Mirrors

Ray

Light ordinarily travels in a straight path called

Pierre Fermat

Formulated the principle of least time

Diffuse reflection

occurs when light strikes a rough surface and scatters in many directions.

specular reflection

occurs when light reflects off a smooth surface at a consistent angle, producing a clear image.

angle of incidence

is the angle between the incoming light ray and the normal to the surface where the light ray strikes.

Angle of reflection

is the angle which the reflected ray makes with the normal

convex mirror

is a spherical mirror with its reflective surface curved outward,

Plane mirror

A smooth, flat reflecting surface. It creates images that are located at the same distance from the mirror as the object and with the same height, but are inverted from left to right.

Law of reflection

• The angle of incidence is ALWAYS equal to the angle of reflection 

Virtual images

images formed by plane mirrors

Real images

opposite of virtual images and can be projected on surfaces placed at the image position

If the image is beyond C in concave mirror ray diagram

Between c and f, inverted, smaller, real

If the image is at C in concave mirror ray diagram

At C, inverted, same size. real

If the image is between c and f in concave mirror ray diagram

Beyond C, inverted, larger, real

If the image is at F in concave mirror ray diagram

no image formed

If the image is between F and mirror in concave mirror ray diagram

Behind the mirror. upright, larger, vertical

LOST for convex mirror

behind the mirror, inverted, smaller, real

Concave mirror

Curved mirror wherein the relecting surface is on the inner surface of the sphere