Images in Curved Mirrors

General Overview
- Curved mirrors are utilized in numerous everyday scenarios such as flashlights, makeup mirrors, and security mirrors in stores.
- Definition: Curved mirrors are formed by making part of the surface of a sphere reflective.
- Concave Mirror: Generated from the inner surface of a sphere; the center of a concave mirror bulges away from the observer.
- Convex Mirror: Created from the outer surface of a sphere; the center of a convex mirror bulges toward the observer.

Concave (Converging) Mirror: A mirror shaped like part of the surface of a sphere where the inner surface is reflective.
Convex (Diverging) Mirror: A mirror shaped like part of the surface of a sphere where the outer surface is reflective.
Centre of Curvature (C): The center of the sphere whose surface has been utilized to form the mirror.
Principal Axis: The line passing through the center of curvature and the center of the mirror.
- In a two-dimensional view, the mirror forms a part of a circle. The principal axis is a radius of this circle, intersecting the mirror at 90°, normal to the surface.
Vertex (V): The point where the principal axis intersects the mirror.

Any light rays parallel to the principal axis converge at a point called the focus (F).
- Since a concave mirror focuses parallel rays at the focus, it is also referred to as a converging mirror.

To determine the image of an object in front of a concave mirror, draw at least two incident rays originating from the top of the object.
Imaging Rules:
1. A light ray parallel to the principal axis is reflected through the focus.
2. A ray through the focus is reflected parallel to the principal axis.
3. A ray passing through the center of curvature is reflected back onto itself.
4. A ray aimed at the vertex follows the law of reflection; the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection.

When the object is beyond C (Center of Curvature):
- Image characteristics: Smaller, inverted, and located between C and F.
- This image is classified as a real image.
At C:
- Image characteristics: Same size, inverted, located at C, and real.
Between C and F:
- Image characteristics: Larger, inverted, and real.

Real Image: Formed when light rays converge at a point, allowing the image to be projected on a screen. It can be seen on a screen.
- Examples include images formed by car headlights and flashlights.
Virtual Image: Occurs in situations where reflected rays diverge, giving the appearance of originating from a location behind the mirror.
- Common examples include makeup mirrors and shaving mirrors.
- Virtual images are always larger and erect.

At F (Focus):
- No clear image is formed as reflected rays are parallel.
Between F and Mirror:
- Image characteristics: Larger, upright, virtual. The human brain interprets diverging rays as originating from behind the mirror.

Summary of Image Characteristics:
- | Object Location | Image Size | Image Attitude | Image Location | Image Type |
  | Beyond C | Smaller | Inverted | Between C and F | Real |
  | At C | Same Size | Inverted | At C | Real |
  | Between C and F | Larger | Inverted | Outside C | Real |
  | At F | No Image | - | - | - |
  | Inside F | Larger | Upright | Behind Mirror | Virtual |

Convex Mirrors:
- Imaging rules are similar to concave mirrors but focus (F) and center of curvature (C) are located behind the mirror.
- Image Formation:
- Rays diverge and never converge in front of the mirror, resulting in virtual images.
- The images are smaller and upright, making convex mirrors useful as security mirrors and side-view mirrors in vehicles.

A converging (concave) mirror produces an image located on the same side as the object, while a diverging (convex) mirror produces an image behind the mirror.
A ray parallel to the principal axis reflects through the focus for concave mirrors while diverging for convex mirrors.
Image characteristics vary based on the object's location with respect to C and F for concave mirrors, whereas convex mirrors always produce smaller, upright virtual images.