Finding Images in Converging Mirrors

On Tuesday we started the next part of the light unit on curved mirrors. We learned that there are two types of curved mirrors, converging (concave) and diverging (convex) mirrors. There is a principal axis, and on it there is a focal point which we label F and a centre of curvature which we label C. At the point where the principal axis meets the mirror we label V for vertex.

 

We also learned the rules for locating images in curved mirrors. They are as follows:

1. An incident light ray that is parallel to the principal axis will reflect through the focus.

2. An incident light ray that travels through the focus will reflect back parallel to the principal axis.

3. An incident light ray that passes through the centre of curvature will reflect straight back along the same path.

We then looked at the rules for drawing ray diagrams for curved mirrors. They are:

1. Objects are drawn to the left of the mirror.

2. F and C must be measured to scale.

3. Every image has four characteristics:

*Position-relative to the mirror, F, C and V

*Type-real or virtual

*Attitude-upright or inverted

*Magnification-smaller, larger or the same size

Using these rules, we did some examples on how to draw these diagrams for concave mirrors.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/index.cfm#optics

The next person to write the blog will be the person wearing the most black tomorrow.