Light - Reflection and Refraction: Magnification

Vocabulary terms and mathematical formulas regarding magnification in spherical mirrors based on the provided lecture notes.

Magnification ($m$)

The relative extent to which the image of an object is magnified with respect to the object size, expressed as the ratio of the height of the image to the height of the object.

Height of the object ($h$)

The vertical size of the object, which is taken to be positive as it is usually placed above the principal axis.

Height of the image ($h'$)

The vertical size of the image, which is taken as positive for virtual images and negative for real images.

Magnification Formula (Heights)

$$m = \frac{h'}{h}$$

Magnification Formula (Distances)

$m = -\frac{v}{u}$ where $v$ is image distance and $u$ is object distance.

Negative sign in magnification value

Indicates that the image formed by the spherical mirror is real.

Positive sign in magnification value

Indicates that the image formed by the spherical mirror is virtual.

Object distance symbol

Represented by the letter $u$.

Image distance symbol

Represented by the letter $v$.