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Spherical Mirror Images

This document defines key terms related to spherical mirror images such as center of curvature, vertex, radius of curvature, principal axis, aperture, principal focus, and focal length. It describes the two types of spherical mirrors as concave (converging) and convex (diverging) and their characteristics such as producing real or virtual, upright or inverted images. Finally, it outlines the rules of ray tracing for both concave and convex mirrors.

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D Angela
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313 views4 pages

Spherical Mirror Images

This document defines key terms related to spherical mirror images such as center of curvature, vertex, radius of curvature, principal axis, aperture, principal focus, and focal length. It describes the two types of spherical mirrors as concave (converging) and convex (diverging) and their characteristics such as producing real or virtual, upright or inverted images. Finally, it outlines the rules of ray tracing for both concave and convex mirrors.

Uploaded by

D Angela
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Spherical Mirror Images


2.16 Definition of Terms
Images

Spherical Mirror Images 1


Center of curvature (C)

Center of the sphere where the mirror was taken.

Vertex (V)

Center of the mirror.

Sometimes called as pole of the mirror.

Radius of curvature(R)

Radius of the sphere.

Distance between C and V.

Principal axis or optical axis

Straight line joining C and V.

Aperture AB

Width of the mirror.

Principal focus F

The point where reflected rays meet in concave mirror.

The point where the reflected rays seems to come from behind of
convex mirror.

Focal Length

Distance from the vertex to the principal focus.

Half of the radius of curvature, since F is between C and V.

Spherical Mirror Images 2


2.17 Two types of Spherical Mirrors
Concave mirror

What does a concave mirror indicate?

Also known as “converging mirror”.

When incident rays strike parallel concave mirror, the reflected rays
meet or converge at a single point, the “Principal Focus”.

Principal focus is real.

What are its characteristics?

Differed due to the position of the object from the mirror.

It can produce images that are either;

Real or virtual

Larger, same size or smaller than the object

Upright or inverted

Convex mirror

What does a convex mirror indicate?

Also known as “diverging mirror”.

When parallel incident rays hits convex mirror, the reflected rays
will be spread out/diverge and never come to focus.

If reflected rays will be extended, it would seem to come from a


single point of the mirror which is the “principal focus of the convex
mirror”.

Principal focus of convex mirror is virtual

What are its characteristics?

Virtual

Upright

Spherical Mirror Images 3


Smaller than the size of the object.

Image formed is always at the back of the mirror

2.18 Ray Tracing for Spherical Mirrors


Concave mirror

 A ray passing the center of curvature is reflected back to itself.

 A ray parallel to the optical axis will be reflected parallel through the
principal focus.

 A ray passing through the focus (or when extended passes through the
focus) is reflected parallel to optical axis.

 Any ray that strikes the vertex of the mirror is reflected at an equal angle
of the opposite side of the principal axis.

Convex mirror

 A ray passing the center of curvature is reflected back to itself.

 A ray parallel to the optical axis will be reflected from the principal focus
if extended. Dashed lines is used in extended lines.

 A ray passing through the focus (or when extended passes through the
focus) is reflected parallel to optical axis.

 Any ray that strikes the vertex of the mirror is reflected at an equal angle
of the opposite side of the principal axis.

Spherical Mirror Images 4

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