🌈 Rainbow Mind Map: Reflection of Light

Reflection of Light

Explore the fascinating world of light reflection through this interactive rainbow mind map. Click on each colored box to reveal detailed information about different aspects of reflection, mirrors, and image formation.

Laws of Reflection

The fundamental principles governing how light reflects off surfaces.

1st Law: The incident ray, reflected ray, and normal all lie in the same plane.

2nd Law: The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection (θ_i = θ_r).

These laws apply to all reflecting surfaces, whether plane or curved.

Plane Mirrors

Flat mirrors that produce virtual images with specific characteristics.

Image Characteristics:

• Virtual (cannot be projected on screen)
• Upright
• Same size as object
• Laterally inverted
• Image distance = Object distance

Parallel Mirrors

When two plane mirrors face each other in parallel alignment.

Image Formation: Infinite images are formed due to multiple reflections.

Characteristics:

• Images get progressively dimmer
• Each image is the object for the next reflection
• Used in kaleidoscopes and infinity mirrors

Perpendicular Mirrors

When two plane mirrors meet at 90° to each other.

Image Formation: Three images are formed.

Characteristics:

• Two direct images (one in each mirror)
• One composite image from double reflection
• The composite image is not laterally inverted
• Used in periscopes and retail displays

Spherical Mirrors

Curved mirrors that can be either concave or convex.

Types:

• Concave: Curved inward (converging)
• Convex: Curved outward (diverging)

Key Terms: Pole, Center of Curvature, Radius of Curvature, Principal Axis, Focus, Focal Length (f = R/2)

Concave Mirrors

Converging mirrors that can form real or virtual images.

Image Characteristics: Depend on object position:

• Beyond C: Real, inverted, diminished
• At C: Real, inverted, same size
• Between C and F: Real, inverted, magnified
• At F: No image (rays parallel)
• Between F and P: Virtual, erect, magnified

Convex Mirrors

Diverging mirrors that always form virtual images.

Image Characteristics:

• Always virtual, erect, and diminished
• Wider field of view than plane mirrors
• Image appears to be behind the mirror

Mirror Formula: 1/f = 1/v + 1/u (f is negative for convex mirrors)

Ray diagrams showing image formation by concave mirror for different object positions

© 2025 The Physics Next | Interactive Rainbow Mind Map on Reflection of Light

Tip: Click on any colored box to explore that topic in detail!