CURVE MIRRORS

CURVE MIRRORS

Key Concepts y A curved mirror can be thought of as consisting of a very large number of small plane mirrors oriented at slightly different angles. The laws of reflection always apply, regardless of the shape or smoothness of the surface. y A spherical mirror consists of a portion of a spherical surface. y A cylindrical mirror has the shape of a portion of a cylinder. y A converging mirror has a concave reflecting surface. A diverging mirror has a convex reflecting surface.

Terminologies
y The geometric centre of the mirror is called

the vertex (V). The centre of a spherical reflecting surface is called the centre of curvature (C). y The principal axis is a construction line drawn on a ray diagram. The principal axis passes through the vertex and the centre of curvature, and is perpendicular to the focal plane. y The radius of curvature (R) is the distance from the centre of curvature to the mirror.

y The distance between the principal focus (F) and the y y y

y y y

vertex is called the focal length (f) The relationship between the focal length and the radius of curvature is: R = 2f The principal focus (F) is a point on the principal axis on which incident rays parallel to the principal axis either converge towards, or appear to be diverging from. The principal focus can either be real or virtual. An axial point is a point lying on the principal axis. Paraxial rays are rays which make very small angles with the principal axis and lie close to the axis throughout the distance between object and image.

Concave mirrors
y are like positive (convex) lenses, in that they bring

parallel beams of light together at a single point, called the focal point or focus. y or converging mirror, has a reflecting surface that bulges inward (away from the incident light). Concave mirrors reflect light inward to one focal point. They are used to focus light. Unlike convex mirrors, concave mirrors show different image types depending on the distance between the object and the mirror.

y These mirrors are called "converging" because they

tend to collect light that falls on them, refocusing parallel incoming rays toward a focus. This is because the light is reflected at different angles, since the normal to the surface differs with each spot on the mirror.
y Concave mirrors are also like positive lenses in that

they are magnifying mirrors, giving upright images if you look at them from close up, while they give an inverted reflection if you look at them from far enough away.

Concave Mirror

Parts of a Concave Mirror

Convex mirrors
y are like negative (concave) lenses -they make parallel beams of light diverge, and make your reflected image smaller. But this makes room within the view for reflections of other things, and so they give a "wide angle" view.

Convex mirrors
y Are also called fish eye mirror or diverging

mirror, is a curved mirror in which the reflective surface bulges toward the light source. Convex mirrors reflect light outwards, therefore they are not used to focus light. Such mirrors always form a virtual image, since the focus (F) and the centre of curvature (2F) are both imaginary points "inside" the mirror, which cannot be reached. Therefore images formed by these mirrors cannot be taken on screen. (As they are inside the mirror)

Reflection of light in a Convex Mirror

Parts of a Convex Mirror

Uses of Curve Mirrors

y Convex mirror lets motorists see around a corner. y Convex mirrors are used in some automated teller

machines as a simple and handy security feature, allowing the users to see what is happening behind them. Similar devices are sold to be attached to ordinary computer monitors. y Some camera phones use convex mirrors to allow the user to correctly aim the camera while taking a self-portrait.

y Large hospitals, stores and office buildings often

use convex mirrors to allow people to see what is around a corner to help keep people from running into one another. y Convex mirrors are used to make sunglass lenses. These mirrors help reflect some of the sunlight away from the wearer's eyes. y Convex mirrors are often found on the passenger sides of motorvehicles. These mirrors make objects appear smaller than they really are. Due to this compression, these mirrors to reflect a wider image area, or field of vision.

y Convex mirrors are often placed near ATMs

to allow bank customers to see if someone is behind them. This is a security measure that helps keep ATM users safe from robbery of any cash withdrawals and helps keep ATM users' identity more secure. y Two convex mirrors placed back to back are used to make a magnifying glass. y Concave mirrors are used to focus light for heating purposes.

y Concave mirrors have replaced glass lenses

in some camera equipment, and enable the manufacturer to create shorter, more lightweight lenses with greater light-gathering power. A disadvantage is that mirror lenses produce "doughnuts" of light in finished photos. y Just as concave mirrors gather and concentrate light in camera lenses, they do so in binoculars and telescopes as well, enabling better visibility.