Ray Diagrams

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The Physics Classroom Physics Tutorial Reflection and Ray Model of Light

Reflection and Ray Model of Light - Lesson 2

Image Formation in Plane Mirrors

Why is an Image Formed? | Image Characteristics in Plane Mirrors
Ray Diagrams for Plane Mirrors | What Portion of a Mirror is Required to View an Image?
Right Angle Mirrors | Other Multiple Mirror Systems

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Ray Diagrams

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The line of sight principle suggests that in order to view an image of an object in a mirror, a
Teacher's Guide
person must sight along a line at the image of the object. When sighting along such a line, light
from the object reflects off the mirror according to the law of reflection and travels to the person's eye. This process was
discussed and explained earlier in this lesson. One useful tool that is frequently used to depict this idea is known as a ray
diagram. A ray diagram is a diagram that traces the path that light takes in order for a person to view a point on the image of
an object. On the diagram, rays (lines with arrows) are drawn for the incident ray and the reflected ray. Complex objects such as
people are often represented by stick figures or arrows. In such cases it is customary to draw rays for the extreme positions of
such objects.

Light Waves and Color

This section of Lesson 2 details and illustrates the procedure for drawing ray diagrams. Let's begin
with the task of drawing a ray diagram to show how Suzie will be able to see the image of the
green object arrow in the diagram below. For simplicity sake, we will suppose that Suzie is viewing
the image with her left eye closed. Thus, we will focus on how light travels from the two
extremities of the object arrow (the left and right side) to the mirror and finally to Suzie's right eye
as she sights at the image. The four steps of the process for drawing a ray diagram are listed, described and illustrated below.

Reflection and Ray Model

of Light

1. Draw the image of the object.

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Use the principle that the object distance is equal to the image distance to determine the
exact location of the object. Pick one extreme on the object and carefully measure the
distance from this extreme point to the mirror. Mark off the same distance on the opposite
side of the mirror and mark the image of this extreme point. Repeat this process for all
extremes on the object until you have determined the complete location and shape of the
image. Note that all distance measurements should be made by measuring along a segment
that is perpendicular to the mirror.

2. Pick one extreme on the image of the object and draw the reflected ray that will travel to the eye as it sights at this point.
Use the line of sight principle: the eye must sight along a line at the image of the object in
order to see the image of the object. It is customary to draw a bold line for the reflected ray
(from the mirror to the eye) and a dashed line as an extension of this reflected ray; the
dashed line extends behind the mirror to the location of the image point. The reflected ray
should have an arrowhead upon it to indicate the direction that the light is traveling. The
arrowhead should be pointing towards the eye since the light is traveling from the mirror to
the eye, thus enabling the eye to see the image.

3. Draw the incident ray for light traveling from the corresponding extreme on the object to the mirror.
The incident ray reflects at the mirror's surface according to the law of reflection. But rather
than measuring angles, you can merely draw the incident ray from the extreme of the
object to the point of incidence on the mirror's surface. Since you drew the reflected ray in
step 2, the point of incidence has already been determined; the point of incidence is merely
the point where the line of sight intersects the mirror's surface. Thus draw the incident ray
from the extreme point to the point of incidence. Once more, be sure to draw an arrowhead
upon the ray to indicate its direction of travel. The arrowhead should be pointing towards
the mirror since light travels from the object to the mirror.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all other extremities on the object.

After completing steps 2 and 3, you have only shown how light travels from a single
extreme on the object to the mirror and finally to the eye. You will also have to show how
light travels from the other extremes on the object to the eye. This is merely a matter of
repeating steps 2 and 3 for each individual extreme. Once repeated for each extreme, your
ray diagram is complete.

The best way to learn to draw ray diagrams involves trying it yourself. It's easy. Merely duplicate the two setups below onto a
blank sheet of paper, grab a ruler/straightedge, and begin. If necessary, refer to the four-step procedure listed above. When
finished, compare your diagram with the completed diagrams at the bottom of this page.

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Uses of Ray Diagrams

Ray diagrams can be particularly useful for determining and explaining why only a portion
of the image of an object can be seen from a given location. The ray diagram at the right
shows the lines of sight used by the eye in order to see a portion of the image in the mirror.
Since the mirror is not long enough, the eye can only view the topmost portion of the
image. The lowest point on the image that the eye can see is that point in line with the line
of sight that intersects the very bottom of the mirror. As the eye tries to view even lower
points on the image, there is not sufficient mirror present to reflect light from the lower
points on the object to the eye. The portion of the object that cannot be seen in the mirror
is shaded green in the diagram below.
Similarly, ray diagrams are useful tools for determining and explaining what objects might be viewed when sighting into a mirror
from a given location. For example, suppose that six students - Al, Bo, Cy, Di, Ed, and Fred sit in front of a plane mirror and
attempt to see each other in the mirror. And suppose the exercise involves answering the following questions: Whom can Al see?
Whom can Bo see? Whom can Cy see? Whom can Di see? Whom can Ed see? And whom can Fred see?

The task begins by locating the images of the given students. Then, Al is isolated from the rest of the students and lines of sight
are drawn to see who Al can see. The leftward-most student whom Al can see is the student whose image is to the right of the
line of sight that intersects the left edge of the mirror. This would be Ed. The rightward-most student who Al can see is the
student whose image is to the left of the line of sight that intersects the right edge of the mirror. This would be Fred. Al could
see any student positioned between Ed and Fred by looking at any other positions along the mirror. However in this case, there
are no other students between Ed and Fred; thus, Ed and Fred are the only students whom Al can see? The diagram below
illustrates this using lines of sight for Al.

Of course the same process can be repeated for the other students by observing their lines of sight. Perhaps you will want
to try to determine whom Bo, Cy, Di, Ed, and Fred can see? Then check your answers by clicking the button below.
See Answer

Check Your Understanding

1. Six students are arranged in front of a mirror. Their positions are shown below. The image of each student is also drawn on the
diagram. Make the appropriate line of sight constructions to determine that students each individual student can see.

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See Answer

Here are completed diagrams for the two examples given above.

Back to Diagram.

Next Section: What Portion of a Mirror is Required to View an Image?

Jump To Lesson 3: Concave Mirrors

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