1. Light and Optics Mirrors form images by reflecting light.

2. Optics • Optics is the study of visible light and the ways in which visible light interacts with the eye to produce vision. • Optics is also the application of knowledge about visible light to develop eyeglasses, mirrors, magnifying lenses, cameras, and lasers – these can extend vision or use light in different ways.

3. Mirrors use regular reflection • Light travels in straight lines. • Light rays bounce off objects in a very predictable way. • If the light from a flashlight strikes a mirror, the angle is called the angle of incidence. • The angle at which the rays reflect off the mirror is called the angle of reflection. • Both angles are the same degree of measure.

4. Law of Reflection • The law of reflection states that the angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence. • Ex: If the angle of incidence is 60o then the angle of reflection will be 60o. • Regular reflection – reflection of parallel light rays all in the same direction. • Diffuse reflection – reflection of parallel light rays in many different directions.

5. Flat mirrors and images • An image is a picture of an object formed by waves of light. • In a flat mirror your image looks just like you – same size, same clothes, everything the same. • However, if you raise your right hand, the “image” will appear to raise the left hand. This is because it is as if the “image” is a person facing you.

6. Concave Mirrors • Concave Mirrors are curved inward toward the center (like the inside of a spoon). • Parallel light rays reflecting off a concave mirror move toward each other, then cross each other to move apart again. • Images in this type of mirror can appear larger, smaller, or even upside down depending on the curve of the mirror’s surface.

7. Convex Mirrors • Convex Mirrors are curved outward (like the bottom of a spoon). • In this type of mirror, parallel light rays move away from each other. • The image in a convex mirror appears smaller.