Summary
This section explores how light propagates and interacts with different media. Starting with wavefronts and rays as described by Huygens’s principle, we examine the laws of reflection and refraction including Snell’s law. The phenomena of total internal reflection, dispersion, and polarization by reflection are discussed with emphasis on their applications such as fiber optics, periscopes, and the formation of rainbows. Additionally, the formation of images via mirrors and lenses is explained using ray diagrams and magnification concepts, highlighting the differences between real and virtual images.