images in curved mirrors

• about .
• how are curved mirrors formed?

  by making part of a sphere's surface reflective
• concave vs convex

  concave bulges away, convex bulges towards
• terminology .
• what is the centre of curvature?

  the centre of the sphere that makes the mirror
• what is the principle axis?

  the line going through the centre of curvature and the middle of the mirror
• what is the vertex?

  where the principle axis intersects the mirror
• what is the focus?

  where all light rays intersect each other
• HOW TO LOCATE IMAGES IN A CONCAVE MIRROR

  1. A light ray parallel to the principle axis is reflected through the focus (this is how the focus is defined)
  2. A light ray through the centre of curvature is reflected back onto itself
  3. A ray through the focus will reflect parallel to the principle axis
  4. A ray reflected at the vertex will follow the laws of reflection
• CONCAVE MIRROR IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS

  1. If the object is located beyond C, the image would be smaller, inverted and located between C and F, and be a real image
  2. If an object is located at C, the image would be the same size, inverted, located at C, and be a real image
  3. If the object is located between C and F, the image would be larger, inverted, past C, and be a real image
  4. If an object is located at F, there is no image
  5. If the object is located before F, the image would be larger, upright, located behind the mirror, and be a virtual image
• HOW TO LOCATE IMAGES IN A CONVEX MIRROR

  1. A ray parallel to the principle axis is reflected like it came through the focus
  2. A ray aimed at the centre of curvature is reflected back onto itself
  3. A ray aimed at the focus is reflected parallel to the principle axis
• Convex mirrors always produce a smaller, virtual image of the object.