AIM: To determine the focal length of
concave mirror using mirror formula
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
An optical bench with three uprights
A concave mirror
A mirror holder
Two optical needles
A knitting needle
A half-metre scale
MIRROR FORMULA: Mirror
equation is an equation relating object
distance and image distance with focal
length. It is also known as the mirror
formula.
The distance between the object
and the pole of the mirror is called
Object distance(u).
The distance between the image
and the pole of the mirror is called
Image distance(v).
The distance between the Principal
focus and the pole of the mirror is
called Focal Length(f).
In ray optics, The object distance,
image distance, and Focal length are
related as,
1 1 1
+ =
𝑣 𝑢 𝑓
Where,
u is the Object distance
v is the Image distance
f is the Focal Length given by
f=R2
R is the radius of curvature of the
spherical mirror
The above formula is valid under all
situations for all types of (concave and
convex) and for all object positions.
DERIVATION:
From the figure given above, it is
obvious that the object AB is placed at
a distance of U from P which is the pole
of the mirror. From the diagram we can
also say that the image A1B1 is formed
at V from the mirror.
Now from the above diagram, it is clear
that according to the law of vertically
opposite angles the opposite angles are
equal. So we can write:
PROCEDURE:
To determine the rough focal length
Place the concave mirror in the mirror
holder.
Take this mirror holder outside and
face the mirror towards a distant
building.
The image of the building is obtained
on a wall which is painted white. Move
the mirror forward and backwards to
obtain a sharp image on the wall.
The rough focal length of the mirror is
equal to the distance between the
mirror and the wall.
To set the mirror
The placement of the fixed upright
should be near zero ends of the optical
bench while the other two uprights
must be near the other ends.
Attach the mirror to the holder at the
fixed upright such that the mirror faces
towards the other end of the bench
and surface where it is perpendicular
to the length.
To make the mirror surface vertical,
use levelling screws.
At the base of the mirror upright, note
the position of the index mark.
To set the object needle
Let O be the thin optical needle which
is mounted on the second upright.
The object needle along with the clamp
is moved 1.5 times to obtain a rough
focal length of the mirror.
To make the object needle and pole of
the mirror horizontal, adjust the height
of the object needle.
Close left eye, open right eye to see an
inverted and enlarged image of the
needle such that the tip of the image is
at the centre of the mirror.
Record the index mark position at the
base of the object needle.
To set the image needle
Attach the thick optical needle on the
third upright and move it to the other
end of the optical bench.
To make the tip of the image needle
and tip of the image inline, adjust the
height of the image needle by closing
the left eye and opening the right eye.
To check if parallax exists, move the
eye towards the right and see that the
tips get separated.
Remove the parallax tip to tip.
At the base of the image needle
upright, record the index mark.
To determine the index corrections, all
the index marks are to be recorded as
observation 2.
Determine the index correction for the
distance between the pole of the
mirror, the tip of the object needle and
the image needle.
To get observations 2 and 1, move the
object needle upright towards the
mirror by 1 cm.
To get observations 4, 5, and 6, move
the object needle away from the mirror
by 1 cm.
Note all the observations.
OBSERVATIONS:
CALCULATIONS:
Below is the mean value of the focal
length of the concave mirror:
f1+f2+f3/3cm=10cm
RESULT:
The focal length of the concave mirror
is 10 cm
PRECAUTIONS
1 The placing of the convex lens
should be vertical.
2 There should not be any hurdle
between the rays of light from the
object and the convex lens.
3 To get a well illuminated and
distinct image of the distinct object,
the distant object should be well
illuminated.
4 The convex lens stand and the
screen should be parallel to the
measuring scale.
SOURCE OF ERROR
Mirror misalignment: The concave
mirror may not be perfectly
perpendicular to the optical bench.
Improper placement of the object:
If the object is not aligned along the
principal axis, distortions in readings
may occur.
Ambient light interference: Strong
external light sources can make the
image less distinct, leading to difficulty
in identifying the exact image positi
BIBLOGRAPHY :
HyperPhysics - Mirror Formula and
Focal Length Calculation
Khan Academy - Mirror Formula and
Image Formation
NCERT Physics Textbook for Class 12 -
Ray Optics and Optical Instruments
Physics Classroom - The Mirror
Equation
BYJU'S - Mirror Formula and Focal
Length Calculation
