light and reflection

What type of reflections do smooth and shiny surfaces have

Clear reflection

What type of reflection do rough dull surfaces have?

A diffuse reflection

What does diffuse reflection mean?

Light is scattered in different directions

What is the first characteristic of reflection in a plain mirror?

It is the same size as the object

What is the second characteristic of a reflection in a plain mirror?

It is upright

What is the third characteristic of a reflection in a plain mirror?

It is virtual

What is the fourth characteristic of a reflection in a plain mirror?

The image is a reverse of the object (Left-right reversal)

What is the fifth characteristic of a reflection in the plain mirror?

The image is the same distance behind the mirror as the object in front of the mirror

Why is it that when a man walks towards the mirror then the speed of the man and the man’s image are doubled?

Because there are two images, the one in front of the mirror and the one behind the mirror and they move at the same speed

What is the minimum height necessary to see your full image in a plane mirror?

Half of your height

Why is it that trucks and buses have words printed backwards?

Because when the people driving view the text through the rearview mirror, it is actually the right way because it gets inverted

What is the principal axis in concave and convex mirrors

A straight line drawn through the center, and the midpoint of the mirror

What is spherical aberration?

It is when the rays that strike the mirror near the edges do not intersect at the principal axis, but they are parallel to the principal axis

How do you avoid spherical aberration?

By designing mirrors in the shape of a parabola and not a sphere

What do parabolic mirrors do?

They make sure all the light rays are reflected at a single point

What are some examples of parabolic mirrors?

A telescope or a solar oven

What are some mirrors where it’s important that all light is parallel

A search light or a car headlight

What is the vertex?

V: the centre along curved mirror on the outside

What is the centre of curvature?

C: the centre of the reflecting surface 2xF

What is the focus?

F: the point where reflected light passes

What is the focal length?

f: the distance between the focus and the vertex

What is the radius of curvature?

R: the distance between the mirror and the centre of curvature

The principal axis is the line through what

The centre of curvature and the vertex

What are some examples of concave mirrors?

A shaving or makeup mirror

On a convex mirror, what is it always?

smaller virtual and upright