SPHERICAL MIRROR

- Spherical mirrors are mirrors that follows the surface of a sphere.

- These mirrors are called spherical because if you take a sphere and cut it then polish the inside of one and the
outside of the other, you will get a concave mirror from which the reflective surface inside its curve and a convex
mirror having a reflective surface outside its curve.

Reflective Reflective
Surface Surface

Concave Convex
Mirror Mirror

Figure 1. Sphere cut into segments which form either concave or convex mirror.
Types of Spherical Mirror
1. Concave Mirror (Converging Mirror)
- a mirror that is curved inward like the hollow inside a sphere.
- reflects light inward to one focal point.
- has a reflecting surface that is recessed inward (away from the incident light).

Figure 2. Rays of light that is being reflected from a Concave Mirror meet at a certain point.
Characteristics of Image Formed by a Concave Mirror
1. If the object is between the focus and the mirror, a virtual image is formed.
2. If the object is farther beyond the focus, a real image is formed.
3. The size of the image formed also depends on the location of the object.

2. Convex Mirror (Diverging Mirror)

- a mirror that is curved outward like the outside of the sphere.
- the reflective surface bulges towards the light source.
- reflect light outwards; therefore, they are not used to focus light.

Figure 3. Rays of light that is being reflected from a Convex Mirror do not meet at a certain point
 Characteristics of an Image formed by a Convex Mirror
1. Concave mirror forms only virtual image.
2. The size of the image depends on the location of the object in front of the mirror.

Features of Spherical Mirror

1. Center of Curvature (C): the center of the sphere whose surface forms the curved mirror.
2. Focal Point (F): also called Focus; the point where the light rays meet.
3. Vertex (V): also called Pole (P); the point where the principal axis meets the mirror.
4. Principal Axis: the straight line passing through the center of curvature to the mirror.
5. Focal Length (f): the distance from the focal point to the vertex
6. Radius of the Curvature (R): the distance from the vertex to the center of the curvature; it corresponds to the
radius of the circle.

Reflective Surface

Vertex (V)
Focal Point (F) or Pole (P)

Principal Axis Center of

Focal Length (f)
Curvature (C)
Radius of
Curvature (R)

Figure 4. Features of a Concave Mirror

Reflective Surface

Vertex (V)
or Pole (P) Focal Point (F)

Center of Principal Axis

Focal Length (f)
Curvature (C)
Radius of
Curvature (R)

Figure 5. Features of a Convex Mirror

In Figure 4, notice that the features lie in front of the reflective surface. This is because the image formed in a
concave mirror lies somewhere at the same side where object can be found. On the other hand, images in a convex mirror
always formed behind the mirror that is why its features lie behind the reflective surface.
LENS
- a shaped transparent material that refracts light to create an image.
- unlike mirrors, rays light that come towards any lenses don’t bounce back from its reflective surface but rather
bends as they pass through the clear surface of lenses.
Refraction
- a phenomenon where light bends as it passes through one medium to another.
Example:
1. If you put a pencil in a glass full of water, the pencil appears bent because of the shaped of water and the
shape of the glass.
2. If you point lasers in a lens, its shape and thickness will determine if the light rays may or may not be able to
meet at a certain point.
Main types of Lenses:
1. Converging Lens (Convex Lens): the lens which merges the light rays at a particular point, that travels through
it.
2. Diverging Lens (Concave Lens): lens which disperses the light rays around, that hits the lenses.

Converging Lens Diverging Lens

Figure 6. How light passes through Converging Lens and Diverging Lens

Properties of Converging and Diverging Lenses

Converging Lens Diverging Lens

Curve Outward Inward

Converges/ Diverges/
Light
Meet at a point. Do not meet at a point.

Thicker at the center as compared Thinner at the center as compared

Center & Edges
to its edges to its edges

Focal Length Positive Negative

Real and Inverted image. Also

produces virtual, erect and Virtual, erect and diminished
Image Formed
enlarged image in a magnifying image.
glass.

Object Appearance Closer and larger Smaller and farther.