Ray Diagram Concave Mirror
Reflection at curved surfaces:
One surface of the curved mirror is silvered. If the reflection takes place at the concave surface ( which is towards the center of the sphere it is called a concave mirror.
The center of the sphere is called the center of curvature C.
The geometrical center of the mirror is called its pole (P)
The line joining the pole of the mirror and its center of curvature is called the principal axis.
When a parallel beam of light is incident on a spherical mirror, the point where the reflected ray converge on the principal axis is called the principal focus F.
Lets see the ray diagrams for concave mirror for the different positions of the object.
Ray diagram concave mirror: Rules and some examples
The images produced by spherical mirrors may be either real or virtual and may be either larger or smaller than the object. The image can be located graphically by adopting the following rules:
The ray diagram when the object is placed at the center of curvature: We see that the object placed at the center , the image is of same size, real and inverted and is at the center.
One surface of the curved mirror is silvered. If the reflection takes place at the concave surface ( which is towards the center of the sphere it is called a concave mirror.
The center of the sphere is called the center of curvature C.
The geometrical center of the mirror is called its pole (P)
The line joining the pole of the mirror and its center of curvature is called the principal axis.
When a parallel beam of light is incident on a spherical mirror, the point where the reflected ray converge on the principal axis is called the principal focus F.
Lets see the ray diagrams for concave mirror for the different positions of the object.
Ray diagram concave mirror: Rules and some examples
The images produced by spherical mirrors may be either real or virtual and may be either larger or smaller than the object. The image can be located graphically by adopting the following rules:
- A ray parallel to the principal axis after reflection by a concave mirror passes through the principal focus of the concave mirror.
- A ray passing through the center of curvature retraces its path after reflection
- A ray passing through the principal focus , after reflection is rendered parallel to the principal axis.
- A ray striking the pole at an angle of incidence i is reflected at the same angle i to the axis.
The ray diagram when the object is placed at the center of curvature: We see that the object placed at the center , the image is of same size, real and inverted and is at the center.
The ray diagram when the object is placed after the center of curvature.It is seen that the image is real , inverted , small in shape and lies between the center C and focus F.
Ray diagram when object is placed between focus and the concave mirror.When object is placed between the focus and concave mirror we get a virtual image that is enlarged.
Ray diagram concave mirror: some more examples