Mirrors and Lenses

Concave Mirror

• Curve inwards

• They have a focal point where parallel rays of light converge.

• Depending on the object's position, they can form real or virtual images.

• Concave mirrors can magnify or reduce the object's size.

• Rays of light reflected by a concave mirror diverge.

• They are used in telescopes, headlights, and makeup mirrors for their optical properties.

Convex Mirror

• Forms virtual, upright, and smaller images

• Used in rearview mirrors of vehicles

• Focal length is negative

• Used in security and surveillance systems

Inverted image

• Upside down image

• negative height

• negative magnification

Converging lens

• Lens that bulges out

• Images are reduced in size, inverted, and real

Diverging lens

• Lens that caves in the middle

• Images created are virtual, upright, smaller

Magnification

• Size of image relative to object

• Inverted image has negative m

• If m is greater than one, the image is enlarged and vice versa

A ray that passes through the focal point of a non-flat mirror?

Reflects parallel to the focal point.

A ray reflected parallel to the focal point?

Passes through the focal point of a non-flat mirror.

A ray that passes through the centre of curvature?

Goes straight back.

Virtual image

An image that only appears to be formed at a position due to diverging lightwaves.

Real image

An image formed due to the convergence of light rays at a point.