IMAGES IN CURVED MIRRORS

IMAGES IN CURVED MIRRORS

• Concave mirrors are • Convex mirrors are
shaped like part of the shaped like part of the
inside of a sphere outside of a sphere
 IMAGES IN CURVED MIRRORS

Centre of
sphere

Concave mirror Convex mirror

The Centre of Curvature ‘C’ is the centre of the sphere of
which the curved mirror forms a part.
The Pole ‘P’ is the midpoint of the mirror (a.k.a. vertex)
The Principal Axis is the straight line passing through the
pole and the centre of curvature of a spherical mirror.
The Normal at any point of a curved mirror is the straight line
joining that point with the centre of curvature C of the
mirror.
CONCAVE MIRRORS
 CONCAVE MIRRORS
• Rays of light parallel to the principal axis of a mirror,
reflect through a point (in case of a concave mirror) on
the principal axis. This point is the focus or focal point
‘f’ of the mirror.
• A concave mirror is also known as a converging mirror
• The focus is in front of the mirror.
• The focus is real as the rays of light after reflection
converge at the focus.
 CONCAVE MIRRORS
1)A light ray parallel to the principal axis is
reflected through F

2)A light ray through C is reflected back onto

itself

3)A light ray through F will reflect parallel to

the principle axis

4)A light ray aimed at the vertex will follow the

Law of Reflection (angle of incidence = angle
of reflection)
1)A light ray parallel to the principal axis is
reflected through F

C F
2) A light ray through C is reflected back onto
itself

C F
3) A light ray through F will reflect parallel to
the principle axis

C F
4) A light ray aimed at the vertex will follow the
Law of Reflection (angle of incidence = angle
of reflection)

C F V
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR

Only two light rays are needed to

locate an image
1) A light ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected
through F

2) A light ray through C is reflected back onto itself

3) A light ray through F will reflect parallel to the

principle axis

4) A light ray aimed at the vertex will follow the Law of

Reflection (angle of incidence = angle of reflection)
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
 LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR

Object is between F and C of a concave mirror:

•the image is larger than the object
•the image is inverted
•the image is farther from the mirror than the object is
•the image is real
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
 LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR

Object is between F and the concave mirror:

•the image is larger than the object
•the image is upright
•the image is behind the mirror
•the image is virtual

i.e. makeup mirrors

LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONCAVE MIRROR
There are three regions where an object can be located:
•beyond C
•between C and F
•between the mirror and F
CONVEX MIRRORS
 CONVEX MIRRORS
• In a convex mirror, rays of light (parallel to the principal axis
of a mirror), appear to diverge from a point on the principal
axis. This point is the focus or focal point ‘f’ of the mirror.
• A convex mirror is also known as a diverging mirror
• The focus is behind the mirror
• The focus is virtual as the rays of light after reflection appear
to come from the focus behind the mirror
 CONVEX MIRRORS
1)A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected
as if it had come through F

2)A ray aimed at C is reflected back upon itself

3)A ray aimed at F is reflected parallel to the

principal axis
1)A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected
as if it had come through F

F C

Any lines past a mirror are

NOT light rays. They are
represented as dotted
lines.
2) A ray aimed at C is reflected back upon itself

F C
3) A ray aimed at F is reflected parallel to the
principal axis

F C
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONVEX MIRROR
Only two light rays are needed to
locate an image

1)A ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected

as if it had come through F

2)A ray aimed at F is reflected parallel to the

principal axis
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONVEX MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONVEX MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONVEX MIRROR
LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONVEX MIRROR
 LOCATING AN IMAGE ON A CONVEX MIRROR

The image of an object in a convex mirror will have the

following characteristics:
•the image is smaller than the object
•the image is upright
•the image is closer to the mirror than the object is
•the image is virtual
The images in convex mirrors are much more similar to each
other than those in concave mirrors.