---
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entity_type: "chapter"
id: "69c0d339cfcc14a8a5a81a29"
title: "Light: Mirrors and Lenses"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 8"
subject: "Science"
book: "Curiosity"
chapter: "Light: Mirrors and Lenses"
chapter_slug: "light-mirrors-and-lenses"
canonical_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-8-science-curiosity-light-mirrors-and-lenses"
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source: "Edzy"
version: 1
last_updated: "2026-06-20"
---

# Light: Mirrors and Lenses
This chapter explores the properties and characteristics of mirrors and lenses, introducing concepts related to spherical mirrors and the laws of reflection. It includes activities that demonstrate how different mirrors and lenses behave when reflecting or refracting light.

---

## Knowledge Snapshot

| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | Science |
| Book | Curiosity |
| Chapter | Light: Mirrors and Lenses |
| Pages | 152-169 |

---

## Chapter Summary

### Short Summary
This chapter details the study of light concerning mirrors and lenses. It includes activities demonstrating the behavior of spherical mirrors—concave and convex—and introduces the laws of reflection and the nature of lenses.

### Detailed Summary
The chapter begins with Meena's visit to a science center, where she learns about spherical mirrors. It defines spherical mirrors, explaining that they can be concave or convex, with associated activities to observe their properties. The characteristics of images formed by these mirrors are discussed, highlighting their differences compared to plane mirrors. The laws of reflection are illustrated through experiments, confirming that the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. The chapter concludes by introducing lenses, distinguishing between convex and concave lenses, along with their functions and applications in real life.

---

## Topic-Wise Explanation

### What Are Spherical Mirrors?
Spherical mirrors are mirrors shaped like a part of a hollow glass sphere. They can be concave (curved inward) or convex (curved outward). Activities demonstrate how these mirrors reflect images differently compared to plane mirrors.

### Characteristics of Images Formed by Spherical Mirrors
Concave mirrors can produce enlarged or inverted images depending on the object's distance from the mirror. Convex mirrors always produce erect and diminished images. All mirrors exhibit lateral inversion in the images.

### Laws of Reflection
The law states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, valid for all mirrors. Experiments are included to visualize these principles, demonstrating how reflective surfaces interact with light rays.

### What Is a Lens?
A lens is a piece of transparent material with curved surfaces. Convex lenses are thicker in the middle and converge light, while concave lenses are thicker at the edges and diverge light. Activities illustrate how these lenses change the appearance of objects seen through them.

---

## Core Ideas

| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Spherical Mirrors | Mirrors that are part of a hollow sphere, can be concave or convex. |
| Laws of Reflection | A principle stating that the incident angle equals the reflection angle. |
| Lenses | Transparent materials that refract light, can be convex or concave. |

---

## Key Concepts

| Concept | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Concave Mirror | A spherical mirror that curves inward, forming enlarged images up close. |
| Convex Mirror | A spherical mirror that curves outward, always forming smaller images. |
| Lens | A transparent optical device that refracts light, either convex or concave. |

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## Important Points for Revision
* Spherical mirrors can either be concave or convex.
* Concave mirrors can produce enlarged or inverted images.
* Convex mirrors produce images that are always erect and smaller than the object.
* The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection in all types of mirrors.
* Lenses can be convex or concave, affecting how they refract light.
* Concave lenses diverge light, while convex lenses converge light.

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## Practice Questions

### Short Answer Questions
1. What are the two types of spherical mirrors?
2. Describe the image produced by a concave mirror when an object is near.
3. What is the law of reflection?
4. How does a convex lens differ from a concave lens?
5. What kind of images do convex mirrors produce?

### Long Answer Questions
1. Explain the characteristics of images formed by concave and convex mirrors.
2. Discuss the experiments that demonstrate the laws of reflection.
3. Describe how lenses are used in everyday life, including examples.

---

## Related Concepts
* Reflection
* Refraction
* Image Formation

---

## Source Attribution

| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 69c0d339cfcc14a8a5a81a29 |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-8-science-curiosity-light-mirrors-and-lenses |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-8-science-curiosity-light-mirrors-and-lenses.md |