed v, and the relative velocity of image with respect to object will be 2v, as
shown in figure.

(ii)

If the mirror is moved toward (or away from) the object with speed v, the image will also move toward
(or away from) the object with a speed 2v, as shown in figure.

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(i)

R.

Illustration or HW :
A point object is moving with a speed v before an arrangement of two mirrors as shown in figure. Find
the velocity of image in mirror M1 with respect to image in mirror M2.

M1

M2

Optional Eg. Two blocks each of mass m lie on a smooth table. They are attached to
two other masses as shown in the figure. The pulleys and strings are light. An
object O is kept at rest on the table. The sides AB & CD of the two blocks are
made reflecting. The acceleration of two images formed in those two reflecting
surfaces w.r.t. each other is:
(A) 5g / 6
(B) 5g / 3
(C) g / 3
(D*) 17g / 6
[Sol. We know that
VI = 2 Vm + V0
differentiating aI = 2am + a0
a0 = 0
aI = 2am
aA =

3
g
4

aC =

2g
3

accelerate of image in AB = 2aA =

3g
2

accelerate of image in CD = 2aC =

4g
3

acceleration of image in AB w.r.t. that CD =

3g 4g 17g

=
m/s2
2
3
6

Image formed by two plane mirrors :

If rays after getting reflected from one mirror strike second mirror, the image formed by first mirror will
function as an object for second mirror, and this process will continue for every successive reflection.
Ex.
Figure shows a point object placed between two parallel mirrors. Its distance from M1 is 2cm and that
from M2 is 8 cm. Find the distance of image from the two mirrors considering reflection on mirror M1
first.

To understand how images are formed see the following figure and table. You will required to know that
symbols like I121 stands for. See the following diagram.

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Sol.

Similarly images will be formed by the rays striking mirror M2 first. Total number of image = .
Ex.
Sol.

Consider two perpendicular mirrors. M1 and M2 and a point object O. Taking origin at the point of
intersection of the mirrors and the coordinate of object as (x, y), find the position and number of images.
Rays 'a' and 'b' strike mirror M1 only and these rays will from
image I1 at (x, y), such that O and I1 are equidistant from
mirror M1. These rays do not form further image because they
do not strike any mirror again. Similarly rays 'd' and 'e' strike
mirror M2 only and these rays will form image I2 at ( x, y),
such that O and I2 are equidistant from mirror M2.
Now consider those rays which strike mirror M2 first and
then the mirror M1.

I2l

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For incident rays 1, 2 object is O, and reflected rays 3, 4 form image I2.
Now rays 3, 4 incident on M1 (object is I2) which reflect as rays 5, 6 and form image I21. Rays 5, 6 do
not strike any mirror, so image formation stops.
I2 and I21, are equidistant from M1. To summarize see the following figure.
Now rays 3, 4 incident on M1 (object is I2) which reflect as rays 5, 6 and form image I21. Rays 5,6 do
not strike any mirror, so image formation stops.

Q.

R.

For rays reflecting first from M1 and then from M2, first image I1 (at (x, y)) will be formed and this will
function as object for mirror M2 and then its image I12 (at (x, y)) will be formed.
I12 and I21 coincide.

Three images are formed

Figure shows two inclined plane mirrors M1 and M2 and an object O. Its
images formed in mirrors M1 and M2 individually are I1 and I2 respectively.
Show that I1 and I2 and O lie on the circumference of a circle with centre
at I. (This result can be extended to show that allthe images will also lie on
the same circle. Note that this result is independent of the angle of inclination
of mirrors.) I is the point of intersection of the mirrors.

Hint : Join I I1, I I2 and IO and show them to be of equal length.

Locating all the images formed by two plane Mirrors :
Consider two plane mirrors M1 and M2 inclined at an angle = + as shown in figure.

Point P is an object kept such that it makes angle with mirror M1 and angle with mirror M2. Image
of object P formed by M1, denoted by I1, will be inclined by angle on the other side of mirror M1. This
angle is written in bracket in the figure besides I1. Similarly image of object P formed by M2, denoted by
I2, will be inclined by angle on the other side of mirror M2. This angle is written in bracket in the figure
besides I2.
Now I2 will act as an obect for M1 which is at an angle ( + 2) from M1. Its image will be formed at
( + 2) on the opposite side of M1. This image will be denoted as I21, and so on. Think when hsi will
process stop. Hint : The virtual image formed by a plane mirror must not be in front of the mirror or its
extension.
Optional
Number of images formed by two inclined mirrors :

360
360
= odd number ; number of image =
1, if the object is placed on the angle bisector..

(iii) If

360
360
= odd number ; number of image =
, if the object is not placed on the angle bisector..

(iv) If

360
integer, then count the number of images as explained above.

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(ii) If

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Two mirrors are inclined by an angle 30. An object is placed making 10 with the mirror M1. Find the
positions of first two images formed by each mirror. Find the total number of images using (i) direct
formula and (ii) counting the images.
Figure is self explanatory
Number of images
360
= 12 (even number)
30

number of images = 12 1 = 11
(ii) By counting. See the following table

(i) Using direct formula ;

Sol.

360
360
= even number ; number of image =
1

R.

Ex.

(i) If