Ray Model of Light with Mirror

The ray model of light describes how light travels in straight lines called rays. When these rays encounter a reflective surface, such as a mirror, they obey the law of reflection. This law states that the angle of incidence (the angle between the incoming ray and the normal to the surface) is equal to the angle of reflection (the angle between the reflected ray and the normal).

Law of Reflection

According to the law of reflection:

• Angle of Incidence: The angle between the incident ray and the normal.
• Angle of Reflection: The angle between the reflected ray and the normal.
• These angles are measured relative to the normal, which is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface of the mirror at the point of incidence.

Types of Mirrors

There are two main types of mirrors used to study the behavior of light rays:

• Plane Mirrors: Flat mirrors that reflect light to form virtual images that are the same size as the object.
• Curved Mirrors: Mirrors with curved surfaces (concave or convex) that can magnify or reduce the size of the reflected image.

Example: Plane Mirror Reflection

When light rays hit a plane mirror, they reflect in such a way that the reflected rays appear to come from behind the mirror. This creates a virtual image that is laterally inverted.