PHYSICS Name:_______________________

Derivation of the Thin Curved Mirror Equation - Worksheet

Carry out the following procedure on the diagram provided for this
exercise.
1) Locate the image formed using principal rays 1 (through F) and 4
(incident at V)
Name the point of incidence of ray 1 on the mirror as B
Name the segment representing the image as DI
( D = base and I = tip )

2) Identify the following quantities involved in this situation using
the letters that designate points in the diagram
Example: h
O
( height of object ) = AO
f ( focal length ) = FV

h
O
= _____________ h
I
= _____________
d
O
= _____________ d
I
= _____________

4) Complete the following proportion equation



5) Replace the geometric terms in the proportion equation with optical
parameters h
O
, h
I
, d
O
, d
I
and f as appropriate


DV DI
AO ?

?
?
?

O h

6) Special assumption: if the radius of curvature of the concave mirror is
sufficiently large, and the object is sufficiently small, then the mirrors
surface can be taken to be perpendicular to the principal axis.

In this case triangle FAO is similar to triangle __________

7) Based on this triangle similarity, complete the following
proportion equation



8) Replace the geometric terms in the proportion equation with optical
parameters h
O
, h
I
, d
O
, d
I
and f as appropriate




9) Combine the equations obtained in steps 5 and 8 using the
principles of systems of equations.





?
f d
?
h O O

?
AF
?
AO

PHYSICS Name:_______________________
Derivation of the Thin Curved Mirror Equation - Diagram








F





V
A
O C