What are the basic

parts of spherical
mirrors?

2
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS
 “
PRINCIPAL AXIS
❖ optical axis
❖ line joining C and V
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS

C
 “
CENTER of CURVATURE
❖ C
❖ center of the sphere
where the mirror was
taken
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS

v
 VERTEX“
❖ V
❖ center of the mirror
❖ pole of the mirror
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS

C V

R
 “R
RADIUS of CURVATURE
❖

❖ radius of the sphere

❖ distance between
C and V
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS
 “
APERTURE
❖ width of the mirror
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS

C V
F F
 PRINCIPAL FOCUS
❖
“
F
❖ point where the reflected rays meet
in a concave mirror
❖ point where the reflected rays seem
to come from behind
a convex mirror
 “
PRINCIPAL FOCUS
PARTS OF SPHERICAL MIRRORS

C F V

f f f
 “
FOCAL LENGTH
❖ f
❖ distance between F and V
❖ ½ of the radius
of the curvature
 HOW DOES A
CONCAVE MIRROR
DIFFER FROM A
CONVEX MIRROR?
18
SPHERICAL MIRRORS
 ❖
“
CONCAVE MIRROR
converging mirror
❖ the reflecting surface is
the inner surface of the
sphere
 ❖
“
CONVEX MIRROR
diverging mirror
❖ the reflecting surface is
the outer surface of the
sphere
HOW IS AN IMAGE
CREATED IN A
CURVED MIRROR?

22
 “
RAY TRACING
1. A ray passing through
the center of curvature
(C) is reflected along
itself.
CONCAVE MIRROR
CONVEX MIRROR
 “
2. A ray parallel to the principal axis
is reflected through the principal
focus in converging mirrors or
appears to come from the
principal focus in diverging mirrors.
CONCAVE MIRROR
CONVEX MIRROR
 “
3. A ray passing through
the focus is reflected
parallel to the principal axis.
CONCAVE MIRROR
CONVEX MIRROR
 “
4. A ray striking the vertex of
the mirror is reflected at an
equal angle on the opposite
side of the principal axis.
CONCAVE MIRROR
CONVEX MIRROR
 HOW DO CONCAVE
MIRROR IMAGES DIFFER
FROM CONVEX MIRROR
IMAGES?
35
 “
CONCAVE MIRRORS
can produce real or virtual
images depending on the
distance between the
mirror and the object
 “
CONVEX MIRRORS
can produce virtual images
only
❖
“
REAL IMAGES
formed by actual intersection of
light rays
❖ formed in front of the mirror

❖ it can be projected on screen

❖ it is always inverted
CONCAVE
MIRROR
IMAGES
object position: beyond C
 “
OBJECT POSITION
beyond C
IMAGE POSITION
between C and F
TYPE OF IMAGE
real, inverted, smaller
object position: at C
 “
OBJECT POSITION
at C
IMAGE POSITION
at C
TYPE OF IMAGE
real, inverted, same size
object position: between C and F
 “
OBJECT POSITION
between C and F
IMAGE POSITION
beyond C
TYPE OF IMAGE
real, inverted, bigger
object position: at F
 “
OBJECT POSITION
at F
IMAGE POSITION
at infinity
TYPE OF IMAGE
no image, rays are parallel
object position: between F and V
 “
OBJECT POSITION
between F and V
IMAGE POSITION
behind the mirror
TYPE OF IMAGE
virtual, upright, bigger
CONVEX
MIRROR
IMAGES
CONVEX MIRROR

a b
CONVEX MIRROR

a b ba
 “
TYPE OF IMAGE
always virtual,
upright, and
smaller than the object
HOMEWORK#4
1. An object is located 5 cm in front of a
concave mirror whose radius of curvature
is 11 cm. Find the (a)focal length of the
mirror and (b) the position of the image.
2. What if the mirror used (#1) is convex
mirror, what is the (a)focal length of the
mirror and (b) the position of the image?
 Any questions?

THANKS!
55