Curved Mirrors and Their Properties

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts and terms related to curved mirrors, their properties, and the principles of reflection.

Concave Mirror

A mirror that curves inward, capable of creating real and virtual images depending on the object's position.

Convex Mirror

A mirror that bulges outward, which always forms virtual images that are smaller than the object.

Focal Point (F)

The point at which parallel rays of light either converge or appear to diverge after passing through a lens or reflecting off a mirror.

Principal Axis (PA)

A straight line that passes through the center of curvature and the focal point, used as a reference for ray diagrams.

Centre of Curvature (C)

The center of the sphere from which the mirror is a segment; located at a distance equal to twice the focal length.

Ray Diagram

A diagram that uses rays to show how light interacts with mirrors to form images.

Virtual Image

An image formed by rays that appear to diverge from a point; it cannot be projected on a screen.

Real Image

An image formed by actual converging rays of light, which can be projected onto a screen.

Inversion

When an image is turned upside down relative to the object; commonly seen with concave mirrors.

Distorting Mirror

A mirror that creates a distorted image, often used for amusement in funhouse settings.