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MIRRORS
When a ray of light falls on a surface, then it can undergo one of the following three
phenomena reflection, refraction, or absorption. When it falls on a normal surface then
most of the light gets absorbed. So mirrors are polished surfaces coated with mercury such
that they reflect most of the light falling on them.
We can classify mirrors as Concave, Convex, or Plane mirrors.
1) PLANE MIRRORS
Laws of Reflection
There are two laws of reflection which are always followed by plane mirror and they are:
The angle of incidence and the angle of reflection are always equal.
The incident ray, the normal at the point, and the reflected ray, all lie on the same
plane.
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Formation of Image by a Plane Mirror
Characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror :
It is virtual
It is erect and of the same size as the object
The distance of the object from the plane mirror is the same as the distance of the
image from the plane mirror.
It is laterally inverted.
One of the important characteristics of the image is that it is laterally inverted. It means if you
raise your left hand it would appear in the plane mirror that you have raised your right hand.
As the size of the object and image are the same, the magnification (ratio of image size to
the object size) is equal to +1.
What is the difference between real and virtual images? In a real image, the rays of light
actually meet after reflection, while in a virtual image, it appears to meet but do not actually
meet. A real image can be obtained on screen but not a virtual image.
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2. CURVED MIRRORS
Types of Spherical Mirrors
A. Concave Mirror B. Convex Mirror
DEFINITION OF TERMS OF MIRRORS
C C
Aperture: An aperture of a mirror or lens is a point from which the reflection of light
actually happens. It also gives the size of the mirror.
Pole: It is the centre of the reflecting surface of a spherical mirror. It lies on the
surface of the mirror, and it is usually denoted by P.
Centre of Curvature: The centre of the sphere formed by the reflecting part of a
spherical mirror is called the centre of curvature. It is generally denoted by C. it is 2f.
This is not a part of the mirror, and it lies outside the reflecting surface of the mirror.
In a concave mirror, it lies in front of the mirror.
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The radius of curvature: It is the radius of the sphere formed by the reflecting part
of the sphere. It is represented by R.
Principal axis: It is the straight line passing through the pole and centre of curvature
of the spherical mirror. This is normal to the mirror at its pole.
Principal focus: The incident rays coming parallel to the principal axis after
reflection appear to converge to a common point on the principal axis, and this point
is called the principal focus of a concave mirror. It is usually denoted by F.
Focal length: It is the distance between the pole and the principal focus of the
concave mirror. It is denoted by f.
Concave Mirror Ray Diagrams
For a concave mirror, any of the following four ray diagrams can be used for locating the
image formed:
(a) A ray parallel to the principal axis, after reflection, will pass through the principal
focus of a concave mirror.
(b) A ray which is passing through the principal focus, F of a concave mirror, after
reflection, will emerge parallel to the principal axis.
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(c) A ray passing through the centre of curvature of a concave mirror, after reflection, is
reflected along the same path. The light rays come back along the same path
because the incident rays fall on the mirror along the normal to the reflecting surface.
(d) A ray incident obliquely to the principal axis, towards the point P (pole of the mirror),
on the concave mirror, is reflected obliquely. The incident and reflected rays follow
the laws of reflection at point P, making equal angles with the principal axis.
1. When the object is placed at infinity
We consider two rays parallel to the principal axis originating from the object. These
rays, after reflection, converge and form an image at F, the principal focus of the
mirror, in front of the mirror.
Object O
The thus formed is highly diminished, point size, real and inverted.
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2. When the object is placed beyond C (centre of curvature)
We consider two different rays emerging from the object. One is parallel to the
principal axis, and the other is directed towards the centre of curvature of the mirror.
The Image is between the centre of curvature (C) and the focus (F). The image
thus formed is diminished, real and inverted.
3. When the object is placed at C
We consider two different rays emerging from the object. One is parallel to the
principal axis, and the other is directed towards the principal focus, F of the mirror.
Image is at point C, has the same size as that of the object, and is real and
inverted.
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4. When the object is placed between C and F (principal focus)
We consider two different rays emerging from the object. One is parallel to the
principal axis, and the other is directed towards the principal focus, F of the mirror.
The image is formed beyond C, is larger compared to the size of the object,
(enlarged), real and inverted.
5. When the object is placed at F
We consider one parallel to the principal axis and the other passing through the
centre of curvature, C of the mirror.
The image is highly enlarged image which is real and inverted at infinity.
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6. When the object is placed between F and P (pole)
The rays considered here are one going parallel to the principal axis and the other
passing through the centre of curvature of the mirror.
The image formed is virtual and erect, and it is larger than the object.
Applications of Concave Mirror
In torchlight, headlamp, vehicle headlight, searchlight, and lighthouse, where a beam of light
is converged to a certain point thus giving a better focus
As vanity mirrors for facial makeup and as shaving mirrors for shaving.
In solar ovens to collect an enormous amount of solar energy and concentrate it at a point
for heating and cooking.
By dentist to examine teeth and ENT specialist to observe a magnified image of the ear
canal.
In an electron microscope, astronomical telescope or satellite dishes, and visual bomb
detectors.
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Image Formation by Convex mirror
Regardless of the distance between the object and the convex mirror, the images formed are
always virtual, erect, and diminished. The image appears upright, smaller than the actual
object, and behind the mirror. When traced backwards, the virtual image is formed by the
apparent intersection of diverging rays.
There are two possibilities related to the position of the object in a convex mirror.
1. When object is between infinity and pole
When the object is between infinity and pole of a convex mirror, a diminished, virtual and
erect image is formed between pole and focus, i.e. behind the mirror. The image formed is
diminished, virtual and erect.
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2. When the object is at infinity
When the object is at infinity, a point-sized image is formed at principal focus i.e.
behind the convex mirror. The image formed is highly diminished, virtual and erect.
Uses of Convex Mirror
Convex mirrors are often used in buildings’ hallways, including stores, schools,
hospitals, hotels and apartment buildings.
They are used in driveways, roads, and alleys to provide safety to all the bikers and
motorists at curves and turns and other places where there is a lack of visibility.
They are also used in some automated teller machines as a handy security feature
that allows users to see what is happening behind them.
They are used in the passenger side mirror on a car, and somewhere it is labelled as
“objects in mirror are closer than they appear” to warn the driver.
