Mirrors

Geometric optics

The science of how light reflects and bends

optic device

any technology that uses light

image

a reproduction of an object produced by an optical device

Normal

as a dashed line drawn perpendicular to the mirror at the point of reflection (imaginary line)

Incident ray

the incoming light ray

angle of incidence

the angle between the incidence ray and the normal

reflected ray

the outgoing ray reflected from the mirror

angle of reflection

the angle between the reflected ray and the normal

acute angle

>90

obtuse

<90 <180

O

symbol for angle

law of reflection

when light reflects off a surface, the angle of incidence is always equal to the angle of reflection

plane mirror

Any mirror with a flat reflective surface

virtual image

Any image formed by rays that do not come from the location of the image (is seen “behind” the mirror) (cannot be “captured”)

F (focal point)

the point at which light rays meet or appear to meet

vertex

the middle point of a curved mirror

principal axis

an imaginary line drawn through the vertex

do

the distance between the vertex and the object

di

the distance between the vertex and the image

ho

the hight of the object

hi

the hight of the image

f (focal length)

The distance from the vertex to the focal point of a curved mirror

real image

an image formed by light rays that come from the location of the image (can be “captured”)

concave mirror

collects light rays to one point, can be real or virtual

convex mirror

spreads out light rays, always produces a virtual image